A financial advisor seeking a job with Ameriprise Financial lost out on the chance after rebuffing sexual advances from the branch manager acting as the “go-between” between her and the firm, according to a new lawsuit filed in Florida state court.
Deborah Lennon is suing 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 sought a financial advisor position at Ameriprise in St. Augustine, Fla., and interacted with Francis “Chip” Cerovac, who she described as Ameriprise’s “exclusive point of contact” in the area. According to Amerprise’s website, Chip Cerovac is a branch manager and vice president at The Cornerstone Group, a Daytona Beach-based Ameriprise firm.
Lennon met Cerovac at several Amerirprise events, including a tour of the firm’s Daytona Beach office, and he allegedly presented himself 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 photos of himself, requesting Lennon send him pictures of herself, “complimenting (Lennon’s) physical attributes and sharing love ballads with her,” according to the complaint.
By the end of April, Cerovac allegedly told Lennon Ameriprise would opt to hire her within the next week, and when they met on May 6, Lennon expected a job offer.
“At the meeting, Mr. Cerovac did not communicate the offer, but instead, brought her flowers and propositioned her to engage in sexual activity with him,” the complaint read. “(Lennon) declined Mr. Cerovac’s advances.”
However, after Lennon rejected him, Cerovac “stopped communicating” with her about the new position and only spoke to her about “his romantic interest” in her, a situation that made Lennon feel “unsafe,” according to the complaint. Lennon argued that it was apparent that Cerovac was a “gatekeeper” to her employment offer, which would only come if she acquiesced.
“(Lennon’s) employment with Ameriprise was conditioned on her engaging in a sexual relationship with Mr. Cerovac,” the complaint read.
At this 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 income, compensation and benefits, as well as the 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.
