U.S. Bank Challenges Ruling Allowing Former AI Chief’s Race-Bias Suit To Proceed
By CU Today Staff —
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— U.S. Bank is asking a federal judge to reject a magistrate judge’s recommendation allowing a former artificial intelligence executive’s race-discrimination claim to proceed, arguing the former executive waited too long after learning he would lose his job to file a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The bank filed its objection Sept. 11 in Nallasivan v. U.S. Bank National Association in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, according to Law360.
The lawsuit was filed by Srini Nallasivan, a Concord, N.C., resident and former U.S. Bank executive vice president who led artificial intelligence and analytics initiatives. Nallasivan alleges the bank subjected him to discriminatory treatment after a leadership change, conducted a biased investigation and ultimately shifted his duties to less-qualified white executives. According to the Charlotte Observer’s reporting, Nallasivan said he was told Jan. 30, 2024, that his position was being eliminated, was formally separated from the bank in March, but continued transition work through May 21, 2024. He filed an EEOC charge in November 2024.
U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler recommended Aug. 27 that the discrimination claim be allowed to proceed, rejecting U.S. Bank’s argument that Nallasivan missed the applicable EEOC filing deadline, while recommending dismissal of his defamation claim as untimely and his blacklisting claim for insufficient allegations. Law360 reported that the magistrate recommended permitting the discrimination claim while dismissing the two others. U.S. Bank had argued earlier in the case that Nallasivan filed his EEOC charge more than 100 days too late.
The bank’s latest objection renews that timing argument and asks the district court not to adopt the recommendation on the race-discrimination claim. Nallasivan, who joined U.S. Bank in 2018 after 12 years at Bank of America, alleges he had received strong performance reviews and awards and led AI and analytics projects responsible for more than $600 million in revenue and cost savings before the disputed employment actions began. U.S. Bank has sought dismissal of the case since 2025; Nallasivan has maintained that he contacted the EEOC within the required period.
Originally reported by CU Today.