Robinson Bradshaw Settles Fraud Suit Alleging ‘Diversity Props’

A former Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson attorney has settled her fraud lawsuit accusing the firm of using minority lawyers as “diversity props.”

Sharika Robinson, a black former associate, filed her suit in March, claiming the law firm fraudulently uses its few minority lawyers to market itself as a “trailblazer,” despite its mostly white male partnership. The “blatant lies” the firm told about its commitment to diversity deceived Robinson into going to work there, she claimed. The suit also targeted four male partners, three white and one black.

The firm countered that none of the statements Robinson cited contained a factual misrepresentation she could have relied on to her detriment, as a fraud claim requires. Instead, its advertised commitment to diversity was aspirational, and other statements about the firm’s work culture were at most non-actionable opinions, Robinson Bradshaw argued.

The preliminary settlement was announced in a brief July 29 docket entry that didn’t disclose the deal’s terms.

Judge Kenneth D. Bell of the Western District of North Carolina, who’s overseeing the case, gave the two sides until Aug. 28 to agree on a stipulation of dismissal. Otherwise the judge will dismiss the case without prejudice, according to the docket order.

Robinson was represented by Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm, Chatman Law Offices LLC, and The Law Offices of T. Greg Doucette PLLC. Van Kampen Law and Morgan Lewis & Bockius represented Robinson Bradshaw.

The case is Robinson v. Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, W.D.N.C., No. 19-cv-109, settlement announced 7/29/19.