Story behind Phaneesh's resignation
FREMONT:
Reka Maximovitch, 30, an American citizen of Bulgarian descent, is
behind Phaneesh Murthy's abrupt resignation as Infosys Technologies'
head of sales and marketing in the US.
Late last month, Murthy had resigned citing that he needed to defend a "wrongful termination and sexual harassment" lawsuit filed by a former employee.
Late last month, Murthy had resigned citing that he needed to defend a "wrongful termination and sexual harassment" lawsuit filed by a former employee.
The case was registered on December 17, last year, at the Alameda
County Courthouse in Oakland.
According to the complaint, Maximovitch started working for Murthy around October 18, 1999.
Immediately after she took over her job, "Murthy began subjecting the plaintiff to an ongoing campaign of sexual harassment and pressured her to engage in a sexual relationship with him," the court papers said.
Murthy's lawyer, Valarie J. Follet, denied the claims made by Maximovitch. "There are a number of inaccuracies in the complaint. Her claims are totally unfounded and cannot be proven in the court of law," Follet said. "The lawsuit reads like a soap opera. We would definitely be dissenting the charges." As the matter is in court, Follet declined to rebut her charges.
Maximovitch alleges that it was a "do-it-or-else" situation for her from the word go. She alleged that Murthy threatened to fire her if she did not comply with his advances. "Murthy repeatedly told the plaintiff that he answered to no one regarding how he ran the US offices," the lawsuit claimed. For fear of losing her job, Maximovitch said she "capitulated to Murthy's incessant advances and had a single, sexual experience with Murthy, which she immediately regretted".
Following this, Maximovitch decided not to return to work. According to the lawsuit, Murthy told her that if she returned to work, things would get back to a professional footing. Although a professional atmosphere prevailed for "a short while," Maximovitch claimed that the advances continued and she unwillingly resumed her relationship with her boss, which continued for months.
When she refused to return to work, she was "constructively terminated by Infosys and Murthy," said the court papers.
Murthy then began to call the plaintiff at home or her new place of employment or even at her parents' house, Maximovitch has alleged. Between January and June, Maximovitch said she obtained two restraining orders against Murthy, the first of which he allegedly violated.
Maximovitch's lawyer, Randall B Aiman-Smith, does not rule out the possibility of an out-of-court settlement. "However, if necessary, my client is ready to take the case for trial."
According to the complaint, Maximovitch started working for Murthy around October 18, 1999.
Immediately after she took over her job, "Murthy began subjecting the plaintiff to an ongoing campaign of sexual harassment and pressured her to engage in a sexual relationship with him," the court papers said.
Murthy's lawyer, Valarie J. Follet, denied the claims made by Maximovitch. "There are a number of inaccuracies in the complaint. Her claims are totally unfounded and cannot be proven in the court of law," Follet said. "The lawsuit reads like a soap opera. We would definitely be dissenting the charges." As the matter is in court, Follet declined to rebut her charges.
Maximovitch alleges that it was a "do-it-or-else" situation for her from the word go. She alleged that Murthy threatened to fire her if she did not comply with his advances. "Murthy repeatedly told the plaintiff that he answered to no one regarding how he ran the US offices," the lawsuit claimed. For fear of losing her job, Maximovitch said she "capitulated to Murthy's incessant advances and had a single, sexual experience with Murthy, which she immediately regretted".
Following this, Maximovitch decided not to return to work. According to the lawsuit, Murthy told her that if she returned to work, things would get back to a professional footing. Although a professional atmosphere prevailed for "a short while," Maximovitch claimed that the advances continued and she unwillingly resumed her relationship with her boss, which continued for months.
When she refused to return to work, she was "constructively terminated by Infosys and Murthy," said the court papers.
Murthy then began to call the plaintiff at home or her new place of employment or even at her parents' house, Maximovitch has alleged. Between January and June, Maximovitch said she obtained two restraining orders against Murthy, the first of which he allegedly violated.
Maximovitch's lawyer, Randall B Aiman-Smith, does not rule out the possibility of an out-of-court settlement. "However, if necessary, my client is ready to take the case for trial."
source
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-08-02/india-business/27291609_1_reka-maximovitch-sexual-harassment-infosys-and-murthy
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