A longtime employee’s explosive lawsuit accuses the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office of discrimination, harassment, and betrayal after nearly four decades of service.
At a Glance
- Veteran Joan Davila alleges discrimination after taking family leave
- Claims include revoked insurance, demotion, and lost overtime
- Harassment reportedly escalated in 2024 after caregiving leave
- Lawsuit demands accountability from Manhattan DA’s Office
Allegations of Workplace Misconduct
Joan Davila, a veteran employee with nearly 40 years at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, has filed a discrimination lawsuit following what she describes as a shocking reversal in her treatment after taking leave to care for her dying parents. According to the New York Post, Davila had served as the head of the extradition office before being stripped of her position during her family leave.
Upon her return in early 2023, Davila found her prestigious role reassigned. She faced canceled health insurance coverage, lost overtime opportunities, and what she described as cold indifference from supervisors when she raised concerns about her treatment.
Watch this report breaking down the allegations against the DA’s Office.
Fallout and Legal Proceedings
After returning to work, Davila alleges that retaliatory measures only intensified when she again needed time off to assist her ailing father in 2024. She claims Irish supervisor Siobhan Carty subjected her to erratic deadlines, denial of overtime, and reassignment to tasks far below her qualifications.
“There’s no empathy,” Davila said, calling the office she loved for nearly four decades a “toxic environment,” according to the New York Post.
Despite complaints to union officials and management, Davila says her concerns went unanswered, pushing her to seek justice through the courts.
Responses and Implications
Davila’s attorney, John Scola, strongly condemned the DA’s Office, stating that “[w]hen the DA’s Office violates anti-discrimination laws, it betrays the very principles it is sworn to uphold — and it must be held accountable,” as quoted by the New York Post.
The Manhattan DA’s Office and the city’s Law Department have declined to comment on the pending litigation. However, the allegations expose wider systemic issues concerning how public agencies treat long-serving employees, particularly when personal hardships arise.
Davila’s case now stands as a critical flashpoint in the broader battle for workplace rights, dignity, and real institutional accountability in the public sector.
