JPMorgan Chase Executive Director Lorna Hajdini has renewed her countersuit against former employee Chirayu Rana, alleging he defamed her and destroyed her reputation and life to extract millions from her and the bank. In a Monday night filing, Ms Hajdini stated Mr Rana’s “deliberate and sustained scheme” to portray her as a racist sexual predator caused severe anxiety, panic, and fear, leading to withdrawal from personal relationships. Ms Hajdini asserts “Plaintiff’s accusations are false,” seeking unspecified damages for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other civil wrongs.
This renewed legal action follows Mr Rana’s lawsuit filed in July, accusing Ms Hajdini of coercing him into sexual acts and demanding his submissiveness for career advancement. He also expanded claims against JPMorgan Chase, alleging the largest US bank irreparably harmed his career through its acceptance of racism and sexual coercion. Mr Rana, of Nepalese descent, claims colleagues referred to him as “brown boy” and preferred individuals who “look like Jamie Dimon,” the bank’s chief executive. He also reportedly received a text urging him to “run before we call ICEE (sic) on your family.”
In a separate filing, JPMorgan Chase denied Mr Rana’s most serious allegations, including that it “reduced him to a racial caricature” while Ms Hajdini blackmailed him into repeated sexual assaults. Mr Rana resigned after 18 months at the bank. His lawyer, Jon Norinsberg, stated, “We categorically reject Ms Hajdini’s allegations and intend to vigorously defend against her counterclaims. We remain confident in the strength of Mr Rana’s claims and look forward to proving them in court.” JPMorgan Chase is a multinational investment bank and financial services company, operating as the largest bank in the United States by assets.
