Lorna Hajdini lawsuit puts JPMorgan in focus as cocaine shipping case resurfaces
PHOTO:REUTERS
JPMorgan Chase is facing renewed attention as a current lawsuit involving one of its executives emerges alongside references to a past high-profile shipping case linked to the bank.
In the latest development, Lorna Hajdini, a senior executive at the firm, is facing a lawsuit filed in New York City by a former employee identified as “John Doe.” The complaint alleges sexual abuse, coercion and racial harassment, claiming the executive used her position of authority in interactions with a junior colleague.
According to the filing, the alleged conduct began after the plaintiff joined the firm’s Leveraged Finance division in 2024 and included claims of threats tied to career progression, inappropriate remarks and non-consensual encounters. Additional allegations referenced in the complaint include the use of substances and unauthorised access to personal information. The claims have not been proven in court.
JPMorgan Chase has denied the allegations, stating that an internal review did not find evidence to support them. A spokesperson said: “Following an investigation, we do not believe there is any merit to these claims.”
Alongside the lawsuit, attention has also turned to a previous incident involving a vessel linked to the bank. In 2019, the cargo ship MSC Gayane was seized by U.S. authorities after nearly 20 tonnes of cocaine were discovered on board, in what officials described as one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history.
Coach...JP Morgan and chase bank have been corrupt for YEARS...they were dealing cocaine. pic.twitter.com/ZOjODa0AHM
The vessel was owned by clients of a transportation fund managed by JPMorgan Chase’s asset management division and had been leased to Mediterranean Shipping Company, which was responsible for its operations and crew. Authorities stated at the time that neither the bank nor the shipping company were targets of the criminal investigation.
Several crew members were charged in connection with the drug trafficking case, and a federal investigation was launched following the seizure, which took place after the ship arrived at a port in Philadelphia.
While the two matters are unrelated, both have drawn attention to JPMorgan Chase, placing the institution at the centre of separate high-profile developments across different areas of its operations.