Flagstar Bank NA in Manhattan, NY, Accused Of Disability Discrimination

NYS DHR Case No. 10259886: Disability Discrimination and Retaliation

On January 5, 2025, the Law Office of David H. Rosenberg P.C. filed a Verified Complaint of disability discrimination and retaliation on behalf of its disabled client (“Complainant”) with The New York State Division of Human Rights (“Division”) against Flagstar Bank NA, Manhattan, NY, (“Flagstar” and “Company”), and individual Respondents Nick Mucilli (“Mucilli”), Angela Ricciardi (“Ricciardi”), Shereda Thompson (“Thompson”), Robin Karpinski (“Karpinski”), Andrew Calvo (“Calvo”), and Jennifer Gonzalez (“Gonzalez”), and all together as (“Respondents”). 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around January 23, 2025, Ricciardi, the Treasury Management Sr. Sales Officer, generally said to Complainant, “I don’t know if it had to do with age, the weather, or you are just too slow to get that the client is anxious to sign up. You used to be sharper. What happened to you?”  This was said in front of Blanca Llanos (“Llanos”). Other non-disabled employees were not treated this way (“Jan. 23, 2025 Incident”). 

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around January 27, 2025, Complainant reported the Jan. 23, 2024 Incident to Ralph Aiello (“Aiello”), the treasury management sales vice president lead. Notwithstanding her complaints, no investigation was conducted, no corrective action was given, and no disciplinary action was taken. On the contrary, Complainant was subjected to an even more hostile work environment in retaliation. 

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, Ricciardi began retaliating by typically omitting information when she submitted work requests to Complainant. When Complainant would typically reach out to Ricciardi for more information, Ricciardi would typically ignore calls or come up with excuses as to why she was unavailable to communicate in any way. 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around February 18, 2025, Llanos told Complainant generally that, “Angela (“Ricciardi”) contacted me, she does not understand why you don’t answer her right away, and it seems you are not able to do what she tells you to do. Does Angela always talk about you that way? It is disrespectful.” Other non-disabled employees were not treated this way.

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around February 21, 2025, Complainant opposed the treatment, complaining to Aiello generally, “Angela (“Ricciardi”) has been purposely omitting information when submitting requests to me and, when I tried to get in touch with Angela for clarification, she has been ignoring my calls and emails and she has been reluctant to communicate back to provide guidance. Please let me know if I should contact HR, since I feel at this point, she is being hostile towards me.” This was said in front of Mucilli. Aiello said, “Don’t engage HR; let Nick and I talk to Angela, and we will get back to you.” However, nobody ever “got back” to Complainant. Notwithstanding her complaints, no investigation was conducted, no corrective action was given, and no disciplinary action was taken. On the contrary, Complainant was subjected to an even more hostile work environment in retaliation.

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around March 5, 2025, Ricciardi ridiculed Complainant’s comprehension skills after the injury, saying in an angry tone, “What is the part that is difficult for you to understand?” whilst making a face consistent with one expressing disgust. Other non-disabled employees were not treated this way.

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around March 11, 2025, Ricciardi sought to embarrass Complainant by trying to get her to exhibit her facial injuries on camera during a group call with Mucilli and Thompson. On the call, Ricciardi generally said, “(Complainant) is required to show her face on camera; what is the point if nobody can see (Complainant’s) face on camera?” Thompson added, “I agree, (Complainant) needs to show face on calls like everybody else.” Ricciardi generally reasoned, “What is the big deal to showing face on camera? We are all beautiful.” 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around March 14, 2025, Ricciardi ridiculed Complainant in front of Mucilli, “You should reach out to Robin’s team to get trained. I really don’t have time for you.” Other non-disabled employees were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around March 18, 2025, Treasury Management Implementation Specialist, Nicole Formato (“Formato”), admitted to Complainant that Ricciardi had complained about her reasonable accommodation request to work from home. Formato told Complainant generally, “I don’t understand why Angela has to badmouth you every time she calls me to assist her. Angela said, Don’t you think it’s already too long for (Complainant) to be home, and not to be up and running here? A fall is nothing.”

