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A former employee alleged that an executive at an Atlanta-based mortgage lender Prime mortgage loan (EPM) sexually assaulted her and executives fostered a culture of widespread sexual harassment within the company.
Former mortgage processor Tiar McCart says in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in October that while employed at EPM, executives – including CEO Eddy Perez – and other employees Subjected her to sexual, touching comments, inappropriate images and solicitations. The lawsuit claims that Perez, on one occasion, asked a working acquaintance of McCart if he “touched this”, referring to having sex with McCart.
EPM’s lawyers, in a response filed with the court on December 23, denied any wrongdoing. According to their response, EPM did not “intentionally or willfully [violate the] the rights of the applicant in any way.
Several members of the management team engaged in inappropriate behavior while employed by EPM, from March 2020 to March 2021, according to McCart’s lawsuit.
McCart alleged that Mark Moloughney, EPM’s chief technology officer, attempted to sexually rape her after a work-related event. The lawsuit says that after Moloughney apologized for the alleged assault, he “led directly” to McCart’s continued employment at EPM and ordered him not to tell anyone about the incident.
The lawsuit claims that McCart subsequently filed a report with the company’s human resources. After investigation, EPM reportedly concluded that the incident was “not related to work”.
Two days later, the company fired McCart for “poor performance,” the lawsuit alleged. McCart called the termination “blatant retaliation” for reporting Moloughney’s behavior, according to court documents.
In its response, EPM asserted that if Moloughney had engaged in unlawful conduct, “which he did not do, such conduct was outside the scope and course of his employment and was not in advancing the business of defendant EPM “.
EPM did not respond to requests for comment.
McCart also alleged that the company’s chief operating officer, Jason Callan, had repeatedly called her “my female dog” and made lists of female colleagues he would have sex with.
But incidents of sexual harassment have spread far beyond the management team, according to the lawsuit. McCart accused the company’s senior management of humiliating her by harassing her and making obscene written comments.
On several occasions, McCart claims that colleagues and members of management have made unwelcome comments about his appearance. She also alleges that management circulated an email that spoke of the body of the complainants. A male co-worker pretended to unzip his pants during a work video conference, according to the lawsuit, and still works at the lender.
On one occasion, according to the lawsuit, McCart arrived at his office to find him “covered in penis-shaped confetti.”
Founded in 2008, EPM is licensed in 49 states and offers a range of lending products, including conventional mortgages, those insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, reverse mortgages and United States Department of Agriculture ready. Through LinkedIn estimates, the company has more than 700 employees.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of similar lawsuits filed this year, accusing lenders of allowing a toxic work culture and failing to take action to prevent sexual harassment.
Former employees of both loan deposit and Residential home finance company. (RealFi) filed lawsuits this year, accusing lenders of allowing repeated sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
McCart seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, fair relief, damages, and attorney fees and costs.
