New York Law Firm, Partner Countersue Former Associate for Defamation

If possible, things in the employment lawsuit against New York plaintiffs’ firm Faruqi & Faruqi have gotten even uglier.

The junior attorney sued in federal court about three weeks ago. Her complaint asserted that a law firm partner made inappropriate statements to her and unwanted sexual advances, culminating in raping her in his office after the holiday party. She resigned a week later.

This week, the partner and the firm have countersued for defamation. The counterclaim alleges that the associate and partner were engaged in consensual sexual contact short of sex and that the associate was essentially obsessed with the married partner. While the firm’s founders admit that the partner “exercised very poor judgment and has been disciplined” by the firm, they state they are convinced that he did not harass the associate.  Part of the defamation claim is that the associate sent the complaint to the firms’ clients and to the partner’s wife, which her attorney denies.

There’s not a lot of middle ground here for a jury should this make it to trial, is there?

Source: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/law-firm-partner-accused-of-sexual-harassment-fires-back/