Another group of Armenian American California residents have added their names to a growing list of plaintiffs suing financial giant Citibank, accusing the institution of allegedly discriminating against people with ethnic Armenian last names.
The lawsuit was initially filed Dec. 22 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, but was removed to Los Angeles federal court on Feb. 23.
Eighty-five individuals signed their name to the complaint, which was filed by attorney Harout Keosian and others with his firm, Keosian Law, of Sherman Oaks.
The lawsuit accuses Citibank of allegedly discriminating against people of Armenian descent, allegedly claiming the lender has labeled Armenians as "bad guys" at greater risk of committing credit card fraud.
Defendants include Citigroup Inc., Citibank N.A., and others.
The lawsuit followed similar actions filed against Citibank in Los Angeles federal court and Los Angeles County Superior Court, including at least one other lawsuit filed on behalf of dozens of other plaintiffs by the Keosian firm.
All suits level similar accusations of discrimination, accusing Citibank of allegedly using a "pervasive discriminatory mindset" to "target" loan applicants with ethnic Armenian surnames, typically ending with -yan or -iarr, among other suffixes.
They are seeking unspecified actual and punitive damages, plus attorney fees.