Posted on 10/23/2009 7:38:09 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Lawyer accused of demanding sex for job
October 23, 2009 4:21 AM
A Chicago immigration attorney is facing sanctions after he demanded "sexual interaction with me and my partner" as a job condition from a woman seeking a position as legal assistant at their firm.
After the woman responded to an ad that Samir Z. Chowhan placed in the "Adult Gigs" section of Craigslist, he told her in a follow-up e-mail that she would also need to "perform for us sexually" as "part of the interview process."
Chowhan is accused of lying to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and with conduct that "tends to bring ... the legal profession into disrepute," according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the commission, which investigates complaints of attorney misconduct.
Chowhan is also charged with neglect and misrepresentation in two immigration cases in which he allegedly failed to timely file paperwork.
Chowhan first denied he posted the online ad but later admitted it, according to the complaint.
He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
In May, Chowhan posted the online ad seeking an "energetic woman" for "general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for two lawyers."
The ad sought a resume, photographs and "a description of your physical features, including measurements."
A woman, who thought the request unusual but assumed the firm was looking for an attractive secretary, responded the same day and included her measurements and a photo, the complaint said.
Chowhan e-mailed back.
"In addition to the legal work, you would be required to have sexual interaction with me and my partner, sometimes together sometimes separate," the complaint quoted the e-mail as saying. "This part of the job would require sexy dressing and flirtatious interaction with me and my partner, as well as sexual interaction."
The e-mail went on to say that other women had been hired who "have not been able to handle the sexual aspect of the job later. We have to be sure you're comfortable with that aspect, because I don't want you to do anything that you're not comfortable with. So since that time, we've decided that as part of the interview process you'll be required to perform for us sexually."
"When are you available to interview?" the e-mail allegedly read. "I am free to interview today."
The woman was "frightened" by the e-mail and didn't follow through, according to the complaint. She complained to the commission in June.
A panel will review the charges against Chowhan and can then recommend he be disciplined.
--Steve Schmadeke
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Chowhan_Samir_579244439.aspx
ARDC COMPLAINT
https://www.iardc.org/rd_database/disc_decisions_detail.asp
... which is getting harder and harder to do, by the way.
guess his rating in martindale hubbell will drop to a B
I expect him to become Obama’s new Czar for Legal Immigration Assistance.
...unless he agrees to buy expanded advertising for the next couple of years.
If this were David Letterman or Steve Phillips the worst he’d get is a suspension. In Letterman’s case he’d be applauded because it’s “no big deal.”
I wonder if the discipline will include hotsauce in his underwear? He should be disbarred.
Chowhan has been scrubbed from the firm’s website.
“tends to bring ... the legal profession into disrepute,”
Tends to bring? It’s allready brought, no?
He should be disbarred but 90% of lawyers are parasites.
Both Obama and Biden are lawyers.
And then there was Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Although Gore was a law school drop-out.
Lawyer presidents
by Walter Olson on November 5, 2008
25 of the 44 presidents have been lawyers; the WSJ law blog has a list. Only one other besides Barack Obama has been a graduate of Harvard Law. It would take a trivia expert (or perhaps a Harvard grad) to identify that one: Rutherford B. Hayes.
P.S. See also, in comments, John Peralta’s list indicating that lawyer-nominees have lately been more common on the Democratic side than the Republican.
Earth to woman. This isn't a "gig" for Sesame Street.
THEN she's "shocked, shocked!" that there's a "sexual component" to the job.
Yes, I expect that because of the severe Global Warming effect, it will be so cold this winter that Lawyers will have their hands in their own pockets.
Ten will get you twenty he's a member of CAIR also.
She’s just another scammer who is trying to ‘get paid’ for nothing. She knew EXACTLy what this meant - she must have an even sleazier lawyer - that’s all.
Arkansas - Suspension of Bill Clinton law license ends next month
Arkansas Judiciary Online Resources - Attorney Record ^ | HAL9000
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1544869/posts
Lawyers will always protect the interests of their own.
Exactly
she answers an ad on Craig’s List under Adult Gigs
sends measurements
and THEN wonders if something is amiss
That doesn’t excuse the creepiness of the scumbag lawyers
She reported him to the bar association; she didn't file suit (yet). At least for now, she's not getting paid.
A lot of lawyers screw their clients. This one was just more open about it.
That will follow. I don’t care what they say, a woman cannot be that stupid.
This sleazy lawyer mentioned a partner. What does he have to say for himself? I agree that the applicant must be an idiot if she did not read the obvious between the lines message. Is she perhaps an immigrant; someone who has a limited grasp of English? The whole thing is disgusting.
1. Most all Bar Rules prohibit this as a suspendable/disbarable offense.
2. Was the email authenticated? It would seem her sexual harassment lawyer would have sent a demand letter first. In an era of sexual harassment as a settlement tool, I am very suspicious of ALL sides. (how could this POTENTIAL EMPLOYER be THAT stupid! to send a email specifically demanding sex.)
Here's the text of the ad:
Loop law firm looking to hire am [sic] energetic woman for their open secretary/legal assistant position. Duties will include general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for two lawyers in the firm. No experience required, training will be provided. Generous annual salary and benefits will be provided, including medical, dental, life, disability, 401(k) etc. If interested, please send current resume and a few pictures along with a description of your physical features, including measurements. We look forward to meeting you.
Sure, it's bizarre that he asked for a photo (though this is pretty standard in European countries). Weird ad, but I don't think it's fair to say that anyone but someone who was "stupid" would read this ad and think "hmm, this guy wants me to screw him as part of my job description."
This is what we get when we have so many NEW LAW SCHOOLS.
There are more first year seats than there are applications.
ANYONE, LITERALLY ANYONE, with a four year degree can get into an accredited law school somewhere.
They let ANYONE LITERALLY be a lawyer these days. (the pass rate on the bar is pathetically high too)
Yeah; it is routine for CLIENTS to get screwed, though....
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Shafia+Ahmed+Chowhan&init=quick
Wow, not bad. Maybe he can put his wife on payroll and solve a couple of problems. Not sure how he will work out his partnership arrangement.
Really? Here is the warning page by craigslist. The woman had to be an idiot or a player.
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