In a lawsuit captioned Quindi v. Yoon Corp, Myong C. Song and Yoon J. Chang, 15-cv-00920 (EDNY 2/20/15), plaintiff – a machine worker – alleges pregnancy discrimination against her employers.
She asserts claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the New York City Human Rights Law (as amended by the New York City Pregnant Workers Fairness Act), and state tort law.
From the complaint:
3. Ms. Quindi worked for Defendants for at least seven years without criticism of her work. After Ms. Quindi notified Defendants of her pregnancy in January 2014, however, they immediately subjected her to a campaign of discrimination and retaliation for her attempts to exercise her rights to receive medical treatment for her pregnancy and to receive pregnancy-related work accommodations.
4. Defendants embarked on a campaign of discrimination against Ms. Quindi and constantly insulted and humiliated her in front of her co-workers. For instance, soon after learning of Ms. Quindi’s pregnancy, Mr. Chang demanded to know why she was pregnant and told Ms. Quindi that she should throw her baby into the “garbage” instead.
5. Defendants’ acts of discrimination escalated on February 21, 2014, when Ms. Song physically attacked Ms. Quindi at the factory. Soon after Ms. Quindi called 911, Ms. Song was arrested.
6. Defendants constructively terminated Ms. Quindi’s employment by maintaining working conditions that were so difficult and intolerable that a reasonable person in her shoes
would have felt compelled to resign.
Plaintiff seeks damages including back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees.