Women's Issues

The Trend Continues -- Another Gender Bias Lawsuit Against A Large Law Firm

This associate says she was subject to hostility because she had a newborn at home.

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Man And Woman Pushing In Opposite Directions Against Large GavelI told you this was a trend. Last week, the $100 million lawsuit against Biglaw firm Chadbourne & Parke was the big news. Now comes word that another gender discrimination lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District of New York, this time against Goldberg Segalla and a partner there, Frederick Pomerantz.

Marissa Jones has brought this lawsuit against her former firm, and the partner she claims harassed her, after she was allegedly let go from the firm after complaining about Pomerantz’s behavior.

Jones was recruited in join the firm in 2013, and she was enticed by family-friendly policies like telecommuting and flexible schedules. According to the lawsuit, all was going well until the firm hired Pomerantz and Jones began working for him. Jones alleges she was subjected to harassing treatment after she returned from having a second child. And Pomerantz allegedly put his feelings regarding Jones’s ability to be a mother and an associate in her performance review, saying:

We do not view Marissa on a partnership track because she works until 5 p.m. and leaves after that most days. We understand that she had a newborn not too long ago. However, we all have our personal challenges … and sacrifices to make. We all need to juggle. I do not believe she wants to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the next level.

According to a press release from the firm representing Jones, Reavis Parent Lehrer, this was part of a larger campaign of harassment:

In the ensuing months, as the lawsuit relates, Ms. Jones was subjected to constant gender-based comments regarding her family and home life, acute gender stereotyping about her work, exclusion from business trips and professional meetings and an environment rife with hostility, monitoring, humiliation, groundless criticism and discouragement of her professional development.

According to the lawsuit, Ms. Jones made a detailed oral complaint to human resources regarding Mr. Pomerantz’ conduct on March 16, 2015, after a conversation during which he suggested to Ms. Jones that she had made the wrong life choice by having children. Three days later, on March 19, 2015, after emailing a written complaint to the co-head of her practice group, Ms. Jones was informed that she was being terminated without notice and told to collect her belongings and leave the firm that very same day.  When asked for details, the Goldberg Segalla partner relied on an inaccurate claim of a conference call she had allegedly missed a year earlier.  Prior to her oral and written complaints, Ms. Jones had been strongly praised in written performance reviews.

One missed call a year ago? That Jones says she was on? That’s why the firm is claiming they fired her? Let’s just say I am interested in seeing the details (and related timesheets) as this suit develops.

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Obviously, the timing of Jones’s complaint to HR in relation to her termination from the firm is curious, but as reported by the New York Law Journal, Goldberg Segalla and Pomerantz deny the allegations:

Richard Cohen, Goldberg Segalla’s managing partner, said in a statement, “The firm and Mr. Pomerantz strongly deny these allegations. We look forward to all facts in this matter coming to light, and we welcome a full determination on the merits.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I predict this suit is only the beginning of a wave of gender discrimination lawsuits.

Ex-Goldberg Segalla Associate Claims Gender Bias Over Childcare Duties [New York Law Journal]

Earlier: Biglaw Partner Files Class Action Lawsuit Over ‘Male-Dominated Culture’
Biglaw Partner Alleges Sexism Derailed Her Career In A New Lawsuit
Biglaw Firm Hit With $100 Million Class Action Gender Discrimination Lawsuit

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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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