UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK YOLANDA OWENS and EDWARD HUTTON, Plaintiffs, -against - MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, Defendants. COMPLAINT Index No: 96 CIV 9747 Trial by Jury is Demanded on all Counts so Triable Plaintiffs YOLANDA OWENS and EDWARD HUTTON, by their attorneys, SHAFRAN, MOSLEY, P.C., of 26 Broadway, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10004 as and for their complaint against the defendants herein, alleges the following, upon information and belief: PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 1. This is an action seeking declaratory relief and monetary damages for, inter alia, defendant's unlawful and discriminatory sexual harassment in violation of plaintiffs's rights secured by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et. seq. and for the violation of the duty not to discriminate on the basis of race by the defendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec 1983. Plaintiffs also seeks monetary damages for supplemental claims under New York State Law Executive Law, section 296 and 297 et seq. for unfair discriminatory practices. JURISDICTIONAL ALLEGATIONS 2. This Court has jurisdiction over this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 in that this action arises under and seeks redress for the deprivation of rights secured by the laws of the United States. 3. This Court further has jurisdiction over this case in that this action seeks relief for discrimination of the basis of race pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et seq. and for breach of duty of fair representation pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Sec. 185. 4. That plaintiffs have satisfied all statutory requirements for the bringing of the within action under 42 U.S.C. section 2000(e)(5)(f)(1) and plaintiffs has received a right to sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on or about December 3, 1996. 5. This action is being commenced within ninety (90) days of the issuance of said right to sue letter. 6. Venue is proper in this County in accordance with 28 U.S.C. section 1391. PARTIES AND RELATIONSHIPS 7. At the time of the commencement of this action plaintiff YOLANDA OWENS was and is an African American. 8. At the time of the commencement of this action plaintiff EDWARD HUTTON was and is an African American. 9. At the time of the commencement of this action defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., was and still is a domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York. 10. At the time of the commencement of this action defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., was and still is located a. 1221 Avenue of the Americas, County, City and State of New York. 11. The defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO, INC., was and is a company engaged in the business of financial services. 12. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant GLEN QUINTON was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., 13. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant PETER GALLEA was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., 14. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant JAY SOLOMON was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY CO., INC., 15. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant DON ELISANO was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY CO., INC., 16. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant LARRY FERRARE was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., 17. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant NICHOLAS STEPHENS was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., 18. That at all the times hereinafter mentioned, defendant PAUL HARGROVE was an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., 19. That at all times relevant to the allegations contained herein, defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO, INC., is vicariously and directly liable for the acts and/or omissions of his trustees, agents, servants and/or employees including defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of defendants MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown. 20. That at all times relevant to the allegations contained herein, defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INC., whose identities are currently unknown, are vicariously and directly liable for the acts and/or omissions of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO, INC., 21. That defendants MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., and defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, are subject to the legal requirements of equal employment opportunity and as specified in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et seq. and for the duty of fair representation pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Sec. 185, as well as certain state and city civil rights laws as discussed, infra. 4 22. That this Court may exercise pendant jurisdiction of certain state law claims under 28 U.S.C. 1367 et. seq. ALLEGATIONS AS TO THE FACTS A. OWENS' EMPLOYMENT 23. Plaintiffs, YOLANDA OWENS was retained and employed by defendant, MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., beginning in or about 1992 and continuously through the present time. 24. That pursuant to agreement and contract, plaintiff OWENS was offered and accepted the position of Circuit Provisioning Analyst with MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. 25. During the entire time that OWENS was employed by the MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., she was told that she was working under the terms and conditions of the said Agreement. 26. That plaintiff OWENS properly and fully performed the responsibilities of her position as a Circuit Provisioning Analyst with defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. up until the present time. B. MUTTONS' EMPLOYMENT 27. Plaintiffs, EDWARD HUTTON was retained and employed by defendant, MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., beginning in or about 1992 and continuously through the present time. 28. That pursuant to agreement and contract, plaintiff OWENS was offered and accepted the position of Logistics Technology Analyst with MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. 