JPMorgan executive Lorna Hajdini accused of drugging, sexually abusing junior banker in lawsuit

Key facts

• Lorna Hajdini, 37, an executive director at JPMorgan, is sued by a former junior colleague identified as John Doe.
• The lawsuit was filed on Monday, April 27, in New York County Supreme Court.
• Doe, an Asian man of Indian origin, joined JPMorgan as senior VP in March 2024; Hajdini joined the team in April 2024.
• Alleged abuse began in May 2024 when Hajdini dropped a pen and rubbed Doe's leg, later making explicit remarks.
• Doe claims Hajdini drugged him with 'roofies' on multiple occasions and forced non-consensual sex acts.
• Hajdini allegedly made racist comments, calling Doe 'my little brown boy' and questioning his career prospects.
• Doe has been diagnosed with PTSD and is unable to find work due to reputational damage, his lawyer says.
• JPMorgan says an internal investigation found no evidence; the bank plans to defend itself vigorously.

A senior executive’s alleged campaign of abuse

A JPMorgan Chase executive director, Lorna Hajdini, 37, has been accused in a lawsuit of subjecting a junior male employee to months of severe sexual abuse, racial harassment, and professional coercion. The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, a married banker of Indian origin, filed the complaint on Monday in New York County Supreme Court, alleging that Hajdini used her senior position to exploit him from the moment they began working together in the spring of 2024. The lawsuit describes a pattern of escalating abuse that started with unwanted physical contact and quickly turned into explicit sexual demands, drugging, and threats. Doe claims that Hajdini admitted to administering the date-rape drug ‘roofies’ on numerous occasions and berated him when he failed to perform sexually. The complaint repeatedly invokes Doe’s ethnicity, with Hajdini allegedly referring to him as her “little brown boy” and questioning whether management would ever accept “some Brown boy Indian leading originations.”

From a dropped pen to explicit threats

According to the filing, the abuse began in early May 2024, shortly after Hajdini joined the leveraged finance division where Doe worked as a senior vice president. Doe alleges that Hajdini dropped her pen next to his desk and, while bending to retrieve it, rubbed his leg and squeezed his calf. She then remarked, “Oh, you did play basketball in college? … I love basketball players… they get me so wet.” The advances quickly became more explicit. When Doe refused an invitation for drinks, Hajdini allegedly said, “If you don’t fk me soon, I’m going to ruin you… never forget, I fking own you.” On another occasion, she propositioned him for oral sex with the words, “Birthday BJ for the brown boy? My little brown boy.” Doe states that he tried to rebuff each advance, but Hajdini always used her position of power to coerce him.

Drugging, sexual assault, and racial slurs

The lawsuit alleges that Hajdini drugged Doe with ‘roofies’ on multiple occasions, rendering him unable to resist. During one encounter, when Doe began to cry while Hajdini performed a sex act on him against his will, she allegedly admonished him for failing to sustain an erection. She also made racist remarks about his genitals and, while engaging in a sexual act, insulted his wife, saying, “I bet your little Asian, fish head, wife doesn’t have these cannons.” Doe claims that Hajdini forcibly performed oral sex on him and compelled him to perform oral sex on her. The complaint states that he complied out of fear that she would retaliate against his career. “Afraid that Ms. Hajdini would act on her threats to retaliate against him, [Doe], embarrassed and humiliated, complied with her demands,” the lawsuit notes.

Career threats and professional sabotage

Throughout the alleged abuse, Hajdini repeatedly tied Doe’s career prospects to his sexual compliance. When discussing a promotion, she allegedly said, “You’re gonna need to earn it, my little Arab boy toy,” while groping him under a table. On another occasion, she told him, “Do you want to get promoted at year end or not? Do you want a future at JPMorgan? It’s that simple. I don’t know why you’re fighting this.” Doe alleges that when he began looking for a new job in late 2024, Hajdini and others derailed his prospects of alternate employment. His lawyer, Daniel J Kaiser, told the Daily Mail that his client has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and continues to struggle financially because his reputation has been damaged and he has been unable to find another job.

JPMorgan denies allegations, cites internal review

JPMorgan Chase has rejected the allegations, calling them unfounded. A spokesperson for the bank said, “Following an investigation, we do not believe there is any merit to these claims. While numerous employees cooperated with the investigation, the complainant refused to participate and has declined to provide facts that would be central to support his allegations.” The bank stated that it takes misconduct allegations seriously and intends to defend itself vigorously in court. Lorna Hajdini has not yet officially responded to the lawsuit. The case now proceeds in New York County Supreme Court, where Doe seeks damages for the alleged abuse and professional harm.

The bottom line

• Lorna Hajdini, a JPMorgan executive director, faces a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse, drugging, and racial harassment of a junior male colleague.
• The plaintiff, John Doe, claims the abuse began in May 2024 and included threats to his career and promotion prospects.
• Doe alleges Hajdini used the date-rape drug ‘roofies’ and made racist remarks about his Indian heritage and his wife.
• JPMorgan denies the claims, stating an internal investigation found no evidence; the bank plans to defend itself.
• Doe’s lawyer says his client has been diagnosed with PTSD and is unable to find work due to reputational damage.
• The lawsuit was filed on April 27 in New York County Supreme Court; Hajdini has not yet responded.