Former Rocket VP accuses execs of bad behavior in lawsuit

A former Rocket Mortgage vice president is suing the lender for firing him while he was on medical leave, alleging years of hostile treatment from company executives. 

The plaintiff says Rocket violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other counts, in a complaint filed recently in a Michigan federal court. The suit describes numerous hostile remarks and scoldings from leaders including since-departed CEO Bob Walters, although none of them are named as co-defendants.

The plaintiff began his tenure at Rocket in 2009 as a mortgage broker. He claims Chief Client Experience Officer Heather Lovier fired him last December one day before a scheduled return from medical leave. 

The plaintiff suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and Lovier's constant ill treatment since 2016 adversely impacted him, he said. Lovier shouted at him and insulted him in front of colleagues on multiple occasions. The supervisor also deemed the plaintiff untrustworthy a few times because he said he was in a relationship but unmarried with no children. 

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, a Rocket Cos. spokesperson disputed the lawsuit and cited dozens of workplace accolades the megalender had earned over the past two decades. 

"The company will vigorously fight against these baseless allegations, and we are confident we will be vindicated once the facts of the case are presented in a court of law," the statement said. 

An attorney for the plaintiff didn't respond to a request for comment. A summons for Rocket was issued last week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. 

Lovier allegedly warned the vice president that her hostility was nothing compared to what Walters or former CEO Jay Farner would do. In one December 2020 meeting, Walters aggressively interrupted the plaintiff during a presentation, raising his voice and seeming physically upset, the suit said.

"At one point [the plaintiff] asked Walters to let him answer one question before interrupting with the next, and in response Walters called [the plaintiff] and his team 'communists' who were 'dogs just wagging your tails,' the complaint said. 

Two of the plaintiff's colleagues allegedly stepped down from divisional vice president positions following that meeting, citing Walters' menacing behavior. One colleague suggested to the plaintiff to  "learn to deal with Walters' 'quirks'"; the plaintiff claims he reported the CEO's behavior to human resources. 

In February 2022, the plaintiff unsuccessfully applied for a promotion. In an interview, Lovier cited his experience in the Walters meeting and disparaged the plaintiff's attitude despite his never receiving any disciplinary action during his time at Rocket.

The plaintiff in March 2022 took FMLA leave after a physician recommended he address severe depression, anxiety and stress. Last December, the vice president was preparing to return to work and was given a tracking number for a new laptop, badge and other work equipment. A day before a Dec. 6 return date, the plaintiff had yet to receive his package, and Lovier then told him he was terminated. 

The complaint didn't specify the amount of damages the plaintiff is seeking from Rocket.

The industry's top lender faces other lawsuits from loan officers accusing it of failing to pay overtime, claims Rocket has disputed.