A former senior associate claimed she was terminated shortly after requesting maternity leave
A Manhattan judge has ordered global law firm DLA Piper to provide internal records detailing past pregnancy discrimination complaints to a former lawyer who claims she was fired for seeking maternity leave.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ordered DLA Piper to turn over demand letters from two other lawyers who also alleged pregnancy discrimination at the firm since 2016. Additionally, the firm must provide documents showing the results of its investigations into these complaints.
Judge Tarnofsky emphasized that the plaintiff, Anisha Mehta, "has demonstrated that production is proportionate to the needs of the case." The firm is permitted to redact the names of the two lawyers who are not involved in Mehta's lawsuit.
Mehta, represented by Wigdor LLP, sued DLA Piper last June, alleging that she was terminated from her position as a senior associate when she was six months pregnant, less than a week after requesting maternity leave. DLA Piper has denied the allegations, asserting that Mehta was "unable to perform at the level expected of a seventh-year associate."
In court filings, DLA Piper argued against disclosing the internal records, claiming they were not relevant to Mehta's lawsuit and should remain confidential. According to Tarnofky’s two-page order, DLA Piper believes that the documents’ production should be limited to an affidavit from an employee from its HR department about other instances of alleged pregnancy discrimination. On the other hand, the plaintiff sought contemporaneous documents, including the lawyer demand letters sent to the firm raising the claims of pregnancy discrimination.
Ultimately, Judge Tarnofsky ruled in favour of Mehta, requiring the firm to produce the demand letters and the associated investigation results. The judge noted that the case on which the firm relied in support of withholding the demand letters was inappropriate. The judge concluded that the plaintiff had adequately shown that the production was suitable for the case's requirements.
