‘Lazy’ HSBC banker loses breast-baring case

An HSBC banker seeking $1 million (£800,000) after losing his job was fired because he was “extraordinarily lazy” rather than because he exposed sexual harassment, a New York court heard.

Michael Picarella, a former HSBC senior vice-president, claimed that his female boss took out a breast on the trading floor and openly discussed sex in the workplace.

When he stood up for a female co-worker facing harassment, he was fired, he claimed. A lawyer for HSBC said that in fact Picarella was lazy and one of “the very worst performers at his level” in the bank.

Picarella, on a salary of $480,000, sent offensive emails and couldn’t do his job without constant “spoon-feeding”, the court was told.

He sought damages, saying he was fired after a long campaign of “animus” by former bank executive Eileen Hedges and her allies after he stuck up for a female bank analyst who suffered from harassment by Hedges.

The jury rejected his claims. “We are pleased with the verdict and thank the jury for their time and attention in this matter,” said an HSBC spokesman.

A similar case from another former HSBC executive involving allegations of sexual harassment is yet to go before court.

Hedges’ lawyer, Renan Varghese, said before the trial Hedges “has always denied any allegations that she engaged in inappropriate behaviour.”