A recent lawsuit filed in the New York State Court alleges that leaders at Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the premier legal search firm, ignored reported incidents of sexual assault. The allegations have emerged from the bankruptcy estate of Sharon Mahn, who formerly served as a recruiter for MLA. The firm had dismissed Mahn in 2009 for purportedly swiping trade secrets.
According to the 41-page complaint, Mahn asserts that she was sexually assaulted in 2006 by Lawrence Mullman, who was then the global leader of MLA’s law firm practice. This incident occurred a few months following Mahn’s official on-boarding with the company.
Reportedly, when Mahn informed her superior about the incident, she was advised not to “make a big deal” out of the situation, as it could potentially obstruct her career trajectory. The accused, Lawrence Mullman, had the reputable image of being a significant contributor to the company, thereby possibly implying the company’s reluctance to take action against him.
The primary objective of this lawsuit is to raise funds for Mahn’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy estate. Irrespective of the outcome, this case could usher in a renewed emphasis on addressing workplace misconduct in corporate environments.