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Lorna Hajdini case takes new twist as counter-suit filed after JPMorgan Chase's 1mn settlement offer to ex-banker
Lorna Hajdini of JPMorgan Chase has filed a defamation lawsuit against a former banker who accused her of using him as a sex slave.
JPMorgan Chase executive Lorna Hajdini has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the former banker, alleging that he has entirely fabricated accusations claiming she used and abused him as her "sex slave," as reported by The Post.
Hajdini lodged the defamation suit against the ex-banker in the New York state Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday.
The lawsuit contends that the 35-year-old finance professional, who falsely claimed his father had passed away to secure time off from work, orchestrated a prolonged campaign of false allegations that severely harmed her career, tarnished her reputation, and transformed her life into a global tabloid spectacle that first gained traction on social media last month.
“Ms. Hajdini categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of unlawful conduct,” the countersuit states.
“These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and fabricated, and were concocted for the improper purpose of personal enrichment at the expense of defendants and others,” it adds.
Here's what Lorna Hajdini's lawyer said
Hajdini's lawyer asserted that the ex-banker's primary objective was to tarnish their client's reputation in order to gain leverage and extort millions of dollars from both her and the bank. Furthermore, they contended that the ex-banker had lodged comparable sexual harassment allegations during a prior employment.
“Plaintiff made up eerily similar fabricated allegations of sexual misconduct against a supervisor at a prior place of employment,” the court filing reads.
“Ms Hajdini seeks to vindicate her name, mitigate the substantial damage inflicted upon her, and hold (the) plaintiff accountable for his depraved and unlawful conduct."
Did JpMorgan offer ex-banker 1mn settlement offer
Hajdini's legal action arises against the backdrop of a Wall Street Journal article that disclosed JPMorgan Chase's offer of a $1 million settlement to the ex-banker in exchange for withdrawing the lawsuit. The ex-banker declined the offer from the largest bank in the nation, insisting on a larger amount before eventually making his accusations public.
The bank asserted that an investigation was conducted and no evidence was uncovered, further stating that the settlement was meant to assist Hajdini, whose reputation might be adversely affected.
"While we cannot comment on confidential discussions, we did try to reach an agreement to avoid the time and expense of litigation and to support an employee who was being threatened with the very reputational harm now unfolding," a representative for JPMorgan said.
Ex-banker's attorney speaks out
Ex-banker's attorney, Daniel Kaiser, who did not participate in the settlement negotiations, emphasized that if JPMorgan Chase's claims of the allegations being “fabricated” were accurate, the bank would not have proposed the financial settlement.
"However, I will note that in my 30-plus year career as an employment litigator, I have never had an employer defendant make such a substantial offer if they truly believed the allegations to be a 'complete fabrication,'" said Kaiser.
In the newly submitted court filings, Kaiser presented a statement from a family acquaintance who asserts that he observed Hajdini's intoxicated conduct in a New York City apartment where he was invited for a threesome.
