“Stray Remarks” Doctrine in Employment Discrimination Law

In Gandhi v. New York State Unified Court System et al, 1:20-CV-120 (LEK), 2024 WL 365119 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 31, 2024), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s religion-based discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, plaintiff alleges that defendant engaged in religious…

Read More Title VII Religious Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment; “Stray Remarks” Doctrine Held Inapplicable
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The New York City Council recently enacted a legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. As summarized: This bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. This bill would also create an…

Read More NYC Council Enacts Law to Prevent Discrimination Based on Height & Weight
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In Davis v. Power Authority, 2023 WL 3064705 (2d Cir. April 25, 2023), the court, inter alia, affirmed the lower court’s order awarding summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s discrimination claims. From the decision: Here, even assuming a prima facie case of discrimination, Defendants provided legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for Davis’s termination, and Davis fails to…

Read More Citing “Stray Remarks” Doctrine, Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claim
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In Conahan v. Medquest Ltd., et al, 20-cv-1325 (LJL), 2022 WL 16748585 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of age discrimination asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: The Second Circuit has stated that stray-age related remarks…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim, Based on Pre-Termination Age-Related Remarks, Survives Summary Judgment
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In Sicola v Cushman & Wakefield, No. 160229/15, 16600, 2021-03378, 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 06185, 2022 WL 16640723, at *2 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Nov. 03, 2022), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s age discrimination claim asserted under California law (specifically, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, or FEHA). From the decision: To make out…

Read More Age Discrimination Dismissal Affirmed; “Old School” and Other Comments Held Insufficient
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In Beshaw v. MVP Service Corp., 1:21-cv-584 (GLS/CFH), 2022 WL 4094451 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 7, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s age discrimination claim. From the decision: MVP contends that Beshaw has failed to allege facts that give rise to an inference of discrimination with respect to his claim for age…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Survives Dismissal; Allegations Included Plaintiff’s Replacement by Younger Worker
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A recent decision, Carroll v. Amazon Data Services, Inc., No. 1:21-cv-01177 (RDA/TCB), 2022 WL 3161895 (E.D. Va. Aug. 8, 2022), illustrates that even workplace conduct that is, by most measures, unpleasant does not necessarily give rise to an actionable “hostile work environment” claim that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Hair Comments and Touching (While Troubling) Was Not Actionable Under Title VII
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In Bautista v. Chanel, Inc., 20 Civ. 4676, 2022 WL 374496 (SDNY Feb. 8, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of race and national origin discrimination asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York City Human Rights Law. The court…

Read More Race, National Origin Discrimination Claims Against Chanel Survive Summary Judgment; Evidence Included Derogatory Comments About Speaking Spanish
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In Adeniji v. The City of New York et al, 19-CV-8032, 2022 WL 254939 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 27, 2022), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged race discrimination against the City of New York asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among other things, the court discussed and applied the…

Read More Title VII Race Discrimination Claim (Based on “Lazy”, “Inferior” Remarks) Survives Against City of New York
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In Tihan v Apollo Management Holdings, L.P., No. 15121, 152196/19, 2021-00637, 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 00365, 2022 WL 174477 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. Jan. 20, 2022), the New York Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously affirmed a lower court’s decision dismissing plaintiff’s religion- and national origin-based employment discrimination claims. In this case, plaintiff – a Muslim man…

Read More Court Affirms Dismissal of National Origin, Religious Discrimination Claims Against Apollo Management Holdings
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