What Is the JP Morgan Lawsuit?
The JP Morgan lawsuit is a federal employment case, Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., brought by a former leveraged finance banker. Chirayu Rana sues the bank and four colleagues over alleged racial discrimination, sexual coercion and retaliation.
The case is a private civil suit by one plaintiff. No class has been certified, and no class action or multidistrict litigation covers these claims.
The complaint opens its own description of the case this way:
“This action seeks to expose and remedy a workplace where racism was normalized, sexual coercion was tolerated, and retaliation was weaponized against those who refused to remain silent.”
Source: Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:26-cv-06351 (S.D.N.Y.), Complaint, ECF No. 1, paragraph 28 (filed July 27, 2026)
Why Was the JP Morgan Lawsuit Filed?
The JP Morgan lawsuit was filed because Rana says he faced racial abuse, sexual coercion and retaliation on JPMorgan's leveraged finance team. He alleges that the bank ignored his complaints and pushed him out.
According to the complaint, Rana sent the bank a written complaint through counsel on May 20, 2025. He resigned on October 14, 2025, and says the bank's conduct forced him out.
Rana filed an EEOC charge in April 2026 and received a right-to-sue notice on July 6, 2026. He first sued in New York state court on April 27, 2026, then moved the case to federal court with added claims and three added defendants.
The defendants deny the allegations. JPMorgan says its internal investigation found no merit and that Rana declined to take part in it. Lawyers for Hajdini say she never had a sexual or romantic relationship with Rana, and she denies being his supervisor.
None of the allegations has been tested at trial, and no court has ruled on whether they are true.
What Harms Does the JP Morgan Lawsuit Allege?
The JP Morgan lawsuit alleges seven distinct harms, each tied to one or more of the complaint's 21 counts. Every item below is an allegation from Rana's complaint, not a finding by a court.
Race and National Origin Discrimination
Race and national origin discrimination is unfavorable treatment of an employee because of ancestry, skin color or the country a person or family comes from.
Rana, a first-generation American of Nepali descent, alleges he was the only non-white, non-Christian member of his team. The complaint says colleagues used racial slurs and nicknames such as "brown boy," including in a June 18, 2024 group text.
The complaint also alleges that Hajdini told Rana that Graffeo said he hired him to fill a "point system" diversity need. It pleads these claims under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and New York State and City human rights laws.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct or demands that make a workplace hostile or tie job benefits to compliance.
Rana alleges that Hajdini, whom he describes as his direct supervisor, tied his advancement to sexual demands and threatened his career if he refused. Reporting shows Hajdini was an executive director and disputes that she supervised him.
The sex discrimination and harassment counts run against JPMorgan under Title VII and New York law. Some of the counts also name Hajdini, Graffeo and Wolter individually.
Sexual Assault and Battery
In a civil lawsuit, sexual assault and battery are legal claims alleging non-consensual sexual contact, which let a plaintiff seek damages separately from any criminal case.
Count XVIII pleads sexual assault and battery against Hajdini alone. The complaint alleges the conduct occurred repeatedly over several months, and Hajdini has denied it categorically.
A separate count under New York City's gender-motivated violence law names both Hajdini and JPMorgan. This page found no report of criminal charges against anyone in the case.
Retaliation
Retaliation is punishing an employee for reporting discrimination or harassment or for asserting legal rights.
Rana alleges JPMorgan retaliated after his May 2025 complaint by placing him on administrative leave, cutting his pay by more than half and revoking his systems access. He also alleges the people he accused kept their jobs.
The complaint adds that Rana received threatening texts, including one telling him to "run before we call" immigration authorities on his family. It alleges the bank did not meaningfully investigate who sent them.
Family Leave Interference
Family leave interference occurs when an employer denies, discourages or penalizes protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Rana says JPMorgan approved FMLA leave in early 2025 so he could care for his seriously ill mother. He alleges the bank then refused to restore him to an equivalent role and ordered him back to the New York office.
The complaint pleads FMLA interference and retaliation against JPMorgan, plus a New York City caregiver-status discrimination count.
