A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a major financial institution, alleging wrongful termination due to disability discrimination. On February 26, 2026, Esther Bioh filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.
The complaint outlines that Esther Bioh, a Black woman residing in Bronx County, began her employment with the defendant in August 2023 as an analyst. Despite being excited about joining the company’s prestigious Markets and Wealth Services Analyst Program, Bioh faced challenges due to her medical condition. She suffers from menorrhagia and endometriosis, which occasionally required her to work remotely or attend medical appointments. The Bank of New York Mellon Corp allegedly failed to accommodate these needs appropriately. According to Bioh’s complaint, she communicated her need for flexibility due to her condition but was never approached by Human Resources regarding reasonable accommodations until late into her employment.
Bioh claims that after applying for a reasonable accommodation in January 2025—requesting an additional remote workday per week—she was terminated just days after receiving approval for this request. The termination was allegedly justified by citing absences and non-compliance with office attendance mandates. However, Bioh argues that these reasons were pretextual and that her dismissal was directly linked to her disability and accommodation request.
The lawsuit accuses The Bank of New York Mellon Corp of violating several laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). It alleges discrimination based on actual or perceived disabilities and retaliation following Bioh’s accommodation request. The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress and loss of income, punitive damages for malicious conduct by the defendant, as well as attorneys’ fees.
Represented by Susan Adler from The Law Offices of Robert M. Fox, Esther Bioh is demanding a jury trial to address these grievances. This case highlights ongoing issues surrounding workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities and underscores the legal obligations employers have under federal and state laws.
The attorneys involved include Susan Adler representing the plaintiff from The Law Offices of Robert M. Fox. The case is presided over in the Southern District of New York under Case ID 1:26-cv-01613.
Source: 126cv01613_Esther_Bioh_v_The_Bank_of_New_York_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
