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Thank you for visiting the Pospis Law Blog (the “Blog”), maintained by Pospis Law, PLLC (the “Firm”). The Blog primarily provides general information regarding developments in the law of New York in our primary practice areas of employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and personal injury. The website’s general disclaimer (which is incorporated by reference) likewise applies to the…

Read More Sticky: About This Blog; Disclaimer
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In Desouza v. Office of Children and Family Services, 2019 WL 2477796 (E.D.N.Y. June 12, 2019), the court clarified differences between/among the various theories available to a plaintiff in a gender discrimination/sexual harassment case. It explained (paragraphing altered): Though claims challenging disparate treatment, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and hostile work environment are all claims of…

Read More Court Clarifies Difference Between “Hostile Work Environment” and “Disparate Treatment” Gender Discrimination Claims; Absence of “Adverse Employment Action” Results in Dismissal
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The noose is one of the most stark symbols of racism, conjuring up the ugly specter of one of the darkest (and, apparently, continuing) chapters of American history. In a recently-filed lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, captioned Curtis Anthony v. The Boeing Company, 2:19-cv-01656-DCN-BM, the plaintiff alleges, among…

Read More Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Boeing Includes Allegation Involving Noose
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In Vuono v. Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc., 2019 WL 2433654 (S.D.N.Y. 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim, finding that allegedly “excessive” drug and alcohol tests did not qualify as adverse employment actions. From the decision: Requiring an employee to be tested pursuant to the On Call program does not…

Read More Drug Testing Was Not an “Adverse Employment Action”, Court Holds
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From MARIOS PANAYIOTOU, Plaintiff, v. N.Y.C. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, Defendant., 2019 WL 2453438, at *5 (E.D.N.Y., 2019): As to the alleged national origin- and age-based animus, the incidents as described are not severe or pervasive enough to support a hostile work environment claim. Again, the plaintiff cites the principal’s instruction to “speak clearly” – an…

Read More National Origin- and Age-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed
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In Alexander v. Program Development Services, Inc., 18-cv-1433, 2019 WL 2436436 (EDNY June 10, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision (paragraphing altered): Plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim based on Fiddler’s sexually explicit and profane conduct…

Read More “Vulgar” Conduct Not “Bad Enough” to Make Out Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim
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In Reitman v Ronell, No. 157658/2018, 2019 WL 2413149, at *1–2 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 04, 2019) – in which plaintiff alleges, inter alia, claims for gender discrimination, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and hostile educational environment – the court considered and ruled on plaintiff’s motion for a protective order under CPLR…

Read More Court Discusses Use of Interrogatories in Sexual Harassment Case
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In Catalano v. Fox Tel. Stas., Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 04463 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 6, 2019), the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the lower court’s dismissal on summary judgment of plaintiff’s disability discrimination claims under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. This case is instructive on the nature and…

Read More Employer Met Obligation to Have “Interactive Dialogue” Relating to Reasonably Accommodating Plaintiff’s Disability, Court Finds
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In Pelepelin v The City of New York, No. 154246/2018, 2019 WL 2371880 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 04, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims, under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws, based on his age and national origin (Russian). It held that plaintiff failed to…

Read More Court Dismisses NYPD Plaintiff’s Age, National Origin Discrimination Claims
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In Soto v. Marist College, 2019 WL 2371713 (SDNY June 5, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Even liberally construed, the conduct alleged here, to the extent it demonstrates racial hostility at all, is “quintessentially episodic.” Harrison v. State Univ. of N.Y. Downstate Med. Ctr., No.…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Alleged Racial Conduct Was “Episodic”