Defamation and Career Interference
Defamation is a false statement of fact, communicated to others, that harms a person's reputation.
Rana alleges that JPMorgan, Graffeo and Wolter told his later employer and industry contacts false things about him, including that he was a "liar" and drank to excess. He says this cost him a new job and blackballed him from private credit.
The complaint claims his annual pay had been well over $2 million. A separate defamation claim runs the other way, as Hajdini's counterclaim, covered under the case status below.
Unpaid Wages and Deductions
A wage deduction claim says an employer withheld or reduced earned pay in violation of labor law.
Count XIX alleges JPMorgan withheld about $18,000 through unauthorized "leave of absence" offsets and payroll errors beginning around April 2025. The complaint says the bank admitted in writing to a June 30, 2025 payroll error.
A companion count under New York Labor Law § 215 pleads retaliation.
What Is the Current Status of the JP Morgan Lawsuit?
The current status of the JP Morgan lawsuit is pretrial discovery in federal court, with trial set to begin on June 1, 2027. The court withdrew the case from its mediation program on October 8, 2026, and no settlement has been announced.
Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Federal Court)
This federal case holds all of Rana's claims against the bank and four individual defendants. A judge sets the schedule and rules on discovery disputes, and the plaintiff has demanded a jury.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| Case Number | 1:26-cv-06351 |
| Judge | Lewis A. Kaplan (the case was first assigned to Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr.); Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang |
| Filed | July 27, 2026 |
| Plaintiff | Chirayu S. Rana |
| Defendants | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Lorna Hajdini; Brandon Graffeo; Jon Wolter; Kelly Crowe |
| Claims | 21 counts under Title VII, § 1981, the FMLA, New York State and City law, plus defamation, battery and emotional distress |
| Relief Sought | Back and front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, reinstatement or front pay, and attorneys' fees; no total stated |
| Pleading Amendments Close | November 1, 2026 |
| Discovery Closes | March 8, 2027 |
| Summary Judgment Motions Due | April 9, 2027 |
| Trial | June 1, 2027, 9:30 a.m. |
| Stage | Pretrial discovery |
The deadlines above come from the court's revised scheduling order of October 6, 2026.
Hajdini's Defamation Counterclaim
Hajdini counterclaims against Rana for defamation, saying his allegations are false. She first made the claim in New York state court on May 19, 2026, and renewed it in federal court on September 28, 2026.
| Claimant | Lorna Hajdini, executive director at JPMorgan |
| Respondent | Chirayu Rana |
| Claims | Defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other civil wrongs |
| Damages | Unspecified |
| Rana's Position | His lawyers reject the counterclaim and say they will vigorously defend against it |
| Stage | Pleading stage, no ruling reported |
Courts generally protect statements made in court filings from defamation suits under the litigation privilege, a rule one New York employment firm notes can limit such counterclaims. How it applies here is for the court to decide.
Earlier New York State Court Case
Rana's first case was filed under the pseudonym John Doe and has ended without a ruling on the merits.
| Court | Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County |
| Index Number | 155620/2026 |
| Filed | April 27, 2026 |
| Outcome | Voluntarily discontinued without prejudice by an order dated July 14, 2026 |
| Costs | Rana agreed to cover part of the defendants' legal fees, as reported |
Did the JP Morgan Lawsuit Settle?
No, the JP Morgan lawsuit has not settled as of October 10, 2026. The court withdrew the case from its mediation program on October 8, and trial remains set for June 1, 2027.
A pending lawsuit has no settlement value until a deal is signed or a court enters a judgment. No dollar figure below is an estimate of what the case is worth, and each side denies the other's claims.
JPMorgan offered $1 million to resolve the matter before Rana sued, according to the Wall Street Journal, and Rana rejected it. The bank's spokesperson confirmed it tried to reach an agreement but did not confirm the amount.
Rana's complaint states no total demand. It asks for back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and fees, and it says his compensation had been well over $2 million a year.
Searchers may see the $290 million Epstein settlement, the $75 million Virgin Islands settlement or a $5 million parental leave settlement attached to JPMorgan. Those are different cases, covered in the comparison below.
