Thai woman sues JP Morgan for race bias

**johnbkk** · 10-08-2008, 12:54 AM

from The Nation, 1 Aug 2008

Thai woman sues JP Morgan for race bias

Earlier this week, media reported the rare case of a Thai woman suing a foreign bank for race bias.

A former JPMorgan Chase and Co associate in London sued the bank on Monday at a UK employment tribunal, claiming she was treated differently [than] white employees.

According to Bloomberg, Sumanee Tharapatn, a Thai national who worked at JPMorgan Europe's London office, said she felt "targeted" and "bullied" by her manager, and quit because she felt she would never be promoted to vice president.

"I do not feel a person of, for example, British or United States background, would have been treated in the same way," Sumanee said at a hearing on Monday.

While the maximum amount Sumanee can be awarded for wrongful dismissal is about 60,000 (Bt4 million), a successful claim for racial discrimination exposes employers to unlimited damages. She is seeking undisclosed damages.

JPMorgan lawyers argued that Sumanee, who oversaw credit product control, was not able to take constructive criticism, and that feedback from managers reflected issues with her management ability, delegating skills and product knowledge. She joined JPMorgan Europe in August 2006 and left a year later.

Daphne Romney, JPMorgan's lawyer, accused Sumanee of "throwing allegations of racism around" without substance. Romley also said Sumanee rejected critical comments about her own job performance while making accusations about managers. "You're very free with your criticism of everyone else and you were when you were working there," Romney said.

Colette Campbell, a spokeswoman for JPMorgan, said she had no comment when reached last Monday.

__________

Having lived in Thailand, the allegations have a cultural ring of truth that would be very difficult for some JP Morgan lawyer to have hit upon accidentally.

I also like the fact that Sumanee worked at JP for less than a year before deciding "she was never going to make vice president". And, of course, this had nothing to do with her own performance, about which she offers no evidence either way, just her "feeling" that it was someone else's fault.

I'll stop there.

Thoughts?

**dirtydog** · 10-08-2008, 01:04 AM

Hell, I want to be vice president of JP Morgan, I did have a reasonable education and Khao San road has loads of degrees I could present, but at 40 odd I doubt I will manage it in my lifetime

**kingwilly** · 10-08-2008, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by johnbkk

Having lived in Thailand, the allegations have a cultural ring of truth that would be very difficult for some JP Morgan lawyer to have hit upon accidentally. I also like the fact that Sumanee worked at JP for less than a year before deciding "she was never going to make vice president". And, of course, this had nothing to do with her own performance, about which she offers no evidence either way, just her "feeling" that it was someone else's fault. I'll stop there. Thoughts?

without knowing further details, i feel you may already be on the money...

**EmperorTud** · 10-08-2008, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by johnbkk

just her "feeling" that it was someone else's fault.

It always is in Thailand.

A nation of children, none of whom take responsibility for anything.

It's my biggest gripe about this place.

**britmaveric** · 10-08-2008, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Hell, I want to be vice president of JP Morgan, I did have a reasonable education and Khao San road has loads of degrees I could present, but at 40 odd I doubt I will manage it in my lifetime

dirtydog - dare say you get a new birth certificate at KSR while you are getting the degree.

**Thormaturge** · 10-08-2008, 05:25 AM

Reading the JP Morgan description of this lady you don't really need to know her nationality.

I want to sue the United States of America because I can't be President, being English. I fugure that is as clear a definition of racism as you can get. If Obama gets the job I might well go for colour discrimination too.

**pai nai ma** · 10-08-2008, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by johnbkk

"I do not feel a person of, for example, British or United States background, would have been treated in the same way," Sumanee said at a hearing on Monday.

She seems to think all US/Brit citizens are white.

**panama hat** · 10-08-2008, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by pai nai ma

Originally Posted by johnbkk

"I do not feel a person of, for example, British or United States background, would have been treated in the same way," Sumanee said at a hearing on Monday.

She seems to think all US/Brit citizens are white.

. . . and can be VPs . . . there's a reason there are many Indians and few Chiefs . . . I hope she gets counter-sued as well as sued for legal costs . . . piss off back to Burriram.

**Redneck** · 10-08-2008, 12:21 PM

I was a VP at a Wall Street investment bank for years and never got Senior Vice President. (I didn't even get the President's job when he fell off a snowmobile and killed himself)

I'm litigating !

**sabang** · 10-08-2008, 02:17 PM

^ Some Redneck.

