Dancing Bond Trader Allegedly Harassed Women Before

Jessica Franqui

The Tullett Prebon bond trader accused of forcefully tangoing with an administrative clerk and then stepping on her breasts has previously been accused of showing up to work drunk and sexually harassing female employees. Victim Jessica Franqui's lawyer, Barry Weiss, told the Staten Island Advance, "There are other allegations out there and we're gonna get to the bottom of it." Franqui has also been unable to return to work since the incident. Weiss said, "My client is completely devastated. She can't get her life together."

Franqui was allegedly closing the trading floor on January 6th when trader Marcus Bolton invited her for drinks with some coworkers. She declined, but Bolton grabbed her and "without warning and began to dance with her," according to court papers. Bolton smelled of alcohol, and "held her close to his face and body against her will." Franqui pushed herself away and fell to the floor, when Bolton stepped on her right breast. Weiss said, "He has a size 14 foot. He steps down on her breast hard, and then he pumped his fists in the air as if to say, 'Look, I'm the man.'" When she told him to get off, he allegedly said her breasts were too big for her to feel anything.

Franqui reported the incident to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Bolton was suspended without pay for three months, but has returned to his job in Manhattan. Weiss said, "[The company] found inappropriate conduct and suspended [Bolton], but they never acknowledged he was drunk in the workplace. He was never sent to sensitivity training. He certainly wasn't fired. Mr. Bolton got a slap on the wrist and it's business as usual on Wall Street." Lawyers also say the whole incident was caught on tape, except that "the critical three to four seconds when she's being stepped on are missing." Perhaps that part of the dance was forbidden.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on August 17, 2010 12:35 PM

Comments [rss]

olympus51342

The real issue here is the compensation culture, yes the guy is a real dick, and he may have a low regard of everyone, but the compensation culture is just out of hand. The real way to settle this is for the guy to be laid on the same floor with all his so called mates and co workers around and for the lady to kick him as hard as she can in the nuts. Job done life moves on.

Eurobrat

The case is rather sad but far less so than the quality of comments left by hypersensitive Americans. Where does this talk of $40 million come from. For what? How can that sum ever possibly be justified when it involves a breast being trodden on?

Devastated? Lazy, ugly, cow. For God's sake, if she wants to make her sex look less meagre she should come out saying the guy was a drunk twat and leave it at that. If a woman did that to me I wouldn't even get sympathy: I'd get laughed at if I tried to pull that rubbish.

Yet another reason to be thankful for international flights. Adieu USA, it could only happen there

exnyer

Sounds like Kojak has BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!!!!!

John L

I hope she gets the $40 Million and this scumbag gets tossed on his ass but it won't happen. She'll settle for less than a mil and he'll continue being the asshole he is but at least she'll get a house out of this.

LESuicide

Gross. Why do people in high finance have such low standards?

hashedz

Unfortunately money can't buy you class.

As the late, great Pat Paulsen once said:

"I've upped my standards. Now, up yours!"

fuboy

Since they seem to be a pivotal piece of this case, I can't properly comment until I see the size of her tits.

Madly Hatting

If the bra doesn't fit, you must acquit.

undraccoon

I find it annoying when the victims photos are attached to the article.

Kojak

I have to agree. She's not that cute at all. Perhaps Gothamist can find a better picture.

"My client is completely devastated. She can't get her life together." RELAX. He danced with you and stepped on your Tit. Hardly the life shattering experience most people deal with from one time or another. Sue his ass and be done with it.

'He was never sent to sensitivity training'

Yeahhhh. That'll help. & If course they didn't fire him. He must be making a good penny for the firm.

SFNY

The victim is physically assaulted in her place of work by someone she knows and you're telling her to relax? You have no clue how the brain works, let alone how it handles trauma. Bolton isn't the only one who needs some sensitivity training, Trolljak.

Kojak

I have enraged the feminist community. Excellent. Fire away.

As thoughtless as I sound I AM on her side, but she should seek solace in the fact that she will soon reap HUGE rewards following a massive settlement which will soon be offered to her on behalf of the firm & Bolton. Will he continue to work there? Depends on how much newstime this story gets. The firm does care about their reputation.

militza

don't worry Kojak I'm still your biggest fan.

I know you are a bright enough guy to realize that a trampled tit would hurt and that you would never do such a thing : )

Kojak

Thank you. I may be a prick, but I'm not an asshole.

rosweed

"Thank you. I may be a prick, but I'm not an asshole." That is the best response! You are one funny ass. Notice I didn't say asshole. I'm going to use that the next time I get called out for being a prick.

Mr. Know-It-All

And you haven't even heard from the legal community yet. Don't you understand? Her life is COMPLETELY DEVASTATED. She needs $40 mil. in order to return to her accustomed manner of living for the rest of her natural life.

Kojak

Yes. & it'll take around $30 Million of it to repair her smooshed boob. OOhh the humanity.

SAdly, the only people who will win here are the lawyers. Barry Weiss must've busted quite a nut after he got the call from Miss Franqui.

WorksInDUMBO

oh please. That was an uncomfortable incident, but I'd hardly call that being "physically assaulted"! and this crap where she is now "completely devastated" is just a bunch of bullshit.

This is an insult to any woman who has ever ACTUALLY been physically assaulted.

SFNY

Oh, please, just cut the feminist-baiting already.

I'm not surprised that you're completely missing my point. I take umbrage with your lack of sympathy for someone who was assaulted and traumatized, and that you're spouting "Relax" to someone who is no doubt suffering from PTSD.

My response is not about feminism: it's about humanism.

Kojak

I didn't miss your point at all, I merely sidestepped it. I can't argue with you unless you're wrong. I can't let things like facts and a sense of morality cloud my judgement.

She'll get through her PTSD after a nice swim in her newly built Money-bin after she gets her settlement money.