JP Morgan Lawsuit Updates and Case Status
Here is the current status of the JP Morgan lawsuit, updated with new filings, rulings, and case-count reports as they're confirmed. Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the federal employment case in the Southern District of New York continues in active pretrial proceedings as of October 2026, with no global settlement reached. See the full timeline below for every confirmed development since the litigation began.
JP Morgan Lawsuit Timeline
Court Withdraws the Case From Mediation
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan signed an order on October 8, 2026 withdrawing Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from the Southern District of New York's court-annexed mediation program. The docket entry followed a mediator assignment on October 2.
Judge Kaplan Sets June 1, 2027 Trial and Rules on Subpoenas
After a conference on October 6, 2026, Judge Kaplan set trial for June 1, 2027 and closed discovery on March 8, 2027. His separate order overruled Rana's objections to eight subpoenas sent to former employers and narrowed a Verizon subpoena as overbroad.
Court Schedules Oral Argument on Discovery Disputes
An order dated September 29, 2026 set a 10 a.m. hearing on October 6 in Courtroom 21B to resolve disputes over non-party subpoenas served by JPMorgan and Hajdini.
Hajdini Renews Defamation Counterclaim in Federal Court
Lorna Hajdini filed her defamation counterclaim against Rana in Manhattan federal court on the night of September 28, 2026, Reuters reported. She says Rana ran a deliberate scheme to portray her as a racist sexual predator. JPMorgan filed a separate response that night denying his most serious claims.
Case Automatically Referred to Mediation
The Southern District of New York's standing order sent the case to its mediation program on September 28, 2026 and required discovery disclosures within 30 days. A mediator was assigned on October 2.
JPMorgan Waives Service, Setting a September 28 Answer Date
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. returned an executed waiver of service on July 29, 2026, which set its deadline to answer the federal complaint at September 28, 2026.
Rana Files 21-Count Federal Complaint Naming Five Defendants
Rana filed an 82-page complaint in the Southern District of New York on July 27, 2026, adding Graffeo, Wolter and Crowe as defendants alongside JPMorgan and Hajdini. JPMorgan said it does not believe the claims have merit.
State Court Lets Rana Discontinue His First Case
A New York state court granted Rana's request on July 14, 2026 to discontinue his April lawsuit without prejudice so he could pursue federal claims. News outlets reported the dismissal the following week.
EEOC Issues Right-to-Sue Notice
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dismissed Rana's charge and issued a notice of his right to sue on July 6, 2026. That notice opened a 90-day window to bring his Title VII claims in court.
Hajdini Countersues for Defamation in State Court
Hajdini filed a defamation counterclaim in New York state court on May 19, 2026, calling Rana's allegations fabricated and malicious. JPMorgan said it supports her right to defend herself and does not believe the claims have merit.
JPMorgan Says It Tried to Settle Before the Lawsuit
A JPMorgan spokesperson said on May 6, 2026 that the bank tried to settle with Rana before he sued. The Wall Street Journal reported a $1 million offer that Rana rejected.
Rana Refiles in State Court After a Brief Withdrawal
Reuters reported that the John Doe complaint was refiled in New York state court on Monday, May 4, 2026, after being taken down earlier. Media outlets publicly identified Rana as the plaintiff soon after.
Rana Sues JPMorgan and Hajdini Under a Pseudonym
Rana's first lawyers filed Doe v. JPMorgan Chase, Index No. 155620/2026, in New York County on April 27, 2026. The suit named JPMorgan and Hajdini and drew wide media attention.
Rana Resigns From JPMorgan
Rana resigned on October 14, 2025, effective October 17. His complaint calls the departure a constructive discharge. JPMorgan's position is that its investigation found no merit to his claims.
Rana's Lawyers Send JPMorgan a Written Complaint
According to the federal complaint, Rana served the bank with a detailed written complaint through counsel on May 20, 2025, while on approved FMLA leave. The Guardian reports that JPMorgan placed him on administrative leave in June 2025.
What Did JPMorgan Allegedly Know About Rana's Complaints in the JP Morgan Lawsuit?
