2016

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In a Manhattan federal lawsuit, captioned Rodriguez v. Highgate Hotels (SDNY 16-cv-05736, filed July 19, 2016), plaintiff (a male hotel worker) alleges that he was terminated for having a relationship with a female co-worker, while the defendant did not discipline (and in fact celebrated) a “clandestine romantic relationship” between a male supervisor and his male subordinate. Plaintiff…

Read More Gender and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit By Heterosexual Hotel Worker
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In Dhar v. City of New York, No. 15-2698-CV, 2016 WL 3889108 (2d Cir. July 15, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). “To state a prima facie claim of retaliation, a plaintiff must show (1) participation in a protected activity; (2) that the…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim, Citing Large Gap Between Protected Activity and Adverse Actions
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In Black v. Anheuser-Busch in Bev, No. 14 CIV. 2693 (RWS), 2016 WL 3866583 (S.D.N.Y. July 13, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment claims. Plaintiff filed a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR), which set forth claims for gender discrimination and sexual harassment. The NYCCHR issued…

Read More Court Dismisses Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims; Discusses Election of Remedies, Statute of Limitations, and Exhaustion of Remedies Principles
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In Deberry v. Brookdale Univ. Hosp. & Med. Ctr., No. 12-CV-6251(SLT)(RLM), 2016 WL 3840673 (E.D.N.Y. July 12, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment claims. Here I’ll focus on its discussion of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. This case is instructive on the issue of when the alleged harassment may be…

Read More Court Discusses the “Imputing Conduct” Element of a Hostile Work Environment Claim
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Ceiling-collapse cases are one type of “premises liability” personal injury case. Generally, a landowner has an obligation to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. In Lozano v. Mt. Hope Place Props., Inc., 2016 NY Slip Op 05545 (App. Div. 1st Dept. July 14, 2016), a ceiling-collapse case, the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s…

Read More Ceiling Collapse Personal Injury Case Dismissal Affirmed
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In a recent New York State court complaint, captioned Prowell v. Advanced Fertility Services, P.C. et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 155828/2016, filed July 14, 2016), plaintiff alleges that she was terminated in retaliation for her complaints about pregnancy discrimination, in violation of the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. She asserts claims…

Read More Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Against Advanced Fertility Services
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In Walsh v. New York City Housing Authority, 14-181-cv, 2016 WL 3632245 (2d Cir. July 7, 2016), a Title VII gender discrimination failure-to-hire case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the lower court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant. It is worth a read, for at least the reason that it…

Read More Citing People v. Gambini, 2d Circuit Reinstates Female Bricklayer’s Gender Discrimination Failure-to-Hire Case
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In Tiffany v. Dzwonczyk, 2016 WL 3661410 (N.D.N.Y. July 5, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s claim asserting retaliation in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The court summarized the law: The Second Circuit recognizes two claims under the FMLA: (i) interference with FMLA rights; and (ii) retaliation for exercising FMLA rights. … To…

Read More FMLA Retaliation Claim Dismissed; Yearlong Work Absence Was Not FMLA-Protected, Evidence of Causation Lacking
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In a recent Manhattan federal court filing, Roger Ailes – the named defendant in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson in NJ state court – seeks to compel arbitration of her claims pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. (Here are the supporting petition and memorandum of law.) His papers…

Read More Roger Ailes Moves to Compel Arbitration of Gretchen Carlson’s Sexual Harassment Claims
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In Oluwatayo v. Dulinayan, 2016 NY Slip Op 05455 (App. Div. 1st Dept. July 7, 2016), the court clarified the distinction – in the context of a rear-end car accident case – between (i) plaintiff’s freedom of culpability and (ii) defendants’ alleged negligence. Here, plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment as to (i), but not as…

Read More “Innocent” Rear-Ended Plaintiff Entitled to Summary Judgment as to His Lack of Culpable Conduct, But Not With Respect to Defendants’ Negligence
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