**panama hat** · 10-08-2008, 06:31 PM

Actually, isn't it advantageous to be a minority where public relations are concerned? This slapper had it all wrapped up: female and Asian . . ., that's two plus points. If she is a lesbian and left handed she would have been a shoe-in. Caught the Thai disease . . . wanting everything now, now, now

**Redneck** · 10-08-2008, 07:26 PM

Well, according to Bloomberg, they've settled. She lost her racial discrimination case though. Difficult to say what 'credit product control ' actually is. It could be something mundane like back office operations.

Like i said, being a VP wasn't actually a big deal. But you can all rest assured this lady won't get a rank elsewhere either. She's no star in any sense, and now she has sued her employer, she'll be blackballed in London.

Probably back in some obscure Thai brokerage afore long.....

"JPMorgan Chase & Co., the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, won a racial discrimination lawsuit Aug. 1 filed by a former London associate. She successfully argued the bank had unfairly dismissed her.
The bank and Sumanee Tharapatn, who oversaw credit product control at JPMorgan Europe Ltd., agreed to undisclosed compensation on the dismissal claim, her lawyer Damian McCarthy told a London Employment Tribunal. She had also claimed she was targeted because she is a Thai national, an allegation the panel rejected.
Tharapatn testified that she was bullied and left a year into the job in August 2007 because she thought she would never become a vice president. While the tribunal said feedback about her job performance was ``relentlessly negative'' and ``unbalanced,'' that and other incidents didn't amount to racism.
``There is no indication any of these were racially connected,'' the panel said. ``We are satisfied this was an unfair dismissal.''
Tharapatn said she was hired by managers who left almost immediately after she started and was quickly promoted to oversee credit products with little support or assistance. JPMorgan argued that Tharapatn couldn't take constructive criticism and had problems managing staff.
Unfair dismissal claims are generally capped at about 60,000 pounds ($119,000). Companies that lose racial discrimination claims can be exposed to unlimited damages.
Both Tharapatn and a spokeswoman for JPMorgan declined to comment after the hearing".

**Gerbil** · 10-08-2008, 07:34 PM

^ She'll become one of the FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hongkong)

**chitown** · 10-08-2008, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Redneck

Tharapatn couldn't take constructive criticism

Originally Posted by Redneck

Both Tharapatn and a spokeswoman for JPMorgan declined to comment after the hearing".

JP Morgon did not comment as they were being ethical.

Tharapatn did not comment as she had lost face.

**EmperorTud** · 10-08-2008, 08:27 PM

I thought she had quit? How can she win unfair dismissal?

**good2bhappy** · 10-08-2008, 08:42 PM

^ it is called constructive dismissal

**EmperorTud** · 10-08-2008, 09:18 PM

She was shit at her job, was told repeatedly she was shit at her job, and she quit because she couldn't handle it.

Typical of today's UK to award a poor performer and a quitter.

**kingwilly** · 10-08-2008, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Redneck

Unfair dismissal claims are generally capped at about 60,000 pounds ($119,000).

geez, she shouldnt be too unhappy with that little pocket of money....

bkkandrew · 11-08-2008, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Gerbil

^ She'll become one of the FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hongkong)

Does that make MOMO a FIBTH?

**nidhogg** · 11-08-2008, 10:12 AM

Of course, there is a HUGE piece of irony with a citizen of Thailand, where racism is a daily fact of life, and almost enshrined in the constitution, suing others for racism. The fact that UK *has* anti racism legislation while Thailand has fuck all has to make one laugh.

**panama hat** · 11-08-2008, 11:28 AM

She'll come back to Burriram complaining of how awful the west is and how racist we all are . . . as she buys a new car, house and beats up her Burmese maid who gets paid 1000baht a month and who hasn't left the house for years.

**kingwilly** · 11-08-2008, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by panama hat

She'll come back to Burriram complaining of how awful the west is and how racist we all are . . . as she buys a new car, house and beats up her Burmese maid who gets paid 1000baht a month and who hasn't left the house for years.

sad thing is that prolly isnt that far from the truth....

60K Sterling is gonna go a long way in Issan.

**panama hat** · 11-08-2008, 09:29 PM

I wasn't joking. . .

Another thing that irritates the shit out of me is locals (Thai, MYs, PRCs, Indons etc...) going (vacation,migratin ...) to Aus, Europe or the US and complaining about racism there - while they have mastered the art themselves at home for decades. . .

By the way, my Asian friends, people shouting abuse at you on the roads isn't racism - - - it is because you are completely shit-arsed self-absorbed, selfish and dangerous drivers.

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