Proskauer Rose sued by former CFO for age, gender, disability bias

NEW YORK—A former chief financial officer for law firm Proskauer Rose L.L.P., who had taken medical leave for breast cancer treatment and was subsequently terminated, is suing the firm for $10 million, claiming age, gender and disability discrimination.

According to the lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan on Wednesday, Elly Rosenthal, now 57, was hired as the New York-based law firm's chief financial officer in 1992.

In November, 2007 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing treatment, including two rounds of surgery, she returned to work in March 2008 but decided to take a further three-month medical leave to complete her recovery.

She returned to work in August 2008, and in September was “effectively demoted” to the newly created position of chief administrative financial officer. Her CFO position was given to Jim Barbaria, who had previously reported to her.

Mr. Barbaria and other firm administrators “orchestrated a concerted campaign to undermine Ms. Rosenthal’s authority and erode her position at Proskauer,” according to the lawsuit. On March 11, Ms. Rosenthal was told she was terminated and given three days to vacate her office.

A Proskauer spokesman could not be reached for comment.