A former Carson Group executive's lawsuit over the way the firm handled a sexual assault report could be headed for settlement, court records suggest.
Lawyers for Carson Group and its former chief marketing officer, Mary Kate Gulick, are scheduled to update the judge by phone on Nov. 12 on case progression "and the parties' interest in settlement," according to the U.S. District Court for Nebraska docket.
The interim status conference previously was scheduled for Oct. 8 but the parties agreed to postpone and the judge rescheduled it early this month.
Gulick sued the firm in April, alleging the registered investment advisor retaliated against and eventually fired her in 2023 after she voiced concerns over its response to a report that a Carson employee sexually assaulted a participant at a 2022 industry conference.
Gulick "was deeply troubled by Carson Group's complete lack of concern about having an alleged sexual predator working there, where he was interacting and traveling with Carson Group's female employees," her lawsuit states, contending then-CEO Ron Carson decided against firing the employee.
Carson Group denied Gulick's key allegations while acknowledging certain facts. The firm denied it unlawfully discriminated and retaliated against Gulick and wrongfully fired her in violation of various federal and state laws. It disputed her contentions it subjected her to escalating harassment and that her sex was a motivating factor in her firing.
