A financial advisor looking for a job with Ameriprise Financial lost her chance after rejecting sexual advances from the branch manager acting as a “middleman” between her and the firm, according to a new lawsuit filed in Florida state court.
Deborah Lennon has sued Ameriprise for violating the Florida Civil Rights Act and is seeking financial damages.
Read the lawsuit
According to Lennon's complaint, around March 2022, Lennon applied for a financial advisor position at Ameriprise in St. Louis. Augustine, Fla., and interacted with Francis “Chip” Cerovac, whom she described as Ameriprise's “exclusive point of contact” in the area. According to Amerprise websiteChip Cerovac is a branch manager and vice president at The Cornerstone Group, an Ameriprise firm based in Daytona Beach.
Lennon met with Cerovac at several Amerirprise events, including a tour of the firm's Daytona Beach office, and he allegedly posed as the “person responsible” for deciding whether Amerirprise would hire Lennon.
However, during the hiring process, Cerovac allegedly sent Lennon text messages, beginning with professional pleasantries. The messages quickly escalated to him sending pictures of himself, asking Lennon to send her pictures, “complimenting (Lennon's) physical attributes and sharing love ballads with her,” according to the complaint.
In late April, Cerovac allegedly told Lennon Ameriprise would choose to hire him within the next week, and when they met on May 6, Lennon was expecting a job offer.
“At the meeting, Mr. Cerovac did not communicate the offer, but on the contrary, he brought her flowers and proposed to engage in sexual activity with her,” the complaint said. “(Lennon) rejected Mr. Cerovac's advances.”
However, after Lennon turned him down, Cerovac “ceased communication” with her about the new position and only spoke to her about his “romantic interest” in her, a situation that made Lennon feel “insecure,” according to the complaint. Lennon argued that it was clear that Cerovac was a “gatekeeper” to her employment offer, which would only come if she accepted.
“(Lennon's) employment with Ameriprise was conditioned on her engaging in a sexual relationship with Mr. Cerovac,” the complaint said.
At that point, Lennon withdrew her name from consideration for a role at Ameriprise, according to the complaint.
Lennon is seeking a jury trial, claiming she “suffered and continues to suffer” monetary damages, including past and future earnings, compensation and benefits, as well as pain and suffering from emotional distress.
Ameriprise said it was aware of the lawsuit but declined further comment. Cerovac and attorneys representing Lennon did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.