Alliant Insurance Services fired back at rival Arthur J. Gallagher in response to a request from Gallagher for a temporary restraining order against Alliant, accusing Gallagher of “rampant sexism, discrimination, and unfair treatment of women.”

The request for a restraining order from Gallagher came as part of its latest lawsuit against Alliant filed late last month. Eight women over several days in July gave abrupt notice effective immediately in a move Gallagher alleges was orchestrated by Alliant to steal clients.

As part of Alliant’s Aug. 3 filing in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois in opposition to the restraining order, it said Gallagher’s unfair treatment of women led to their resignations.

“This case concerns women who became so fed up with Gallagher’s sexist and unfair treatment that they each separately decided to do what countless numbers of unhappy employees in this free country do almost every day: leave for a better opportunity,” Alliant alleged in the court document. “The only thing Gallagher can prove Alliant did is hire Gallagher’s employees and offer them better opportunities. Of course, competing for talented employees who are free to leave is not a tort. It’s called capitalism.”

Gallagher Sues Alliant Again for Alleged ‘Corporate Raid’ of Employees

The filing includes declarations from each of Alliant’s new female hires from Gallagher, outlining alleged sexism, discrimination and lack of accommodations by Gallagher. One woman, apparently the first of the group to resign, said Gallagher sought a temporary restraining order against her but the court denied it and the matter was settled “for monetary consideration.”

“Contrary to Gallagher’s papers, these women did not leave because of some conspiracy concocted by Alliant,” said Alliant, adding that Gallagher has no evidence to supports its claims. Alliant said none of its new hires took any confidential information from Gallagher and did not solicit Gallagher clients.

Gallagher said it has no comment.

The case is Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. v. Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., 1:22-cv-03931, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.