Davis Polk Not Liable In Black Attorneys Retaliation Case

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Although Judge Woods previously ruled against Cardwell’s discrimination allegations, he allowed the retaliation claims to proceed to trial.

Absolution of Defendants

Senior counsel John Bick and former partner Thomas Reid, among the eight individual defendants named by Cardwell, were also cleared of any liability alongside the firm.

Cardwell maintained a composed demeanor as the verdict was announced, with no visible reaction. Post-verdict, he and his legal representative, David Jeffries, exchanged handshakes with Davis Polk’s legal team from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP.

Davis Polk Not Liable In Black Attorneys Retaliation Case : Testimonies and Allegations

During the trial, Cardwell asserted that negative performance reviews did not accurately reflect his work and suggested a covert effort to remove him from the firm. Conversely, current and former Davis Polk associates testified that the evaluations were genuine and aligned with firm practices.

Davis Polk reiterated that the decision to part ways with Cardwell was based on performance and not racial bias, emphasizing its commitment to fair employment practices.

Reactions and Next Steps

Davis Polk expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, as conveyed by the firm’s communications director, Katie Moss. On the other hand, Jeffries refrained from immediate comment.