The federal government filed a lawsuit today against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's company, Bloomberg L.P., after receiving complaints from three senior-level executives at the company and finding "a pattern or practice of wrongful discrimination against females based on their sex and pregnancy by decreasing their pay, demoting them, diminishing their job duties and excluding them from other employment opportunities when they become pregnant and when they return from maternity leave." According to a copy of the suit obtained by New York, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that after their pregnancies some of Bloomberg's female employees were demoted, isolated from meetings and other employees without justification, and told, "You are not committed" and "You do not want to be here" by their superiors. When Bloomberg's pregnant staffers complained, the lawsuit alleges, their complaints were dismissed. A Bloomberg spokeswoman could not be reached for immediate comment. —Geoffrey Gray

Related: Baby Bust at Bloomberg? [NYM]
Chairman Mike [NYM]
UPDATE: From Bloomberg spokeswoman Judith Czelusniak: “We believe strongly that this lawsuit is without merit and we will defend the case vigorously.”
UPDATE AGAIN! (You can download a copy of the suithere)