A summer intern at the prestigious law firm Sidley Austin in Manhattan was reportedly dismissed after allegedly biting multiple colleagues. The intern, whose identity remains undisclosed, began this unusual behavior on her first day at the firm, according to insiders who spoke to legal news site Above the Law. By the time she was let go, the number of reported incidents had reached double digits.
The biting incidents were described as not being aggressive, but rather a strange mix of eccentricity and unsettling behavior. The intern’s actions were likened to a “faux-quirky manic pixie dream girl crossed with the Donner party vibe,” according to the report. The severity of the bites was also noted, with the term ‘nibble’ deemed too mild to describe the resulting injuries.
The reasons behind the delay in reporting the intern’s behavior remain unclear. Some speculate that her otherwise personable demeanor may have contributed to a reluctance to escalate the issue. The intern reportedly bit up to 10 colleagues, including other interns, associate lawyers, and even a human resources representative at the firm’s Seventh Avenue offices.
The frequency of the biting incidents was such that one of the intern’s office mates reportedly began wearing long-sleeved shirts to avoid being bitten. A photograph posted online showed a large bruise on someone’s outer bicep, allegedly inflicted by the intern.
Sidley Austin declined to comment on the matter. However, an insider disputed the number of victims, claiming that the intern had bitten only five employees and that the internet was now rife with exaggerations.
Online discussions about the incident have also raised concerns about the intern’s mental health. One Reddit user, who claimed to be a colleague of the intern, urged others to remember that there is a person at the center of the story who is likely feeling devastated by the fallout.
Sidley Austin is a renowned law firm with 21 offices worldwide. It handles complex legal matters, including transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation issues. The firm is also known as the place where former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama met in 1988.