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around April 17, 2025, Formato admitted to Complainant in front of Karpinski, “Angela mentioned you don’t know what you are doing, she believes you have problems registering when she talks to you because you ask way too many questions. She said she does not have the time to babysit you.” Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around May 5, 2025, Complainant physically returned to 1400 Broadway for the first time in 2025, using a cane to help with her limited mobility. Treasury management senior sales officer Thomas Last (“Last”) saw the cane and asked why he hadn’t seen Complainant on camera for any of the 2025 work conference calls. After Complainant explained her facial injuries as being the reason she felt uncomfortable on camera, Last admitted generally, “Even the pretty face from Long Island, what is her name, Michelle Marinello (“Marinello”), she doesn’t show her face on calls either.” Thus, Complainant believed that non-disabled employees – like Marinello – were able to conduct faceless telephone conferences without the ridicule that she, Complainant, suffered. 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around May 6, 2025,  Ricciardi saw Complainant using her cane and said to her in front of Formato and Karpinski, “I did not know you were walking with a cane, I did not know it was that bad. Come on, (Complainant) should have been recovered by now; showing up with a cane to work was just a show.” Aiello asked, “Are you walking with a cane because of Angela? Angela mentioned she has a hip problem, and she walks fine; you, on the other hand, are faking it.” Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, Complainant was on leave from May 12, 2025, until June 1, 2025. When she returned, Thompson and Ricciardi were typically unresponsive to Complainant’s request for clarification on assignments they had given her. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on June 16, 2025, Complainant told Mucilli, “Angela and Shereda have not been responsive to my requests for clarification.” Mucilli admitted, “I know, hang in there, I will speak to them, and get back to you.” However, nobody ever “got back” to Complainant. Notwithstanding her complaints, no investigation was conducted, no corrective action was given, and no disciplinary action was taken. On the contrary, Complainant was subjected to an even more hostile work environment in retaliation. 

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around June 17, 2025, Complainant received a mass email from Anna Khrimyan instructing her to move her belongings from the 24th to the 4th floor on June 20, 2025. The 3-day notice did not give the disabled Complainant enough time to schedule a non-disabled assistant, like her husband, to assist with the move, so Complainant asked Calvo for an additional week to find an assistant to help her move. Calvo told her there would be no accommodations and that she “must come in on Friday” to move all of the heavy boxes herself. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around June 20, 2025, Gonzalez instructed Complainant to physically move heavy boxes from the 24th to the 4th floor by herself. Complainant told Gonzalez about her injuries and how she would be unable to move the boxes. Gonzalez told Complainant to move them anyway. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around June 25, 2025, Complainant submitted a reasonable accommodation request to work from home due to needing to attend physical rehab at least 3 days per week. Complainant repeatedly followed up with HR Benefits Representative Susan Lalena about her reasonable accommodation requests, which were never granted. Indeed, Respondents also refused to engage in the interactive process. Indeed, Respondents refused to put anything in writing, and Complainant continued to physically show up to work. 

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around July 2, 2025, Llanos admitted to Complainant, “Angela said you are not sick, you are just lazy, you don’t need a cane, and upset called me to complain you were out again. Angela said you don’t need to walk to help her, while laughing.” 

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around July 17, 2025, Formato admitted to Complainant that she had been purposely left out of Team Meetings. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around July 22, 2025, while Complainant was using a cane at the Premises, she heard the male IT desk manager (“IT Desk Manager”)  say in a voice loud enough for her to hear, “Oh please, look at her, she is faking it” in front of Executive Assistant, Katrina Walker. 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around August 21, 2025, Calvo generally said to Complainant, “With your experience, knowledge, and personality, you can probably find a higher-paying job somewhere else.” Around this time, Ricciardi, who Complainant was covering for at work, stopped sending Complainant work requests altogether. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around September 3, 2025, Complainant complained to Calvo about Ricciardi not sending any work requests. Notwithstanding her complaints, no investigation was conducted, no corrective action was given, and no disciplinary action was taken. On the contrary, Complainant was subjected to even more retaliation. 

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around September 4, 2025, Complainant learned that the other person she covered for, Thompson, had replaced her with Miguel “Migg” Galvez, a non-disabled treasury management implementation specialist. She complained to Calvo that not only had Ricciardi replaced her, but that Thompson had also replaced her. Complainant specifically said she believed this was all happening because of her reasonable accommodation requests that Respondents still would not grant in writing, notwithstanding her repeated requests. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As also alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around September 15, 2025, the IT Desk Manager said to help desk manager Sejdo Mamudoski and male employee Ed (last name unknown) in a voice loud enough for Complainant to hear, “Why are you sorry? She is faking it anyway.” They then laughed as Complainant continued towards the IT area to reset her password. Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way. 

As alleged in the Verified Complaint, on or around September 16, 2025, Formato told Complainant generally that “everybody has to now report to Robin, and management told Robin nobody likes to work with you.” Other non-disabled employees, those who did not request reasonable accommodations, and those who did not oppose discriminatory practices, were not treated this way.

As alleged in the publicly filed sworn-to-pleadings, on or around September 25, 2025, Complainant was terminated on account of disability and in retaliation of her opposition to it as well as her reasonable accommodation requests.

As also alleged in the Verified Complaint, Complainant suffered, and continues to suffer, emotional and economic damages as a result of the discriminatory and retaliatory treatment described herein. 

If you or someone you know is suffering at work, contact The Law Office of David H. Rosenberg, P.C. at (516) 741-0300.

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The information and allegations cited to herein comes directly from publicly filed documentation and are meant as a means of attorney advertising.