Carson Group responds to discrimination lawsuit

investmentnews.com:

Carson Group fired back at a former executive’s retaliation and discrimination claims in court last week.

The Omaha-based RIA, which is accused of terminating once-chief marketing officer Mary Kate Gulick in response to her attention to how the firm handled an alleged sexual assault by an employee at an industry conference, filed an answer on Thursday to the complaint. In it, the company acknowledges certain indisputable facts but denies any wrongdoing, urging the court to rule in its favor and award attorneys’ fees.

The case, which was filed in Nebraska State Court but has since been moved to federal court, was brought in March, just ahead of the company’s announcement that founder Ron Carson would move into a chairman role and that Burt White would become CEO. The lawsuit paints unflattering pictures of Carson, White, and other leaders at the firm. Gulick included lengthy messages with White in her complaint, ostensibly showing that the now-CEO changed his stance the company’s handling of the issue and his attitude toward her. The suit also alleges that it was Ron Carson’s decision to not fire the employee accused of sexual assault, but the company denies that claim in its response.

Gulick stated that she had initially planned to resign from the company in 2022, though she stayed on after the alleged incident out of a sense of obligation to protect other women and people she helped bring to Carson Group. She later accepted a role with less responsibility and a lower bonus potential at the urging of former Carson Group managing partner of wealth solutions Jamie Hopkins, according to court records.

“[I]n the summer of 2022, Mr. Hopkins informed plaintiff that outside investors and/or consultants had expressed concerns