A former JP Morgan employee has filed a lawsuit accusing senior bank executive Lorna Hajdini of sexual assault. According to new findings by the New York Post, the plaintiff, Chirayu Rana, allegedly discussed similar claims with an online legal chatbot nearly 10 months before filing the suit.
Leaked Chatbot Conversations
Rana was identified as the user behind public conversations on the website AskALawyerOnCall.com, where he allegedly described being sexually assaulted, harassed, and forced to take drugs by a former boss. The chatbot conversation reportedly took place around July last year and was publicly visible on the legal-advice platform.
In the exchanges, the user identifying himself as Rana claimed he had been “raped, sexually assaulted, harassed, and forced to do drugs” by a former boss at Morgan Stanley. The conversation also included discussions about separation agreements, legal waivers, and possible legal action.
Details of the Chat
The Post shared screenshots of the alleged chats, which revealed that the user (Rana) was connected to a person identified as “Joycelaw,” who claimed to be an expert in employment and business law. During those conversations, the alleged abuser was referred to as a man, which differs from the claims Rana later made in his lawsuit against Hajdini.
In the leaked chat, Rana stated: “I was raped, sexually assaulted, harassed, and forced to do drugs by my former boss at Morgan Stanley. I was then retaliated against for seeking to move groups internally at the firm.” He further mentioned that HR conducted an investigation but ultimately made him sign a separation agreement under duress.
Rana also claimed he had ample evidence, including recorded phone calls, and that the alleged abuser threatened to ruin his career. The chatbot expert advised him on potential legal options, including workers' compensation claims.
Legal Context
The lawsuit against Hajdini alleges sexual abuse, coercion, and racial harassment. The discrepancies in the gender of the alleged abuser between the chatbot conversation and the lawsuit may become a point of contention in the legal proceedings.
The case highlights the complexities of employment law, separation agreements, and the challenges victims face in coming forward with claims of sexual assault in the workplace.