29. During the entire time that MUTTONS was employed by the MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., he was told that he was working under the terms and conditions of the said Agreement. 30. That plaintiff MUTTONS properly and fully performed the responsibilities of his position as a Logistics Technology Analyst with defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. up until the present time. C. THE DENIAL OF A PROMOTION OR ADVANCEMENT 31. On October 4, 1995, and prior thereto, plaintiffs YOLANDA OWENS and EDWARD HUTTON were repeatedly subjected to a continuous course of conduct that discriminated against them on the basis of their race and/or national origin, and have been and remain subjected to such employment discrimination and have repeatedly and consistently been wrongfully denied promotion or advancement in their respective positions at defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., despite demonstrated ability and despite persons of Caucasian and otherwise non-African American decent with equal or lesser ability, experience, skill, and tenure receiving such promotion and advancement. D. THE DISSEMINATION OF VILE RACIST E-MAIL THROUGHOUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF DEFENDANT MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. 32. That on or about October 4, 1995, an employee of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., believed to be defendant GLEN QUINTON, authored and sent an electronic message, referred to herein as an E-mail message, of vile, offensive nature, containing racist "jokes" throughout the computer systems of said corporate defendant. 33. That said defendants, including but not limited to GLEN QUINTON, knew of its vile, offensive nature before disseminating said electronic message throughout the corporate computer systems. 34. That in order to disseminate said racist electronic message (hereinafter referred to as "e-mail"), without revealing his identity, said defendant GLEN QUINTON attempted to disguise his identity or "ghost" said e-mail by misappropriating or otherwise using without knowledge, permission or consent, the computer identification password of an African American employee of said corporate defendant, believed to be one Anthony Williams, and thereafter proceeded to disseminate and otherwise proliferate said e-mail to various of employees, and the individual defendants herein, and other Caucasian corporate employees. 35. That defendant PETER GALLEA, transmitted the e-mail to defendant JAY SOLOMON, who also thereafter proceeded to disseminate and otherwise proliferate said e-mail to various of employees, and the individual defendants herein, and other Caucasian corporate employees. 36. That defendant PAUL HARGROVE, after receiving said e-mail also thereafter proceeded to disseminate and otherwise proliferate said e-mail to various of employees, and the individual defendants herein, and other Caucasian corporate employees. 37. That defendant LARRY FERRARE, after receiving said e-mail also thereafter proceeded to disseminate and otherwise proliferate said e-mail to various of employees, and the individual defendants herein, and other Caucasian corporate employees. 38. The incidents of discrimination alleged herein were in furtherance of an existing and ongoing policy of racial discrimination against the plaintiffs and against African Americans generally. AS AND FOR THE FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. and GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS UNDER TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF 1964. 39. That plaintiffs repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "38" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 40. By its acts and omissions as aforesaid, defendant(s), either directly or through their agents, servants, trustees and/or employees unlawfully discriminated against the plaintiffs on the basis of their gender, denied plaintiffs equal opportunity to employment, wrongfully denied plaintiffs promotions and advancements in their employment by unlawful acts of discrimination, discriminated against plaintiffs by creating a hostile work environment, engaged in conduct that unreasonably interfered with plaintiffs' work performance, engaged in conduct that created a hostile and offensive working environment, made unwelcome, vile and offensive racial epithets and "jokes" directed at plaintiffs and at African Americans generally, and engaged in a pervasive and intentional course of corporate conduct and established corporate policy which discriminated a against plaintiffs, because of their race and/or national origin of African Americans, and threatened termination and or demotion and/or caused plaintiffs to be demoted in retaliation to objecting to said racist e-mail, and general policy of discrimination toward the promotion or advancement of African Americans, all of the foregoing in violation of 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. and sections 296 and 297 et seq. of the New York State Executive Law. 41. That the racist e-mail complained of herein was unwelcome. 42. That the racist e-mail complained of herein was of a racial nature. 43. That the discrimination complained of herein affected a term, condition, or privilege of plaintiffs' employment. 