Employment Discrimination

Sexual harassment cases are fact- and context-specific. There is no “bright line rule” as to when a comment or a touch “cross the line” from non-actionable to actionable. Such claims can be based on comments, physical touching, or some combination of the two. A recent decision, Batten v. Global Contact Services, LLC, 15-cv-2382, 2018 WL…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Based on “Hug” Was Actionable, Court Holds
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In Melendez v. Cablevision Systems Corp., 17-cv-9161, 2018 WL 2727890 (S.D.N.Y. June 6, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the court deemed plaintiff’s complaint insufficient, it gives an indication as to what allegations might suffice. From the decision: [T]he complaint does not allege, even in…

Read More Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed Against Cablevision
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In Miller v. News Am., 2018 NY Slip Op 03946 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 5, 2018), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s age discrimination and retaliation under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: Plaintiff minimally established a prima facie case of age discrimination by demonstrating that he was a…

Read More Court Affirms Dismissal of Freelance Photographer’s Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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In Napoleoni v. NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation et al, 18-cv-2578, 2018 WL 3038502 (E.D.N.Y. June 18, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s claims of race discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Here is an excerpt from the decision, reflecting the court’s reasoning as to plaintiff’s discrimination claims: The Complaint fails to allege a race or…

Read More Court Dismisses Age/Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation, DC 37 Union
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In Tsoflias v. Barclays Capital Inc., 2018 Ny slip Op 31184(U), 2018 WL 2971165 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. June 6, 2018), the court held that, in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Epic Sys. Corp. v Lewis, plaintiff’s claims of age and gender-based discrimination were subject to an arbitration agreement, and thus granted defendant’s…

Read More Age, Gender Discrimination Claims Against Barclays Capital Subject to Binding Arbitration, Court Holds
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In Collymore v. City of New York et al, 16-cv-8270, 2018 WL 3014093 (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim. “Title VII recognizes two forms of sexual harassment: direct discrimination (or ‘quid pro quo’) and ‘hostile workplace environment.’ … In addition to pleading abusive or offensive conduct, it is…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Touching Was Not “Because Of” Sex
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In Reveyosos v. Town Sports Intl., LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op 04441 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 14, 2018), a jury issued a verdict for plaintiff on her disability discrimination claim under the NYC Human Rights Law. The trial court granted defendant’s motion to set aside the jury verdict as against the weight of the evidence…

Read More Disability Discrimination Jury Verdict for Plaintiff Remains; No Undue Hardship Shown
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From Matter of Stellar Dental Mgt. LLC v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, 2018 NY Slip Op 04483 (App. Div. 4th Dept. June 15, 2018): We further conclude that substantial evidence supports SDHR’s determination that two of the complainants were subjected to unlawful retaliation. The record establishes that those complainants reported sexual harassment…

Read More State Division Upholds Finding of Retaliation
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From Matter of Stellar Dental Mgt. LLC v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, 2018 NY Slip Op 04483 (App. Div. 4th Dept. June 15, 2018): We conclude that there is substantial evidence to support the determination that petitioner discriminated against each complainant by subjecting her to a sexually hostile work environment (see Matter of Father…

Read More Court Upholds State Division Findling of Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment
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In Kimball v. Village of Painted Post, 2018 WL 2944337 (2d Cir. June 11, 2018) (Summary Order), the court, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. In discussing plaintiff’s allegation of a hostile work environment based on pornography in the office, the court explained: [Plaintiff] has failed to establish that any…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Properly Dismissed; Allegations re Pornography Insufficient
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