A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent legal organization, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. On October 14, 2024, Roxanne Ronan submitted a complaint to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against The Legal Aid Society. Ronan claims that she experienced continuous discriminatory treatment during her tenure with the organization.
Ronan, an attorney who began working at The Legal Aid Society's Staten Island office in September 2018, alleges that she was subjected to a hostile work environment due to her race. According to the complaint, she reported multiple instances of racial discrimination and microaggressions from colleagues and court personnel but received no support or action from her superiors. She describes an incident in which a white colleague publicly humiliated her in court without facing repercussions. Additionally, Ronan alleges that Black attorneys at The Legal Aid Society were consistently denied professional advancement opportunities compared to their white counterparts.
The complaint also points to systemic issues within the organization. Both the Black Attorneys of Legal Aid (BALA) and Attorneys of Color for Legal Aid (ACLA) have expressed concerns about pervasive racism in the workplace. Despite hiring a third-party consultant to address these issues in 2020, Ronan claims that leadership failed to implement meaningful changes. The consultant ultimately resigned, citing a lack of commitment from leadership to address systemic racism within the organization.
Ronan's legal filing outlines several causes of action, including violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, New York State Human Rights Law, and New York City Human Rights Law. She is seeking various forms of relief, including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm, punitive damages, and coverage for legal fees.
Ronan is represented in this case by attorney Zana Azor of Azor Law PLLC. The case is filed in the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:24-cv-07201.