2016

A female partner at the law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP filed a Manhattan federal lawsuit (captioned Kerrie Campbell v. Chadbourne & Parke LLP et al, SDNY 16-cv-6832), which “seeks relief on behalf of herself and other female Partners who have been disparately underpaid, systematically shut out of Firm leadership, demoted, de-equitized and terminated.”

Read More Gender Discrimination Class-Action Lawsuit Against Chadbourne & Parke
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In Conforti v. Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., No. 15-cv-5045, 2016 WL 4288699 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2016), the court held  that the Plaintiff “satisfied the minimal showing required at this motion to dismiss stage to plausibly allege that the Defendant’s decision to terminate her employment … was motivated at least in part by a discriminatory reason.” Judge Spatt…

Read More Replacement By Men, Sexist Comments, Etc. Among Facts That Plausibly Alleged Gender Discrimination
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The New York City Council has proposed a Local Law was proposed “to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting employers from inquiring about or relying on a prospective employee’s salary history.” From the summary: This bill would prohibit employers from inquiring about a prospective employee’s salary history during…

Read More Proposed Legislation Aims to Prohibit Salary History Inquiries
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In Redfern-Wallace v. Buffalo News, Inc., No. 12-CV-471, 2016 WL 4361129 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 16, 2016), the court adopted a Magistrate’s Report & Recommendation that defendants’ motions for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s discriminatory-discharge, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims be granted. As to plaintiff’s discriminatory-discharge claim, the court explained: Based on the undisputed facts, it is clear that…

Read More Crass Text Messages to Co-Worker, Not Discrimination, Were Reason For Termination; “Niagara”, “Chia Pet” Comments Did Not Constitute Hostile Work Environment
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Today, in Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Service, 15-3239-cv (2d Cir. Aug. 29, 2016), the Second Circuit – in an opinion authored by Judge Calabresi – vacated a lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII, and explicitly held “that an employer may be held liable for an employee’s animus under a ‘cat’s paw’…

Read More Second Circuit Reinstates Retaliation Claim Based on “Cat’s Paw” Theory
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The Huffington Post reports that the woman who released worms and crickets on a NYC Subway on August 24, 2016, Zaida Pugh, said she did so as a prank. As can be seen on the video included in the article, the release of the creatures created pandemonium and caused people to scream in terror; apparently…

Read More Cricket Subway “Prank”: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress?
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In Rogers v. Bank of New York Mellon, No. 09 CIV. 8551 (HBP), 2016 WL 4362204 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2016), the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s various claims, including hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and race/color pay discrimination. As to her hostile work environment claim,…

Read More “Crazy Black Bitch” Comment Insufficient to Establish Hostile Work Environment
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In Pinkham v. West Elm, 2016 NY Slip Op 05899 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Aug. 25, 2016), a trip-and-fall personal injury case, the Appellate Division, First Department reversed a decision denying defendants’ motion for summary judgment. That is, plaintiff loses. From the decision: Defendants established entitlement to judgment as a matter of law in this action…

Read More Personal Injury (Premises Liability) Case Dismissed Against West Elm
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In Boudouris v. Cty. of Nassau, No. 14-cv-6719, 2016 WL 4288645 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2016), a sexual harassment and retaliation case, the court cited and applied the standard for deposing “high-ranking government officials.” In this case, plaintiff sought to take the depositions of two government officials: Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Nassau County Sheriff Michael…

Read More Court Grants Motion to Compel Depositions of High-Ranking Government Officials in Sexual Harassment Case
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In a lawsuit filed on August 22, 2016, captioned Tantaros v. Fox News Network et al, Fox News co-host Andrea Tantaros alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and tortious interference. Among other things, she claims that she suffered retaliation after complaining about Roger Ailes’ inappropriate conduct.

Read More Andrea Tantaros’ Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Fox News and Roger Ailes Alleges That Fox News Operates Like a “Sex-Fueled, Playboy Mansion-Like Cult, Steeped in Intimidation, Indecency, and Misogyny”
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