Patricia Biswanger, a lawyer, has filed a lawsuit against Steven Cozen and Patrick O'Connor, her former bosses, that reads like a Scott Turow tale of politics, sexism and egos. (Download the 23-page complaint.) We have no opinion or knowledge of who is right or wrong, correct or incorrect, in the case, which was filed in federal court on Tuesday. There's a long history (scroll down for Gil Spencer item) about the disputes. Still, it's well worth reading just for a hint of the local drama.
In the lawsuit, Biswanger, an accomplished and politically active attorney who formerly worked at the politically influential Philadelphia firm Cozen O'Connor, is accusing the firm of sexual discrimination and retaliatory firing in 2005 stemming from their political activism in Haverford.
Her lawyers write that she was one "among a minority of the firm's lawyers who voluntarily and regularly responded to founding shareholders Steve Cozen's and Pat O'Connor's requests for contributions to the firm's political action committees and designated charities." At the same time, the suit says she has been "heavily involved in politics in Haverford Township for about twenty years. Politics in Haverford is historically contentious."
Indeed, some of the contentiousness has resulted in bribery and theft charges involving others. The lawsuit claims Kenneth A. Clouse, then-President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Delaware County, took issue with Biswanger's "activism" and says:
18. In or about the early Spring of 2004, Judge Clouse unsuccessfully attempted to contact Steven Cozen for the purpose of complaining about Plaintiff and demanding that the Firm terminate her. Plaintiff learned about Judge Clouse's plans from a mutual acquaintance and informed Mr. Cozen, then Chairman of the firm, who assured her that she had nothing to worry about, and that if Judge Clouse wanted to "play politics" with him, he would "welcome the challenge." Upon information and belief, Judge Clouse and Mr. Cozen ultimately did not speak about the matter.
19. Later in the spring of 2004, Judge Clouse retained Richard A. Sprague, Esquire, for the purpose of bringing suit against Plaintiff and Andy Lewis, Plaintiff's friend and political ally, to allege that they had defamed him in the course of objecting to his political activities.
20. Mr. Sprague contacted Patrick O'Connor to complain about Plaintiff's political activities, and, upon information and belief, told Mr. O'Connor that if Plaintiff were not fired, he would include the Firm in the suit.
21. Mr. O'Connor instead told Plaintiff that she was henceforward prohibited from using any "Firm resources" in connection with her political activities.
Later, it says Biswanger "thought of the 'preservation of evidence' letter as a prudent litigation move, not a political activity." And it then levels this accusation:
Upon information and belief, Mr. Cozen, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Berry perceived politically active women as aggressive, overbearing, and unattractive, and therefore a detriment to the Firm. Further, upon information and belief and observation, Mr. Cozen, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Berry prefer and promote women who fit traditional female stereotypes of being attractive, compliant, and mild-mannered, a standard that is not applied to male attorneys.
33. In contrast, Mr. Cozen, Mr. O'Connor, and Mr. Berry had no objection to the widespread, aggressive, controversial and continuing and/or deepening political involvement of numerous male attorneys at the Firm. To the contrary, they supported the political involvement of the Firm's male attorneys, financially and otherwise, whether the involvement was in local, state or national politics.
It goes on. We've put a call in to Cozen O'Connor, which has not yet filed its response in court.
- Thomas Ginsberg
We couldn't help but notice that just one Philadelphia law firm made Working Mother Magazine's 