JPMorgan allegedly knew of Rana's accusations from at least May 20, 2025, when his lawyers sent a written complaint naming Graffeo, Wolter and Hajdini. Rana alleges the bank responded by removing him instead of those he accused.
JPMorgan disputes that account. The bank says it investigated with numerous employees, found no merit, and that Rana would not participate in the process.
Five defendants appear in the federal case, and the counts differ by person.
| Defendant | Role as described in the case | Counts naming the defendant |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Employer and lead defendant | 19 of 21 |
| Lorna Hajdini | Executive director, leveraged finance | 10 of 21 |
| Brandon Graffeo | Managing director | 9 of 21 |
| Jon Wolter | Managing director | 9 of 21 |
| Kelly Crowe | Associate | 5 of 21 |
Rana's complaint also quotes other colleagues who are not defendants. Those statements are allegations, and no court has made findings about them.
How Does the JP Morgan Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The JP Morgan lawsuit differs from several other cases involving the bank. Each has its own court, parties and claimants, and none changes the status of Rana's case.
| Case | Subject | Reported status |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson v. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (No. 2:25-cv-13977, E.D. Mich.) | Proposed class action alleging race discrimination and "fake" interviews of Black applicants, filed December 10, 2025 | Pending before Judge Matthew Leitman; this page found no ruling on the merits |
| Trump v. JPMorgan Chase | Suit seeking at least $5 billion over closed bank accounts after January 6, 2021, filed in Florida in January 2026 | A federal judge in Miami reportedly ruled it belongs in Manhattan under the account agreements |
| Epstein victims class action (Jane Doe 1) | Claims that the bank enabled Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking | $290 million settlement approved by Judge Jed Rakoff in November 2023, without admission of liability |
| U.S. Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan | Territory's separate claims over the bank's Epstein ties | Settled for $75 million in September 2023 |
| Cash sweep class action | Proposed class action over how uninvested cash was swept into bank deposit accounts, reported January 2025 | Current status not verified for this page |
| Rotondo parental leave case | Fathers denied equal paid parental leave from 2011 to 2017 | $5 million class settlement filed in May 2019 |
The closest relative is Jackson, another workplace discrimination suit against the bank. It involves hiring, not harassment, and it has no connection to Rana's claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JP Morgan lawsuit about?
The JP Morgan lawsuit is about a former banker's claims of racial discrimination, sexual coercion and assault, retaliation and defamation at JPMorgan Chase. Chirayu Rana filed it in federal court on July 27, 2026, and the defendants deny the allegations.
Is the JP Morgan lawsuit a class action?
No, the JP Morgan lawsuit is not a class action. Rana v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is one plaintiff's civil suit, and no multidistrict litigation covers it. A separate proposed class action, Jackson v. JPMorgan Chase, concerns hiring discrimination.
Who is suing JPMorgan in the Rana case?
Chirayu Rana, a former leveraged finance banker, is suing JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and four colleagues. He first sued under the pseudonym John Doe in state court and was later publicly identified.
Did JPMorgan settle the lawsuit with Rana?
No, JPMorgan has not settled the lawsuit with Rana as of October 10, 2026. The Wall Street Journal reported a $1 million pre-suit offer that Rana rejected, and the court withdrew the case from mediation on October 8.
When is the JP Morgan lawsuit trial?
The JP Morgan lawsuit trial is set to begin on June 1, 2027 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Discovery must finish by March 8, 2027, and summary judgment motions are due April 9, 2027.
Has a court decided whether the allegations are true?
No court has decided whether the allegations in the JP Morgan lawsuit are true. The October 2026 orders so far address subpoenas and the schedule, and each side's claims remain unproven.
What is Lorna Hajdini's counterclaim?
Lorna Hajdini's counterclaim is a defamation claim against Rana, saying his allegations are false. She filed it in state court on May 19, 2026 and renewed it in federal court on September 28, 2026.
Is the JP Morgan Epstein settlement part of this lawsuit?
No, the JP Morgan Epstein settlements are separate from the Rana lawsuit. The $290 million victims settlement and the $75 million Virgin Islands settlement resolved different claims in 2023, and they involve different parties.