A high-stakes legal showdown is unfolding as Robert F. Riley, a name partner at Riley & Hurley PC, fires back against Elyse McKenna’s sexual harassment lawsuit with explosive counterclaims of his own. Riley now contends that McKenna initially demanded hush money before launching her allegations—a claim that dramatically alters the trajectory of the case.
From Allegations to Counterattack
McKenna, a former associate at Riley’s firm, originally filed suit in September, accusing Riley of grooming, harassment, and stalking. But Riley’s response, filed Wednesday, paints an entirely different picture. He asserts that McKenna threatened to publicly accuse him of misconduct unless he paid a substantial sum, branding her lawsuit as an orchestrated attempt at defamation and financial gain.
Beyond the lawsuit, Riley claims McKenna orchestrated a campaign to tarnish his reputation, spreading falsehoods within legal circles, the media, and even among clients. One client, who had long favored Riley as lead counsel, ultimately dropped him and hired McKenna instead—a move he argues was a direct result of her alleged smear tactics.
