Lawsuit Claims Goldman Sachs Attempted to Cover up Workplace Sexual Misconduct by Married, Lothario Exec
Goldman Sachs, Inc, a primary dealer in the United States Treasury security market and one of the largest investment banking enterprises in the world, is alleged to have covered up numerous allegations of workplace sexual misconduct, according to a lawsuit recently filed in a New York trial court. The female whistleblower in the case is a long-time attorney at the bank who said she tried to help the unnamed victim, called "Jane Doe" in court papers.
The giant investment firm was in the New York Supreme Court on Monday to face the lawsuit where the bank's global head of litigation, Darrell Cafasso, and General Counsel Karen Seymour were singled out in court papers.
Former Associate General Counsel at Goldman Sachs Marla Crawford filed the lawsuit alleging Cafasso used his powerful position to "romantically prey upon a much younger and vulnerable female colleague."
Crawford was not the purported victim, but instead a friend of the victim, and said that when she spoke out about the allegations and asked for help within the company, she was fired. Crawford noted she was fired after working for ten years at Goldman Sachs with a record of "exemplary performance."
In court papers, Crawford alleges"Mr. Cafasso's obsession with Jane Doe grew so strong that he even blamed her for his misconduct, telling her "You're a temptress” and ”You're the Devil's pawn."
In the filed court papers, Crawford also alleges Cafasso was known for "excessive drinking, sexual harassment and favoritism," along with his "declarations of love" toward Doe, combined with promises of positive employment reviews.
The unnamed 30-year old victim left the bank, but within two weeks of the allegations, Cafasso, who is married, was back at work. Crawford was offered a transfer to another location at Goldman Sachs but declined to accept it.
In a statement shared by her attorney, Crawford said her ethical standards would not allow her to ignore the alleged workplace sexual misconduct.
"As a lawyer and professional, I always try to stand up for what is right," said Crawford. "Unfortunately for Goldman's top lawyers, that made me a liability. I will hold Goldman and its senior lawyers accountable for the blatant retaliation perpetrated against me."
In a dueling statement by the Goldman Sachs attorneys, a spokesman said, "We conducted a review of the allegations in this complaint and found that they were completely without merit."
Court papers filed in the New York Supreme Court allege Crawford was fired after trying to help the unnamed female alleged victim. Crawford said the victim was preyed upon by Cafasso and accuses Goldman Sachs of "permitting a workplace where sexual harassment is covered up and the powerful are cloaked with immunity."
Crawford's court papers disagree with the defense attorneys. Crawford states that once the workplace sexual misconduct was brought up with Human Resources at Goldman Sachs, the bank "put secrecy above fact-finding" and told her to "keep her mouth shut." Crawford stated she was never interviewed about the alleged incidents and that the bank hired attorneys instead.
Goldman Sachs denies the claims detailed in the lawsuit.
