Case: Jewell v. Jagadesan

1:25-cv-01322 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 30, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On May 1, 2025, Neonu Jewell, a former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and EEO Director at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Acting CEO Dev Jagadesan. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff alleged that she was unlawfully placed on administrative leave and then terminated without severance in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment. Th…

On May 1, 2025, Neonu Jewell, a former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and EEO Director at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Acting CEO Dev Jagadesan. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff alleged that she was unlawfully placed on administrative leave and then terminated without severance in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment.

The case was assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.

Jewell began working at DFC in 2022, leading the agency’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI). Following the January 2025 change in presidential administration, she and a deputy were placed on administrative leave under guidance stemming from President Trump’s executive orders targeting DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) programs. Jewell’s access to government systems was revoked, and she was later given the choice to resign without severance or be terminated. She was ultimately removed from her position, while other DFC staff in comparable roles were not.

The plaintiff alleged that Jewell’s designation as a “DEIA employee” was inaccurate and stigmatizing, and that her termination violated her rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection. She claimed she was denied reassignment and severance benefits afforded to similarly situated employees, and that DFC’s actions were retaliatory and based on her perceived political views.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Scott Shuchart (5/8/2025)

Brian Chen (6/18/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70025013/parties/jewell-v-jagadesan/


Judge(s)

Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Branch, David A. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-01322

Complaint

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70025013/jewell-v-jagadesan/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 5:52 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against DEV JAGADESAN with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11660002) filed by NEONU JEWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Branch, David) (Entered: 05/01/2025)

1 Summons

View on PACER

2 Summons

View on PACER

3 Summons

View on PACER

4 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to DEV JAGADESAN, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (znmw)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER
3

STANDARD ORDER for Civil Cases. See text for details. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on May 4, 2025. (lcdlf1) (Entered: 05/04/2025)

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

RECAP
4

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General May 27, 2025. (Branch, David) (Entered: 06/13/2025)

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

PACER
5

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DEV JAGADESAN served on 5/27/2025, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the District of Columbia Attorney General. Date of Service Upon District of Columbia Attorney General 5/27/2025. ( Answer due for ALL D.C. DEFENDANTS by 6/17/2025.) (Branch, David) (Entered: 06/13/2025)

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

PACER
6

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/27/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/26/2025. (See docket entry 4 to view document)(zdp) (Entered: 06/16/2025)

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

PACER

Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

PACER
7

ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE of Appearance by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of DEV JAGADESAN (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) Modified on 7/25/2025 (zdp). (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
8

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to by DEV JAGADESAN. (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
9

NOTICE of Appearance by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of DEV JAGADESAN (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 07/25/2025)

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

PACER

Notice of Error

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

PACER

NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 7 Notice of Appearance. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect court case number. Please refile. (zdp)

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting the 8 Consent Motion for Extension of Time. The defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before August 28, 2025. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on July 27, 2025. (lcdlf1)

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Appointments/Civil Service)

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Accessibility (DEIA) and/or Antisemitism)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 30, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the US Development Finance Corporation.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Development Finance Corporation (Washington, District of Columbia), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service