
Capital Discrimination
In 2014, Diane Straka, along with three male associates, formed a corporation for the purpose of providing accounting services. Each of the founders was an officer, director, and 25 percent shareholder of the new entity. A problem soon emerged: One of the corporation’s employees taunted Straka with sexist jokes and cartoons in the office, and her fellow shareholders refused to rein him in. Additionally, Straka’s work was undermined by some of her co-owners, who condescended to her and countermanded her decisions. Eventually, Straka left the firm and brought a lawsuit in New York State court alleging shareholder oppression. Oppression is … Read more