Judge: David G. Larimer – Pospis Law, PLLC

March 9, 2021 by mjpospis

Court Dismisses Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims; Discusses “Out-of-Office” Conduct

In Whipple v. Reed Eye Associates, 15-CV-6759L, 2021 WL 852039 (W.D.N.Y. March 8, 2021), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s sex-based hostile work environment claim. While the court ultimately ruled against the plaintiff on the merits, this decision is nevertheless instructive as to how courts evaluate the situation where some events…

Equal Pay Act Claim Survives Summary Judgment, Continues Against Xerox

In McCullough v. Xerox Corp., No. 12-CV-6405L, 2016 WL 7229134 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 14, 2016), an upstate federal district court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to her Equal Pay Act (EPA) claim arising out of her employment as a Human Resources Manager. The court summarized the law applicable to plaintiff’s unequal pay claims under the…

Court Explains Individual Liability Under State Human Rights Law

A recent district court decision, Patrick v. Garlick, No. 13-CV-6365L, 2014 WL 6883634 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2014), explains the differences between federal and state anti-discrimination law regarding individual liability of the alleged harasser. There, plaintiffs, employees of Seneca Lake State Park, sued Steve Garlick (the park’s branch manager and the plaintiffs’ supervisor), alleging that Garlick subjected them…