A New York state appeals court on Thursday restored most of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Sara Tirschwell — a former TCW Group fund manager and NYC mayoral candidate — against her former employer, considered Wall Street’s first major case of the #MeToo era.
In a 4-0 vote, the Appellate Division in Manhattan said Tirschwell, who sued for $30 million in January 2018, can now seek punitive damages from TCW and her former boss Jess Ravich, who oversaw the firm’s alternative products offerings.
It also revived claims that Los Angeles-based TCW, with about $248 billion of assets under management, retaliated against Tirschwell by firing her for complaining about Ravich’s conduct, and improperly withheld support she needed for her job.
Tirschwell, who last month was thwarted in her bid to run in NYC’s Republican primary for mayor, has said Ravich pressured her to have sex in exchange for supporting her distressed debt fund and withdrew his support when she stopped.
Sara Tirschwell’s sexual harassment lawsuit against her former employer TCW Group is considered Wall Street’s first major case of the #MeToo era.AFP via Getty Images
“We look forward to presenting our case at trial,” Tirschwell’s lawyer Steven Storch said.
TCW has said Tirschwell’s performance had already
