politics
Judge Allows Rana to Transfer JPMorgan Lawsuit to Federal Court
A Manhattan judge ruled Tuesday that Chirayu Rana can move his case from state to federal court. The order requires Rana to pay related legal fees and disclose witness identities while allowing separate defamation claims by Lorna Hajdini to proceed independently.
Jul 14, 5:58 PM·1m read1 source
New York PostAudio version
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A Manhattan judge ruled Tuesday that Chirayu Rana may transfer his lawsuit from New York state court to federal court. Judge Dakota Ramseur stated that no findings of fact showed Rana had acted in bad faith, engaged in forum shopping, or sought to avoid an adverse ruling.
Rana, 35, a former JPMorgan banker, filed the state suit anonymously in April alleging sexual abuse by his former supervisor, Lorna Hajdini, 37.
JPMorgan and Hajdini have denied all of Rana’s claims. Ramseur ordered Rana to pay Hajdini’s legal fees tied to the transfer motion, though the amount remains undetermined. The judge also directed Hajdini’s legal team to receive the names of Rana’s previously anonymous witnesses and unredacted versions of their statements before discovery.
Hajdini’s defamation claims against Rana may now proceed as a separate lawsuit independent of Rana’s case. Rana moved in June to withdraw the state suit and refile in federal court, citing federal claims of race discrimination, retaliation, and interference with medical and family leave.
Rana’s original lawyer was permitted to withdraw weeks ago but must disclose any false statements Rana may have made in the original suit.
No such statements have been disclosed to date. Rana was later ordered to amend the lawsuit to use his real name after The New York Post identified him as the plaintiff.
