JPMorgan manager fights job suspension

A senior manager at a subsidiary of JPMorgan Bank has alleged she was unfairly suspended and is facing possible dismissal after she raised issues internally that her employer was not complying with the Central Bank’s anti-money laundering policies.

Rachel Curtis is a senior credit and risk officer and vice-president at Chase Paymentech Europe, a Dublin-based subsidiary providing services, including processing payments to online retailers for JPMorgan.

She has held that position since 2009, earning a package of €170,000 per year.

In her proceedings against JPMorgan Bank (Ireland) Plc and Chase Paymentech Europe, Ms Curtis seeks various orders, including an injunction preventing her employers from taking any steps to dismiss her from her post and an order lifting her suspension.

She is also seeking orders preventing the defendants from embarking on a disciplinary process against her, and an order that she be allowed to continue to carry out her duties.

Yesterday at the High Court, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted Ms Curtis permission to serve short service of proceedings against JPMorgan and Chase Paymentech Europe.

Leave was granted on an ex-parte basis.

The judge said he was not disposed to granting any orders in favour of Ms Curtis without the other side being heard.

The case will come before the court again on Monday.

Peter Ward SC, for Ms Curtis, said his client was suspended earlier this month arising out of concerns she had expressed to her superiors that the company was not complying with the Central Bank’s anti-money laundering policies.