September 2016

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The Americans with Disabilities Act, New York State Human Rights Law, and New York City Human Rights Law all prohibit discrimination on the basis of a “disability”. The term “disability” is defined by the statutes in a specific way; thus a medical condition must come under the statutory definition of “disability” in order for a disability discrimination…

Read More What is a “Disability” Within the Meaning of the Anti-Discrimination Laws?
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In Marquez v. City of New York, 14-CV-8185, 2016 WL 4767577 (SDNY Sept. 12, 2016), the court granted summary judgment to defendant and dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. Plaintiff (a NYPD detective) alleged, among other things, that a male Lieutenant (Castro) told her that she did not need to lose weight and that he “liked her the…

Read More Invitation to “Gun Show” and Other Comments Insufficient to Survive Summary Judgment on Hostile Work Environment Claim
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Employment discrimination law is (for the most part) statutory, and is distributed among a variety of federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Although these statutes’ protections may overlap, they differ in terms of (e.g.) which employers are covered, administrative filing prerequisites, and damages/remedies. Below is a summary (not a complete listing or explanation) of…

Read More Which Employment Discrimination Laws Protect New York City Workers?
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In Walker v. H & M Henner & Mauritz LP, 16-cv-03818 (SDNY Sept. 16, 2016), the court granted the plaintiff’s motion to quash subpoenas that defendant proposed to serve on plaintiff’s former and current employers and schools she attended, in order to support its “after acquired evidence” defense. Defendant argued that “during the course of…

Read More Court Quashes Subpoenas to Obtain Prior Employment Information to Support “After Acquired Evidence Defense” in Race Discrimination Case
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In Chimbo v. Bolivar, 2016 NY Slip Op 05969 (App. Div. 2nd Dept. Sept. 14, 2016) – an auto accident case arising from a collision between plaintiff’s vehicle and defendant’s garbage truck – the court reversed an order granting summary judgment to defendant. This decision reminds us of summary judgment is not permissible where there are…

Read More Conflicting Versions of Car Accident Result in Reversal of Summary Judgment for Defendant
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Fox News has settled Gretchen Carlson’s sexual harassment lawsuit against former network president Roger Ailes for $20 million. DailyMail.com cites the following as a statement issued by Fox: 21st Century Fox is pleased to announce that it has settled Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit. During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism. She…

Read More Gretchen Carlson v. Roger Ailes Sexual Harassment Case Ends With $20M Settlement & Apology
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In Griffin v. Sirva Inc., No. 15-1307, 2016 WL 4524466 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2016), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit identified so-far unanswered questions relating to liability under Section 296(15) of the New York State Human Rights Law, which prohibits the denial of employment on the basis of a criminal conviction.…

Read More 2nd Circuit Certifies Three Questions to the NY Court of Appeals Regarding Liability Under the NYS Human Rights Law’s Provision Prohibiting Denial of Employment on the Basis of a Criminal Conviction
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In Parra v. City of White Plains et al, No. 13 CV 5544 (VB), 2016 WL 4734666 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 9, 2016), the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim (but granted it with respect to plaintiff’s retaliation claim). In sum, plaintiff – a police officer – alleges that two…

Read More Police Officer’s Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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In a recently-filed Manhattan federal court complaint, captioned Davy v. Darren Davy (SDNY 16-07083), plaintiff Angela Maria Puerta – a nanny and housekeeper who worked for defendants Darren Davy and Asmaa Davy – asserts claims of unpaid wages, hostile work environment, and unlawful termination. From the complaint: 1. For more than two years, [plaintiff] worked…

Read More Nanny/Housekeeper’s Wage/Hour, Hostile Work Environment, Unlawful Termination Allegations Against Darren & Asmaa Davy
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By a motion filed on August 29, 2016 in New York State court, Defendants seek to compel plaintiff Andrea Tantaros to pursue her sexual harassment (and other) claims in arbitration, rather than in court. (You can access public filings in this case, Tantaros v. Fox News et al, 157054/2016, as well as other cases, here.) From…

Read More Defendants Move to Compel Arbitration in Andrea Tantaros’ Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
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