Ex-worker wins $18M in suit against CEO over blog posts; law prof's case is still pending
A lawyer for Benjamin Wey, the chief executive officer of a New York City investment firm, says Wey never had sex with former employee Hanna Bouveng, and claims Bouveng sued in retaliation for being fired for poor work performance.
However, a federal jury in Manhattan found Bouveng’s story of sexual harassment and retaliation more credible and awarded her $18 million on Monday, including $16 million in punitive damages, reports Reuters. Most of the damages were for defamation.
In addition to Wey himself, his New York Global Group and a subsidiary, FNL Media, also were held liable. The jury found in the defendants’ favor on Bouveng’s claims of assault and battery.
She alleged that Wey pressured her into sex and retaliated against her when she resisted continuing with the relationship, not only firing her but publishing offensive posts on a FNL Media-controlled blog, TheBlot. One called her a “street walker,” Reuters reports.
Counsel for Wey said he is considering his options.
Wey is also facing a New York state-court lawsuit concerning posts on TheBlot, for which he still writes a weekly column. The plaintiff is Christopher Brummer, a law professor at Georgetown University. He alleged he was defamed in retaliation for his work on an advisory panel that affirmed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ruling concerning business associates of Wey.
The Reuters article doesn’t include any information about the defense in that case.
