December 2017

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In Breitstein v. Michael C. Fina Co., 2017 NY Slip Op 08883 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 21, 2017), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s religious discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation causes of action under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. This decision teaches/confirms that, in a discrimination case, the question is not…

Read More Religious/Age Discrimination & Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed Against Michael C. Fina
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In MacCluskey v. University of Connecticut Health Center, 2017 WL 6463200 (2d Cir. Dec. 19, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s judgment following a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff on her sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court framed…

Read More Sexual Harassment Jury Verdict Upheld; Co-Worker’s Sexual Harassment Imputable to Employer
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Below is the December 5, 2017 letter from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to Second Circuit Judge Robert A. Katzmann reflecting the delegation of power to investigate claims of sexual harassment/judicial misconduct against Ninth Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski. The enclosed Order (No. 17-90118), issued by the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, notes…

Read More SCOTUS Taps 2d Circuit to Address Kozinski Sexual Harassment Allegations
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In Nusbaum v. E-Lo Sportswear LLC, 2017 WL 5991787 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 1, 2017), teh court held that the plaintiff and defendant entered into a legally enforceable employment contract for, inter alia, nine months’ severance pay if plaintiff was terminated. In reaching this conclusion, the court applied the so-called “Winston factors”, based on Winston v. Midiafare…

Read More Court Finds Severance Agreement Existed; Holds Defendant Liable for Breach of Contract
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In Novio v. The New York Academy of Art et al, 2017 WL 6398746 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 13, 2017), the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motions to dismiss plaintiff’s claims for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, hostile educational environment, unlawful retaliation, and breach of contract. She asserted her discrimination and retaliation claims under…

Read More Student’s Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Claims Survive Against School
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In Fallon v. Mercy Catholic Medical Center of Southeastern Pennsylvanie, No. 16-3573 (3d Cir. Dec. 14, 2017), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claim for religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, plaintiff hospital worker was terminated after he…

Read More Anti-Vaccine Stance Not “Religious”; Title VII Discrimination Claim Properly Dismissed
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In Young v. Town of Islip et al, 2017 WL 5468752 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 13, 2017), the court explained the difference between an “adverse employment action” in the discrimination context, vs. an “adverse employment action” in the retaliation context. The court held that the jury instructions on plaintiff’s retaliation claims – but not her race discrimination…

Read More New Trial on Retaliation Claims Granted Due to Erroneous Jury Charge; Alleged Incidents Should Have Been Considered in the Aggregate
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In Davis v. NYC Dept. of Corrections, 2017 WL 5634123 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 22, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims under, inter alia, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Plaintiff, a corrections officer, alleged that he was subject to discrimination based on his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The court provides the following summary of the…

Read More PTSD ADA Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed
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In Croci v. Town of Haverstraw et al, 2017 WL 6311697 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 8, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court held that plaintiff failed to make out a prima facie case of retaliation – and, in particular, that the requisite “temporal proximity”…

Read More Title VII Retaliation Claim Dismissed; Temporal Proximity Between “Protected Activity” and “Adverse Employment Action” Lacking
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