44. That by reason of the foregoing, plaintiffs, and each of them, were caused damage to their business reputation, and loss of earnings and was caused to suffer certain serious, severe and permanent physical and non-physical injuries and conditions, and have been caused to be rendered sick, sore and lame, and to suffer emotional distress, mental injury and suffering, loss of employment, loss of past and future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation, and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby. 45. That by reason of the foregoing acts and/or omissions of defendants, plaintiffs have each been caused to be damaged thereby in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars in compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages. AS AND FOR AN SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS UNDER SECTIONS 296 AND 297 OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND TITLE 8 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 46. That plaintiffs repeats, reiterates and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "45" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 47. By its acts and omissions as aforesaid, defendants, either directly or through its agents, servants, trustees and/or employees unlawfully discriminated against the plaintiffs on the basis of their race, denied plaintiffs equal opportunity to employment, wrongfully denying plaintiffs promotion, advancement, equal opportunity of employment and a non-hostile work environment by their unlawful acts of discrimination, discriminated against plaintiffs by creating a hostile work environment, engaged in conduct that unreasonably interfered with plaintiffs' work performance, engaged in conduct that created a hostile and offensive working environment, made unwelcome and offensive racial epithets and "jokes" directed toward plaintiffs, threatened termination of plaintiffs if they filed the very complaint now filed, in retaliation for objecting to said unlawful and discriminatory behavior, all of the foregoing in violation of the New York State Human Rights Law, (Executive Law Sec. 296, et seq.), and the Civil Rights Law of the City of New York, (Title 8 of New York City Administrative Code). 48. That the discrimination complained of herein was unwelcome. 49. That the discrimination complained of herein was of a racial nature. 50. That the discrimination complained of herein affected a term, condition, or privilege of plaintiffs' employment. 51. That by reason of the foregoing, plaintiffs were caused damage to their business reputations, and loss of earnings and was caused to suffer certain serious, severe and permanent physical and non-physical injuries and conditions, and have been caused to be rendered sick, sore and lame and to suffer emotional distress, mental injury and suffering, loss of employment, loss of past and future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation, and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby. 52. That by reason of the foregoing acts and/or omissions of defendants, plaintiffs have each been caused to be damaged thereby in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars in compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages. AS AND FOR A THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANT MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC. FOR BREACH OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT 53. That plaintiffs repeats, reiterates and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "52" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 54. That ever since plaintiff OWENS complained about the racist e-mail and the denial of advancement and promotions at said corporate defendant she as her work reassigned and had been given no new work assignments. 55. That plaintiff OWENS was denied the promotion to the position of Quality Care Detailing Reporting as a consequence of her voicing complaint of the racist e-mail, and because of her race and/or national origin of African American. 56. That plaintiff HUTTON was specifically told by defendant, MORGAN STANLEY, through its Legal and Human Resources Department, that his complaints concerning the aforestated systematic racial discrimination, would be dealt with and that he my rely upon the confidentiality of his complaint, whereupon said complaint was not maintained as confidential, and was also disseminated to management of defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., and also caused him to be denied promotion and advancement and caused co-workers to inform him they no longer wished to work with him, and otherwise caused him to be ostracized in a professional and social way, creating a hostile work environment. 57. That by reason of the actions and/or omissions by defendants their agents, servants, trustees, licensees and/or employees, said defendants did breach their contractual obligations to the plaintiffs by improperly denying plaintiffs promotion or advancement and otherwise professionally isolating plaintiffs without cause and without justification. 58. That said breach of agreement by defendants, and each of them, did cause reasonably foreseeable harm and damage to plaintiffs. 59. That the breach of contract by the defendants, was wilful, wanton, reckless and demonstrated callous disregard for the rights of the plaintiffs and also evidenced a degree of bad faith evincing a disingenuous and/or dishonest failure to carry out the contract so as to warrant an assessment of punitive damages. 60. That by reason of the foregoing breach of contract, plaintiffs, and each of them, have been caused to suffer compensatory and special damages, including but not limited to loss of employment, loss of past earnings, commissions and bonuses, loss of future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars for compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages AS AND FOR A FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., AND GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, FOR BREACH OF COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING 61. That plaintiffs repeats, reiterates and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "60" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 62. That defendants had an affirmative duty and covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the performance of their business dealings with and with the enforcement of their contract with plaintiffs. 63. That by the wrongful acts as described herein, and by callously creating and publishing said racist em-mail, and by perpetuating said racist comments and "jokes" throughout the company, and by professionally and socially isolating plaintiffs and by failing, refusing and/or neglecting to assign work assignments to plaintiffs, and by ostracizing plaintiffs from the routine and daily functioning of the corporate defendant and by improperly denying plaintiffs advancement and promotion without just cause as aforesaid, defendants breached their covenant of good faith and fair dealing. 