Household HSBC Watch

A lawsuit charging HSBC Bank USA with employment discrimination at its Boro Park Branch was upheld by an appellate court last week.

Four African-American women formerly employed by the bank are suing HSBC as well as former branch manager Bruce Kopec and former assistant branch manager, Julissa Campos. The four plaintiffs claim they suffered racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and unlawful retaliation. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Bert A. Bunyan denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, finding that there were triable issues of fact as to whether they had “mixed motives” for their adverse employment decisions. On appeal, a four-judge panel of the Appellate Division, Second Department, dismissed several claims of retaliation and constructive discharge, and upheld the other discrimination claims.