Anita Bowen, a Black female attorney formerly with Fabiani Cohen & Hall LLP, has asked a Manhattan federal judge to let her discrimination lawsuit proceed, despite her prior status as an equity partner in the firm. Bowen argues that her ownership stake does not negate her rights as an employee, allowing her to bring claims of discrimination and retaliation under federal and state laws.
Cohen Atty Discrimination Suit : Bowen’s Claims of Discrimination and Retaliation
Bowen initially filed her suit in April against Fabiani Cohen and its three name partners, asserting that she endured discrimination and harassment during her nearly 25-year tenure at the firm. Among her allegations, Bowen claims she was subjected to racial and gender-based slurs, including being labeled an “angry Black woman” and “island girl,” and experienced “unequal pay based on sex.”
She further alleges that she was terminated in retaliation for speaking out against the alleged discrimination, with her final day at Fabiani Cohen falling on May 15 — just two weeks after she initially filed her claims. Seeking a formal declaration of the firm’s actions as unlawful, Bowen is also pursuing compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees.
Legal Arguments Over Employment Status
Fabiani Cohen has moved to dismiss the case, contending that Bowen’s status as an equity partner disqualifies her from bringing employee-based discrimination claims. The firm argues that employment laws are not designed to address disputes between business partners, and accuses Bowen of leveraging her claims to increase her share of the firm’s profits.
