DLA Piper Faces Lawsuit for Wrongful Termination of Pregnant Lawyer

JD Journal reports today (8 June)

DLA Piper, a prominent international law firm, is currently facing a discrimination lawsuit filed by former attorney Anisha Mehta. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Mehta was wrongfully terminated from her position after requesting maternity leave.

According to the complaint, Mehta, a senior associate in the firm’s intellectual property group, was fired in October 2022, just days after submitting her leave request. At the time of her termination, Mehta was six months pregnant with her first child. The lawsuit argues that DLA Piper cited performance issues as the reason for her dismissal, despite Mehta receiving three raises and a significant bonus of over $100,000 during her one-year tenure with the firm. Furthermore, Mehta claims that her superiors consistently praised her work.

However, Mehta asserts that the firm’s decision to terminate her employment was motivated by a desire to avoid paying her salary during her planned maternity leave. It is alleged that DLA Piper was experiencing a decline in legal work and was facing pressure from clients regarding billing rates. In response to these circumstances, Mehta believes that the firm resorted to terminating her to avoid the financial burden of her leave.

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DLA Piper Faces Lawsuit for Wrongful Termination of Pregnant Lawyer