Amazon, one of the world's largest technology companies, is on the agenda this time with a sexual assault allegation made by an employee and accusations against the company management. Laura Danbom, a manager at Amazon Web Services, filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that she was raped during a business trip. Danbom argued that the investigation carried out after the incident was insufficient, that he was pressured and that his career was negatively affected.
According to the New York Post, according to the allegations in the petition submitted to the state court in Seattle, the incident occurred on October 27, 2023 in New York. Danbom, who works as a marketing and operations manager for Amazon Web Services at Amazon's Seattle headquarters, was on a business trip with his colleagues, including advertising executive Michelangelo Simonte, who was working in Madrid.
Allegedly, after an event organized by Amazon, the group spent time in karaoke bars. Stating that she and Simonte got closer later in the night, Danbom claimed that the manager then came to her hotel room and raped her there.
In the petition, it was stated that Danbom did not give consent before and during the incident. While the narrative in question reflects the allegations submitted by the plaintiff to the court, there is no final judicial decision regarding the incident.
Danbom allegedly contacted the New York Police Department the day after the incident. Stating that he submitted evidence to the police and allowed forensic examination, the manager also included details about a phone call he had with Simonte in the petition.
The petition claimed that Simonte said at the beginning of the conversation that he did not remember having sexual intercourse, and later stated that he was extremely drunk.
Danbom also notified Amazon's human resources department two days after the incident. Stating that the company put Simonte on leave for a while, the plaintiff claimed that he was informed that no policy violation was detected at the end of the investigation.
Danbom's accusations against the company were not limited to the incident itself. The plaintiff argued that Amazon's investigation was incomplete, claiming that witnesses were not interviewed and that the available evidence was not sufficiently collected.
According to the petition, Danbom also claimed that some of the questions asked to him made him responsible for what happened. He also argued that Amazon informed him that he should not talk about his allegations.
Danbom argued that this approach silenced her and limited her ability to warn other female employees about potential risks. In her lawsuit against the company, she claimed that Amazon created a hostile work environment for her and violated a law in Washington state that protects employees from retaliation for speaking out about workplace assaults.
Danbom argued that he moved to a different position within the company in 2024 and that this change harmed his career. The manager, who previously stated that he was on the path to promotion, evaluated his new position not as a career advancement, but as a way to get away from the current situation.
Amazon made a statement regarding the allegations. Company spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that they take allegations of sexual harassment and violence seriously, review all reports meticulously, and take measures up to and including dismissal if a violation is detected. Nantel did not comment in detail about the ongoing case.
In its lawsuit, Danbom sought compensation for past and future wage losses, as well as bonuses and other employment rights. He requested that the amount to be paid be determined by the court.
The accusations against Amazon and the legal responsibilities of the parties are expected to be evaluated during the trial process.
