Deidre Dare, also known as Deirdre Clark, is a graduate of the Columbia Law School and a former employee at the Moscow office of Allen & Overy. Clark’s job was going fine until she decided to dabble in some erotic fiction as a side job. Some believe that the erotic fiction is based on her time and experiences as an expat in Russia. Allen & Overy decided to terminate Clark’s employment with their firm when this came to light. The London firm was sued by Clark as she claimed that her firing was not warranted but the lawsuit was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. Clark decided to file the lawsuit again, this time in New York, as she made claims of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation.
“I think NY will take jurisdiction. And thank God for that,” Clark said about the possibility of the case being heard in New York.
Justice Mary S. Friedman from the Supreme Court of New York denied a motion filed by Allen & Overy asking to dismiss the case in a 12-page decision. One of the counts dismissed was the one for wrongful termination as Justice Friedman noted Clark’s nature of employment, which was ‘at will.’ The justice did permit seven other counts to stand in the case though. Those counts include sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.
A statement issued by Allen & Overy said, “We have always been entirely satisfied that the termination of Ms. Clark’s employment was justified and lawful. We remain committed to defending Ms. Clark’s claim vigorously.”
Deidre Clark’s response was “I won against Allen & Overy! Isn’t it amazing? I am drinking Champagne. This day has been long awaited. It’s hard pro se to win against A&O and Proskauer — but I did it. Hats off to the NY justice system. I never really had any doubts but I was exuberant all the same.”