64. That the breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing by the defendants, was wilful, wanton, reckless and demonstrated callous disregard for the rights of the plaintiffs and also evidenced a degree of bad faith evincing a disingenuous and/or dishonest failure to carry out the contract so as to warrant an assessment of punitive damages. 65. That by reason of the foregoing breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, plaintiffs, and each of them, have been caused to suffer compensatory and special damages, including but not limited to loss of employment, loss of past earnings, commissions and bonuses, loss of future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars for compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages. AS AND FOR A FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS 66. That plaintiffs repeats, reiterates and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "65" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 67. That defendants, through its agents, servants, licensees and/or employees without just cause or excuse, did, in fact, interfere with the contract between plaintiffs and MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.. 68. That plaintiffs was wrongfully and improperly engaged in a continuous course of racial discrimination directed at plaintiffs and persons of African American decent, and did threaten to discharge plaintiffs in retaliation by reason of their filing the very complaint filed herein, and did result in humiliation, embarrassment, professional and social ostracizing and scorn, ridicule and isolation as a result of defendants interference with plaintiffs' contract. 69. That the conduct of defendants was willful, wanton and reckless and demonstrated a callous disregard for the rights of the plaintiffs so as to warrant an assessment of punitive damages. 70. That by reason of the foregoing interference with contract plaintiffs, and each of them, have been caused to suffer compensatory and special damages, including but not limited to loss of employment, loss of past earnings, commissions and bonuses, loss of future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars for compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages. AS AND FOR A SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANT MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INC. FOR NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION 71. That plaintiffs repeats, reiterates and reallege each and every allegation contained in those paragraphs of the complaint designated as "1" through "70" with the same full force and effect as if fully set forth herein at length. 72. That the defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., did employ and continue to employ defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, despite its actual knowledge of the racist attitudes and views of said employees, and did condone, ratify and otherwise encourage said racist and discriminatory employment practices by retaining said defendants and did actually know of such acts of inappropriate and offensive behavior by its employees making them unsuitable for the positions in which they were employed. 73. That the corporate defendant's employees, the defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, lacked the qualification, training, temperament, abilities, and suitability for the positions in which they were employed. 74. That the defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., knew or should have known of the defendants' racist attitudes and of their offensive and discriminatory policies and denial of promotion and advancement to persons of African American decent, and generally of their unsuitability for the positions for which they were employed. 75. That the defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., acted in a negligent way by hiring and retaining defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, after they knew or should have known of their background of extreme and vile racist attitudes and of their aggressive nature of imposing their racist attitudes upon others, including the plaintiffs that made them unsuitable for the position in which they were employed. 76. That the defendant MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., acted in negligent way by retaining defendants GLEN QUINTON, PETER GALLEA, JAY SOLOMON, DON ELISANO, LARRY FERRARE, NICHOLAS STEPHENS, PAUL HARGROVE, and other employees of MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC., whose identities are currently unknown, after they knew or should have known of their racist attitudes and vile and racist behavior and their discriminatory employment practices that made them unsuitable for the position in which they were employed. 77. That defendants' conduct was a proximate cause of the injuries suffered by plaintiffs and in violation of plaintiffs' civil rights and human rights and all damages concomitant thereto. 78. That by reason of the foregoing, plaintiffs, and each of them, were caused to suffer certain serious, severe and permanent physical and non-physical personal injuries and conditions, emotional distress, mental injury and suffering, loss of employment, loss of past and future earnings, commissions and bonuses, damage to business reputation, and have otherwise been caused to be damaged thereby. WHEREFORE, plaintiffs YOLANDA OWENS and EDWARD HUTTON demand judgment against defendants as follows: A. for a declaratory judgement[sic] that the defendants' acts, practices and procedures complained of herein violated plaintiffs's rights as secured under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Human Rights Law of the State of New York and the Civil Rights Law of the City of New York. B. on each claim for relief for a monetary judgement in the sum of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars in compensatory damages and Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000.00) Dollars in punitive damages, together with the costs of this action, interest, disbursements and attorney's fees to counsel for plaintiffs. Dated: New York, N.Y. December 26, 1996 SHAFRAN & MOSLEY, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiffs Office & P.O. Address 26 Broadway, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10004 (212) 785-2800