Jewish NY Lawyer HARASSED By Colleagues Wins Hefty Settlement

The New York Post reported the settlement, though the law firm acknowledged no legal wrongdoing.

Debbie Jonas, who served with The Bronx Defenders for eight years, informed her former colleagues of the outcome of the settlement in an email. She recounted being called a "racist," a "colonizer," and a "Karen," in addition to being told that she and her children were "worse than the dirt under your feet." Jonas has children who hold dual citizenship in Israel and the United States and have served in the Israel Defense Forces.

March 16, 2023

Jonas was distressed by the hostile work environment: "I was cursed and badgered until I could no longer stand the hostility." The tension arose after Shannon Cumberbatch, the law firm's managing director of people, equity, and institutional transformation, sent an email addressing the conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. Cumberbatch's message likened the situation to "sanctioned genocide" against Black and Native American communities in the United States.

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As part of the settlement, The Bronx Defenders' Executive Director Justine Olderman apologized for Jonas's mistreatment. The organization also agreed to provide antisemitism training for all employees, facilitated by the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. Olderman expressed shame and regret for not addressing the issue sooner, stating,"I feel a special kind of shame for not speaking up in the face of internal emails containing hateful personal attacks on you and your family."

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Over the past decade, The Bronx Defenders has received over $300 million in city and state funding to represent low-income individuals in criminal and civil cases. According to the firm's website, they defend 27,000 low-income Bronx residents and reach thousands more through community intake and outreach programs.

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A spokesperson for The Bronx Defenders emphasized the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, stating, "We are committed to building a workplace where staff members of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences can thrive and where we navigate disagreement, conflict, and harm in healthy and productive ways."