Three additional former or current female employees have been added to a lawsuit accusing Pacific Investment Management Co. of not appropriately dealing with employment issues including gender and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and violations of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act and the federal Equal Pay Act.
Brent R. Harris, formerly managing director and chairman of PIMCO Funds, was named in the amended suit, because of alleged sexual harassment, stalking and retaliation by his former administrative assistant, Amanda Thiem, who left the firm in 2018.
Mr. Harris retired from PIMCO in October 2020.
Daniel Tarman, executive vice president and global head of corporate communications, also was named in the suit for alleged sexual harassment directed at Ms. Thiem. He left PIMCO in 2015.
The amended suit was filed Thursday in California Superior Court in Santa Ana, adding Ms. Thiem; Corie Hansen, formerly a senior executive assistant; and Danielle Bertuzzi, who is an administrative assistant at PIMCO.
The addition of Ms. Thiem, Ms. Hansen and Ms. Bertuzzi brings the suit's plaintiffs to five.
The original suit was filed Nov. 17 by Nancy Abrolat, lead attorney on the case, from Abrolat Law, El Segundo, Calif.
Ms. Hansen also alleged sexual harassment by PIMCO employee Stephano Erb, a senior associate, at a PIMCO holiday party as well as gender discrimination and other charges against PIMCO, the suit showed.
Ms. Bertuzzi was subjected to harassment and disability discrimination because of a medical condition, the suit said.
"Even clear instances of sexual assault and harassment fail to generate any consequences or disciplinary action. In fact, the opposite occurs – female employees face retaliation for bringing their complaints to (PIMCO's) Human Resources (department)," Ms. Abrolat said in a news release from her law firm.
A statement from PIMCO spokesman Michael Reid said the firm "thoroughly investigates each and every allegation of misconduct that is brought to our attention. PIMCO is committed to providing employees with an inclusive workplace that is free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation of any kind and follows strict procedures when informed of allegations of misconduct," he said. "PIMCO holds its employees to the highest ethical standards, so anyone found to have engaged in harassment, discrimination, sexual impropriety or any other misconduct would have no place at the firm."
PIMCO manages $2.21 trillion.
