The JPMorgan 'Sex Slave' Accuser Needs a New Lawyer (Because His Quit)

A former JP Morgan banker accused a colleague and the bank of drugging and sexual assault. The accuser’s lawyer resigned shortly before court, telling the court the client would represent himself until a replacement was found. The judge ruled that the lawyer must continue defending the client until a licensed attorney officially takes over, leading to an awkward appearance where the lawyer did not actively rebut opposing arguments. The judge also ordered the lawsuit to be refiled under the accuser’s real name after it had been filed under the pseudonym “John Doe.” The defense argued the pseudonym was prejudicial and that the bank and defendant had been harmed by public allegations.

"Daniel Kaiser - who had been representing Chirayu Rana in his lawsuit against Lorna Hajdini and the bank - resigned from his position, the Wall Street Journal reported, with the attorney informing the New York Supreme Court that the former JP Morgan banker would be serving as his own counsel until he could find a replacement. But the judge presiding over the case, Dakota Ramseur, told Kaiser that, actually, he has to defend his client until a licensed attorney officially takes his place."

"That led to an awkward scene wherein Kaiser was forced to show up on Rana's behalf; according to reporter Alexander Saeedy, the lawyer "seemed pretty unenthused by having to defend a client he's trying to distance himself from, refusing even to try and rebut Hajdini and JPMorgan's lawyers.""

"Judge Ramseur also ruled on Tuesday that Rana's lawsuit must be refiled under his own name, after it was originally filed last month under the pseudonym "John Doe." While Rana's identity has been known for weeks, Melissa Rodriguez, a lawyer for Lorna Hajdini - who has been accused of drugging and forcing Rana to have sex with her - argued that letting Rana continue to use the pseudonym would be "prejudicial" to Hajdini and JPMorgan, whose names, Rodriguez told the judge, have been "dragged through the mud.""

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