Proskauer Asks Court to Dismiss Suit by Former CFO Who Claimed Cancer Bias
Proskauer Rose is seeking dismissal of a bias suit filed by its former chief financial officer.
The answer (PDF) filed in New York state court by the law firm says it acted in good faith toward the plaintiff, Elly Rosenthal, and any actions taken against her were for legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons. The Am Law Daily and Bloomberg News have stories on the firm’s Nov. 9 legal response.
Rosenthal has claimed that Proskauer demoted and marginalized her after she returned from cancer treatment, and then “abruptly” fired her more than two years later. Rosenthal, 57, had worked at Proskauer for more than 18 years. Her complaint alleged discrimination based on gender, age and actual or perceived disability.
The law firm denies Rosenthal’s bias claims and seeks attorney fees and expenses incurred in defending the suit. The answer does not explain the firm’s justification for demoting and firing Rosenthal. It does say, however, that Rosenthal had met with the firm’s chief operating officer during her leave and expressed uncertainty about her ability or desire to return to work full time.
