Ex-Reed Smith Partner Apparently Settles Suit Alleging Assignments Linked to Liaisons
A nonequity partner at Reed Smith in Pittsburgh has dropped her sex bias suit claiming women lawyers at the firm are paid less than men and given work based on actual or hoped-for sexual liaisons.
JoEllen Lyons Dillon voluntarily dismissed her suit on Thursday, the Legal Intelligencer reports. Her lawyer, Samuel Cordes, says “the matter has been resolved to our mutual satisfaction.” The firm has previously said Dillon’s suit was without merit.
Dillon is no longer working at Reed Smith, a firm spokeswoman told the Intelligencer.
It’s unclear whether a partner accused of biased remarks will remain at the firm. According to Dillon’s suit, she complained to former management committee member David DeNinno because her pay had been cut by almost half after maternity leave. The suit claims he asked Dillon is she was “done having babies.”
Several sources told the Intelligencer that DeNinno was in negotiations to leave the firm. He refused to confirm or deny the report, and the firm declined comment, the story says.
