Employment Discrimination

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In Picarella v. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., 2018 WL 627517 (2d Cir. Jan. 31, 2018) (Summary Order) – an employment discrimination case – the Second Circuit declined to upset a jury verdict and resulting judgment in favor of defendant HSBC. Plaintiff asserted claims of retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…

Read More 2d Circuit Declines to Award New Trial in Employment Discrimination Case; Defense Counsel’s Opening Statement Was Not Improper
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On January 10, 2018, the New York City Human Rights Law was amended with respect to its definitions of “sexual orientation” (N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(20)) and “gender” (id. § 8-102(23)) to effectively broaden those terms. The NYC Human Rights Law, inter alia, prohibits discrimination (in various forms) “because of the actual or perceived … gender [or]…

Read More Local Law Amends NYC Human Rights Law’s Definitions of “Sexual Orientation”, “Gender”
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In Cardin v. Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., 16-cv-6101, 2018 WL 562941 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination claim, due to the absence of an “adverse employment action”, and the facts did not support the requisite inference of discrimination. In sum: believing plaintiff used his cell phone in the bathroom, plaintiff’s…

Read More Short-Lived “Write-Up” Was Not An “Adverse Employment Action”
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In Makinen v. City of New York, 2018 WL 546409 (2d Cir. Jan. 25, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs’ constructive discharge claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. In sum, plaintiffs (city police officers) alleged that they suffered discrimination…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Plaintiffs’ Constructive Discharge Claims Based on Perceived Alcoholism
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In Harrington v. City of New York, 2018 NY Slip Op 00381, 2018 WL 503144 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Jan. 23, 2018), the Appellate Division, First Department modified a lower court order and reinstated plaintiff police officer’s claims for sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. As…

Read More Police Officer’s Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Sufficiently Alleged, First Department Holds
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From DeBello v. VolumeCocomo Apparel, Inc., 2017 WL 6616704, at *3 (C.A.2 (N.Y.), 2017): We conclude … that in the circumstances here, DeBello’s public policy argument does not overcome the presumption that “a valid forum-selection clause [should be] given controlling weight in all but the most exceptional cases.” Atl. Marine, 134 S.Ct. at 581 (alteration in…

Read More 2d Circuit: Employment Agreement’s Venue Selection Clause Trumps Title VII’s Venue Provision
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In Mula v. AbbVie, Inc., 15-CV-6563-FPG, 2018 WL 501277 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 22, 2018), the court granted summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s hostile work environment and retaliation claims. In sum, plaintiff alleged that she was sexually harassed by her supervisor (McCutchan) and then subjected to retaliation for complaining about it. Among other things, plaintiff claimed that…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed, In Light of Evidence That Employer Followed its Anti-Discrimination Policy
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The Producers Guild of America has recently issued Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines. Those Guidelines [PDF], according to the PGA’s website, comprise “information and recommendations as first steps to preventing and responding to harassment in the workplace” and “are provided to assist … in creating policies and programs and to assist individuals in responding to harassing behavior.”

Read More Sexual Harassment Guidelines Issued by Producers Guild of America
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From JILL S. MEYER, M.D., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DAVID J. SHULKIN, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Defendant-Appellee,, 2018 WL 480478, at *2 (C.A.2 (N.Y.), 2018) (Summary Order): There is no basis to infer age discrimination from Meyer’s failure to obtain the staff psychiatrist position: she fails to identify any evidence that the reason the NJ VA did…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Properly Dismissed; Hiring of Younger Workers Alone Insufficient
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In Gachette v. Metro North-High Bridge, 2018 WL 456723 (2d Cir. Jan. 18, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s disparate treatment claims, in light of an unresolved discovery dispute. From the Order: At the start, we conclude that vacatur is appropriate as to Gachette’s claims of disparate treatment…

Read More Employment Discrimination Claims Should Not Have Been Dismissed in Light of Discovery Dispute
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