The complaint, filed in the New York County Supreme Court, names Lorna Hajdini, a 37-year-old Executive Director in the bank’s Leveraged Finance division. She is accused of exploiting her position of authority to subject a junior male employee to repeated instances of coercion, sexual misconduct, and racial abuse over several months.
The plaintiff, identified anonymously as John Doe, alleges that the behavior began shortly after the two started working together in early 2024. Doe, who is of Asian origin, joined the firm in March as a Senior Vice President/Director, while Hajdini joined the team the following month in a senior leadership role.
According to the lawsuit, the first incident occurred in May, when Hajdini allegedly initiated inappropriate physical contact near his desk and made explicit sexual remarks. The complaint claims that her advances escalated quickly. After Doe declined an invitation for drinks later that month, she allegedly threatened his career, saying she would “ruin” him if he did not comply with her demands.
The lawsuit further alleges that Hajdini repeatedly linked Doe’s professional future to his willingness to engage in sexual acts. At a work-related social event, she allegedly made racially charged comments and continued unwanted physical contact. In another incident in September 2024, she is accused of threatening to sabotage his promotion prospects if he refused her advances, questioning his standing within the firm and making derogatory remarks about his ethnicity.
Doe also claims that the harassment escalated into sexual assault. The complaint includes allegations that Hajdini used threats, intimidation, and racial insults to coerce him into non-consensual acts. It further accuses her of drugging him without his knowledge during certain encounters and accessing his personal bank account without authorization to monitor his activities.
The lawsuit also names JPMorgan Chase as a defendant, alleging that the company failed to address the complaints adequately and retaliated against Doe after he reported the incidents. According to the filing, he was placed on involuntary leave and suffered reputational harm.
In response, a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase denied the allegations, stating that an internal investigation found no evidence to support the claims. The bank also said that while multiple employees cooperated with the inquiry, the complainant declined to participate fully or provide key information necessary to substantiate the allegations.
The case remains ongoing, with the court expected to examine the claims and evidence presented by both sides.
