April 2017

In Grewal v. Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP, No. 13-CV-6836 (RA), 2017 WL 1215752 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff’s breach of contract claim, but granted it as to her national origin-based hostile work environment claims. In this case, plaintiff – a lawyer of Indian national…

Read More Lawyer’s Breach of Contract Claim Survives Summary Judgment; National Origin Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed
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In Alvarado v. Nordstrom, Inc., No. 16-971-CV, 2017 WL 1175654 (2d Cir. Mar. 29, 2017) (Summary Order), the court vacated the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under the NYC Human Rights Law. It affirmed its dismissal, however, of plaintiff’s race discrimination and hostile work environment claims (as well as his retaliation claims under federal…

Read More NYC Human Rights Law Retaliation Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Race Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment Claims Properly Dismissed
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In Hsueh v. N.Y. State Dep’t of Fin. Servs., No. 15 CIV. 3401 (PAC), 2017 WL 1194706 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court imposed spoliation sanctions on a sexual harassment plaintiff arising from her deletion of a digital recording of a conversation with an HR representative. Initially, the court held that, while the recording constitutes “electronically…

Read More Court Imposes Sanctions on Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Who Deleted Audio Recording
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In Creacy v. BCBG Max Azria Grp., LLC, No. 14 CIV. 10008 (ER), 2017 WL 1216580 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to her hostile work environment and constructive discharge claims. In sum, plaintiff asserts that defendant subjected her to a racially hostile work environment, retaliated against her, and…

Read More Customer-Caused Race Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held, in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (No. 15-1720) (April 4, 2017), that discrimination because of sexual orientation is discrimination based on “sex” in violation of Title VII. From the opinion: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it…

Read More 7th Circuit: Sexual Orientation Discrimination is “Sex” Discrimination Under Title VII
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In Macchio v. Michaels Elec. Supply Corp., 2017 NY Slip Op 02636 (App. Div. 2d Dept. April 5, 2017), the court held that plaintiff presented sufficient evidence of pretext to survive summary judgment on his discrimination, retaliation, and FMLA claims, but that his hostile work environment claim was properly dismissed. In this case, plaintiff alleged,…

Read More Employment Discrimination (Ancestry, Association, Religion), Retaliation, and FMLA Claims Survive Summary Judgment; Hostile Work Environment Claim Properly Dismissed
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In yet another sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News and Roger Ailes, captioned Roginsky v. Fox News Network LLC (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Index 153065/2017) (filed April 3, 2017), plaintiff Julie Roginsky asserts (inter alia) that defendants Fox News, Roger Ailes, and Bill Shine (co-President of Fox News Network) “unlawfully harassed, discriminated against, and…

Read More (Another) Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Fox News & Roger Ailes
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In Rivera v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., No. 303092/08, 2017 WL 1082764 (N.Y. App. Div. Mar. 23, 2017), the court upheld jury findings of gender discrimination and retaliation. This case illustrates, among other things, how workplace rumors/gossip can give rise to an actionable claim. As to plaintiff’s gender discrimination claim, the court explained: Plaintiff was…

Read More Court Upholds Plaintiff’s Gender Discrimination & Retaliation Verdict; Cites Sexual Comments and “Affair” Rumors
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In Matter of AMG Managing Partners v. NYS Div. of Human Rights, No. TP 16-01391, 2017 WL 1187641 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. Mar. 31, 2017), the court upheld a New York State Division of Human Rights determination that the complainant was subjected to hostile work environment sexual harassment, but reduced the emotional distress damages award to…

Read More Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Finding Upheld; Damages Reduced to $25,000
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In Cowan v. City of Mount Vernon, No. 14-CV-8871 (KMK), 2017 WL 1169667 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim as insufficiently pled. This decision illustrates the degree of specificity courts look for when evaluating these types of claims on a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. From…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Court Cites Lack of Complaint’s Specificity
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