Chirayu Rana used authorized chatbot for recommendation earlier than alleging sexual harassment towards JPMorgan govt Lorna Hajdini: ‘Do I’ve a sound declare?’
A former JPMorgan staffer who has accused a senior govt of sexual harrassment had taken recommendation from a web based authorized chatbot whereas describing comparable allegations, based on reporting from The New York Put up.Indian-origin Chirayu Rana, whose now-withdrawn lawsuit alleged that govt director Lorna Hajdini pressured him into degrading sexual acts, is claimed to have used the authorized recommendation platform AskALawyerOnCall.com round July 2024, roughly 10 months earlier than his claims turned public.
Within the change, the person figuring out as Rana described sexual assault and office retaliation.“I used to be raped, secually assulted [sic]harassed, and compelled to do medication by my former boss at Morgan Stanley,’’ the transcript quoted him as saying.“I used to be then retaliated towards for in search of to maneuver teams internally on the agency,” he allegedly added.He claimed: “HR performed an ‘investigation’ however they in the end made me signed [sic] a Separation Settlement.”The chatbot interplay was printed in screenshots cited by The New York Put up. It exhibits Rana later referring to the perpetrator as “he”, a element that contrasts together with his later courtroom submitting towards Hajdini, who’s a feminine govt at JPMorgan Chase.The platform displayed the change publicly for example of its service, together with the person’s identify. A disclaimer on the positioning famous that Askalawyeroncall.com is a public discussion board and questions and responses will not be personal or confidential.In the identical dialog, the person described signing a separation settlement below stress and claimed he had been threatened.“Sure however I used to be pressured to signal below duress,” he allegedly wrote, including that he had “AMPLE proof” of wrongdoing.The change continued with the chatbot asking whether or not his settlement included clauses stopping authorized motion. Rana allegedly reiterated that he had been coerced, saying, “I signed it as a result of I used to be scared and felt I had no selection. He mentioned he would spoil my profession if I didn’t comply.”Based on the transcript, he additionally mentioned, “I’ve been struggling mentally since then. It was a horrible expertise, and I left below terrible circumstances. He advised everybody a false narrative about me, which made it even tougher.”At one level, the chatbot response referenced a distinct timeline, suggesting the alleged occasions could have taken place in 2020, which was not clearly aligned with Rana’s account.“Since this occurred in 2020, you would possibly nonetheless have choices. Have you ever thought of submitting a employees’ compensation declare?” the chatbot responded.Rana allegedly replied, “I didn’t take into consideration that. I simply really feel caught as a result of I signed that waiver,’’ and added, “Everybody appears to refuse to assist me due to it.”He additionally reportedly requested whether or not he had a sound authorized case and whether or not any lawyer would take it on.“Do you suppose I even have a sound declare?” and “Have you learnt anybody who would possibly take my case?” he allegedly requested.The NYP report states that Rana was linked within the change to a person figuring out as “Joycelaw,” who claimed to be a authorized skilled in employment and enterprise legislation.The chatbot interplay is just like Rana’s formal inside grievance at JPMorgan, which was filed in Could 2025. JPMorgan later concluded an inside overview involving cellphone data, emails, worker interviews and mentioned that there was no proof supporting his allegations.Rana is a Rutgers graduate who joined JPMorgan’s leveraged finance staff in 2024. He later filed a lawsuit accusing Hajdini of forcing him into sexual acts, drugging him, and threatening his profession if he didn’t comply. The grievance additionally alleged unannounced visits to his house and coercion into intercourse.The lawsuit was filed below a pseudonym (John Doe) and has since been withdrawn for corrections. Hajdini and her authorized staff has denied all allegations.
