Faruqi & Faruqi Files $15 Million Counterclaim against Ex-Associate

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On Tuesday, New York-based law firm Faruqi & Faruqi filed a counterclaim in a case brought by an ex-associate, Alexandra Marchuk, in March, alleging a discriminatory work environment at the law firm and of failing to prevent a senior partner having sex with her “quickly, forcefully and painfully…”

Against the claims of the ex-associate, in its counterclaim, Faruqi & Faruqi sought $15 million alleging that:

• By bringing her lawsuit, Alexandra Marchuk had prevented the realization of the law firm’s new public sector practice
• The law firm had lost “substantial” business due to the false and defamatory statements made by Marchuk in her lawsuit
• The ex-associate had filed her lawsuit in an attempt to “extort money from her former employer” and to “defame and damage the firm’s reputation and business, as well as the reputation of Juan Monteverde”

According to the submissions of the law firm, it was not Monteverde who had taken advantage of Marchuk, but it was Marchuk who was “obsessed” with Monteverde. The countersuit also observed that Monteverde never had sex with Marchuk.

  

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Faruqi & Faruqi also mentioned in court papers, “Just before this complaint was filed, (the firm) had substantially invested in a new public sector practice are and hired attorneys to bring in and generate business as a significant segment of the firm’s practice … This initiative is on hold, indefinitely.”

Faruqi & Faruqi also claimed that Marchuk or some anonymous person used a Gmail account to send copies of her lawsuit to clients of the law firm and opposing counsel, as well as to media outlets and Monteverde’s wife.

In her lawsuit, Marchuk had alleged that Monteverde had made sexual advances within days of her joining the law firm as a new associate, and since she was burdened with student loans, and it was her first job, she was scared to complain against a leading partner of the law firm.

She ultimately lost her job at the law firm after the incidents she alleged of, and after she said she confided to certain women partners and other staff of her predicament.