A former Goldman Sachs managing director’s suit is moving forward against healthcare investment bank for allegations that the new employer failed to pay $10 million in a promised multiyear guarantee.
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley for the District of Massachusetts in part sustained Mairin Rooney’s state law claims regarding compensation she was allegedly promised by the defendants, Leerink Partners. Rooney claimed the chairman and vice chairman of Leerink Partners failed to fulfill promises they made when convincing her to leave her job at Goldman Sachs & Co. She filed suit asserting civil enforcement of the deferred compensation plan, Massachusetts Wage Act violations, and state law contract claims. The defendants moved to dismiss, claiming the minimum guaranteed bonuses and special deferred grant award were subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which preempts all state law claims, among other claims. Rooney agreed that the special deferred grant award is subject to ERISA, but argued the bonuses were not subject to the act and are the foundation for the state law claims.