A federal judge just handed DLA Piper a reality check, ruling the firm must face trial over allegations it fired a pregnant senior associate for seeking maternity leave.
Anisha Mehta, a seventh-year intellectual property associate claims she was terminated in June 2023 when she was six months pregnant, just days after requesting maternity leave.
The “Performance Issues” Defense
DLA Piper insists Mehta’s firing was purely about performance, claiming she couldn’t handle seventh-year responsibilities and made “catastrophic blunders”.
But here’s the twist – Mehta received raises, bonuses, and handled high-value client work throughout her tenure which kind of throws the firm’s allegations into the shade. Judge Analisa Torres wasn’t buying the firm’s explanation, finding enough evidence to raise serious doubts about their stated justification.
Pattern of Problems
The case gets juicier when you consider DLA Piper was previously ordered to turn over internal records revealing at least two other pregnancy discrimination complaints since 2016. The firm fought tooth and nail to keep these demand letters confidential, suggesting they might contain some uncomfortable truths.
Who knows? But time, and the case, will reveal all no doubt.
