19-0755-cv
United States Court of Appeals
for the
Second Circuit
MICHAEL MULLAUGH, as Personal Representative of the Estate of MICHAEL A. LORIG,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
–
v.
–
J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO., J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES, LLC, MICHAEL S. LEE, in his individual and professional capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
BRIEF FOR PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT
K
EITH
M.
F
LEISCHMAN
F
LEISCHMAN
B
ONNER
&
R
OCCO
LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellant
565 Fifth Avenue, 7
th
Floor New York, New York 10017 (212) 880-9567
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
……………………………………….…........
1
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT
…………………………………………...
1
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
……..………
1
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
………………………………………..……….
2
A.
The Nature of The Case
……………………………………………….…
2
B.
The Course of Proceedings and Disposition Below
…………..………...
4
STATEMENT OF FACTS
……………………………………………………..
4
A.
Lorig’s Background
…………………………………………………...…
4
B.
Lorig Joins JPMorgan
…………………………………………………...
5
C.
Lorig Commences Short-Term Disability Leave
………………………
6
D.
Appellees Pressure Lorig to Retire Rather than Take Long-Term Leave
………………………………………………………………………
9
E.
Appellees Pressure Lorig To Retire Rather Than Return from Long-Term Leave
………………………………………………………...
10
F.
JPMorgan Quietly
Terminates Lorig’s Trading Licenses
…………….
11
G.
Lorig Continues Treatment
…………………………………………...…
13
H.
JPMorgan Refuses to Let Lorig Return to Work
……………………...
14
I.
Appellees Negotiate In Bad Faith With Lorig
………………………….
15
J.
Lorig Commits Suicide
………………………………………………….
. 17
K.
The Lower Court’s Decision
…………………………………………….
17
ii
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
……………………….………………….
20
STANDARD OF REVIEW
……………………………………………………..
24
ARGUMENT
……………………………………………………………………
25
I.
THE DISTRICT COURT FAILED TO DRAW REASONABLE
INFERENCES IN APPELLANT’S
FAVOR, AND, INSTEAD, IMPERMISSIBLY DREW INFERENCES FAVORING APPELLEES
………………………………………………………….
25
II.
THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN CONCLUDING THAT THE COMPLAINT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ALLEGE CAUSATION
………………………………………………………….
30
III.
THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN REFUSING TO GRANT APPELLANT LEAVE TO AMEND
………………………………...
41
CONCLUSION
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45