On November 7, 2017, Wigdor LLP won a $1.126 million jury verdict in a Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) whistleblower trial on behalf of Jennifer Sharkey. After a week-long trial in the Southern District of New York, a jury found that JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“the Bank”) and Leslie Lassiter violated SOX.

Ms. Sharkey was fired from JPMorgan Chase in 2009 after she raised concerns that a client of the Bank might be involved in fraud or money laundering. Ms. Sharkey was fired approximately 1 week after making a formal recommendation that the Bank end its relationship with the client.

A jury of five women and three men returned a verdict in favor of Ms. Sharkey, finding that her rights were violated by the Bank under SOX. The jury imposed an award of $563,000 in back pay and $563,000 in emotional distress damages. Ms. Sharkey will also be seeking reinstatement as well as attorneys’ fees and costs.

The Wigdor LLP trial team consisted of Founding Partner Douglas H. Wigdor, Senior Associate Michael J. Willemin, and Paralegal Jayshree Balakrishnan.

Sketch artist rendering of Wigdor LLP Founding Partner Douglas H. Wigdor addressing the jury in the Southern District of New York, made by Elizabeth Williams.

Bloomberg
“Ex-JPMorgan Wealth Manager Recounts Life-Altering Firing”
November 1, 2017
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Law360
“Ex-JPMorgan Banker Makes Case For Damages As Trial Wraps”
November 6, 2017
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Law360
“BREAKING: JPMorgan Liable For Firing Former Wealth Manager”
November 7, 2017
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National Law Review
“JP Morgan SOX Whistleblower Wins $1.13M at Trial”
November 7, 2017
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