She says she filed her complaint on July 16 and was terminated two weeks later
A former private banker at JP Morgan Chase says she was fired within weeks of telling HR her manager was sexually harassing her.
Geneva Nicole Jeffries brought her case to federal court in Atlanta on December 8, alleging the termination was retaliation for speaking up about workplace misconduct that included both sexual harassment and racially charged comments about customers.
The allegations paint a picture of what Jeffries describes as an increasingly uncomfortable work environment that began shortly after she returned from family medical leave in May 2024.
Jeffries had been with the bank since April 2022, starting as a relationship banker in Detroit before being promoted to private client banker. She transferred to Atlanta in early 2023 and moved to the Cheshire Bridge branch in February 2024, where she reported to manager Danny Ruiz.
According to the filing, Ruiz regularly stood too close to Jeffries at her workstation and touched her back and shoulders, continuing even after she asked him to stop. The unwanted physical contact was accompanied by what Jeffries characterizes as inappropriate commentary about her appearance, including terms like "beautiful," "honey," and "sweetheart."
Ruiz allegedly suggested Jeffries had undergone cosmetic surgery, claiming she had "a very nice body" and comparing her to women in Miami who get Brazilian Butt Lifts. After one customer visit in July 2024, when an exotic dancer came to the branch with a significant amount of one-dollar bills, Ruiz told Jeffries she should be a stripper because she had the body and could earn the same amount of money in a week of dancing that she earned at the bank in a month, the filing states.
The allegations extend beyond sexual harassment. During June 2025, Jeffries says Ruiz made repeated comments singling out Black customers as suspicious or potential scammers, warning her to be careful when opening their accounts. He did not make similar remarks about white customers, she notes, and routinely scrutinized accounts she opened for African American clients.
In one instance, after Jeffries helped a client who ran an event planning business that hosted swinger sex parties, Ruiz asked whether she participated in such events and said he was curious about them.
On July 16, 2024, Jeffries filed an internal complaint with the bank's human resources department describing the sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and hostile environment.
Two weeks later, she was out of a job.
The bank terminated her employment on July 29, 2024. Jeffries argues the timing speaks for itself, and that as her direct supervisor controlling her daily assignments and performance reviews, Ruiz held significant power over her career trajectory.
She is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as damages for emotional distress. The case also asks for punitive damages and requests a jury trial. No determination has been made on the merits of her claims.
