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New York Life Faces Hiring Suit Linked to Adult Film

By Allison Bell

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A woman who hoped to work for New York Life alleges in a new lawsuit that the company withdrew a job offer because of an adult film that was made and distributed against her will.

The woman, Melissa King, filed the suit in a New York state court in New York County. According to her complaint, the insurer violated state and city human rights laws in connection with its decision not to hire her.

The applicant: Melissa King won the Miss Delaware Teen contest in 2013. She gave up her crown after managers of the pageant learned she had been in an adult film.

The film was the result of a sex trafficking crime, King says.

“As a result of this crime and others committed against other women, the creators and distributors of this video were subsequently indicted and are currently being prosecuted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California,” according to the complaint.

The job opening: In February 2021, King applied to work for New York Life. She received a job offer via email in April 2021.

She began gathering the licenses and certifications that she needed to work for the company. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority listed her as a New York Life employee.

In June, New York Life told King it was no longer going to move forward with her employment.

“Upon information and belief, defendant New York Life withdrew plaintiff’s offer of employment and/or terminated her employment following an online search which provided evidence of a sex trafficking crime of which plaintiff was previously a victim,” King alleges in the complaint.

New York residents “who are victims/survivors of domestic violence, sex offenses, or stalking are protected against discrimination in employment by the city Human Rights Law,” according to the complaint.

King is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.

Lawyers for New York Life have not yet appeared in court.

In an email, New York Life said, “We deny the allegations and will vigorously defend against the suit.”

Credit: ALM

Allison Bell

Think_Allison

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