On June 12, 2015, a federal jury awarded plaintiff Augustina Balu $300,000 in compensatory damages, and $25,000 in punitive damages, in her sexual harassment / hostile work environment lawsuit against the City of New York and NYPD employee Denis McAuliffe. Here is the jury’s verdict sheet in the case, captioned Balu v. City of New York et al, 12-cv-1071.
The jury found for plaintiff on her gender-based hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York City Human Rights Law, it found against her on her retaliation claims. As to her hostile work environment claims, the jury held Det. McAuliffe individually liable under the City Human Rights Law.
In her February 10, 2012 complaint, plaintiff alleged, among other things, that “Defendant McAuliffe, a supervisor, sexually harassed and discriminated against Plaintiff due to her gender and retaliated or caused retaliation against her because of her refusal of McAuliffe’s sexual advances and her own complaints of discrimination and harassment against McAuliffe.”