In a recent development, Polsinelli PC has sought to transfer a $20 million sexual harassment lawsuit from a former equity shareholder to a D.C. federal court. The plaintiff alleges both sexual harassment and retaliation. This motion was officially submitted to the court on Friday.
Polsinelli’s move appears to be based on two main arguments. First, the firm argues that the lawsuit asserts federal causes of action. These are legal grounds that generally fall within the jurisdiction of a federal court. Furthermore, the second argument is premised on the diverse residences of the parties involved in the lawsuit. Diverse citizenship, in legal parlance – where the parties to a lawsuit are citizens of different states or countries – can be a basis for transferring a case to federal court under certain circumstances.
It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and which court will ultimately be responsible for adjudicating the allegations made by the former equity shareholder. The case has been closely watched by legal professionals working in some of the world’s biggest corporations and law firms, who have vested interests in the evolving landscape of sexual harassment law and how it intersects with procedural issues such as jurisdiction.
In the meantime, anyone who wants to delve into the specifics of Polsinelli’s motion or the details of the underlying lawsuit can learn more by reading the full Law360 report.