Biglaw

Biglaw Firm Settles Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Alleging That Attorney Called Assistant 'Our Slave'

The firm says they are 'pleased to have resolved this matter.'

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The Biglaw firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath has settled a racial discrimination case filed against them earlier this year. In that case, Syneetra Hill, an African-American legal assistant in their Princeton office, alleged pay discrimination and that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and retaliation.

As reported by the American Lawyer, the case was dismissed with prejudice as part of a confidential settlement. Though the specific terms of the deal are unknown, Hill’s attorney indicated she is happy with the outcome:

[T]he case was dismissed pursuant to a confidential settlement on Sept. 27. Hill’s lawyer, Allan Schorr, said he is unable to discuss the terms other than to say “the matter is resolved,” and his client is no longer working at Drinker Biddle. But he added that his client is pleased with the outcome.

“It was an important case and I’m glad it was resolved,” said Schoor, of Schoor & Associates in Cherry Hill.

And, as one might imagine, the firm is also glad to be done with the lawsuit. In a statement the firm said, “We are pleased to have resolved this matter.”

In the lawsuit, Hill, who’d worked at the firm for 11 years, alleged the environment was hostile to African-Americans. The complaint detailed several examples of behavior Hill alleges created a problematic work environment:

  • A former, unnamed supervising attorney was allegedly allowed to keep a collection of Confederate memorabilia throughout their office.
  • The lawsuit claims Marsha Beidler, of counsel in the firm’s trusts and estates practice for whom Hill worked, referred to Hill as “our slave” in front of a client. The complaint says Beidler tried to save face by saying Hilled worked like a slave.
  • Beidler allegedly told Hill to “read a good book” about how segregation was “good for blacks because at least they could go to their own colleges.”
  • After seeing a picture of Hill’s infant son, Beidler allegedly said “he should be ready to get a basketball in his hands.”

The firm has not commented on the specific allegations in the complaint, neither have any of the attorneys mentioned in the filing.

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headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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