February 2018

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In Picault v. World Business Lenders, 16-cv-3682, 2018 WL 748975 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2018) (J. Oetken), the Southern District of New York dismissed plaintiff’s (a Haitian-American man) national origin discrimination lawsuit. The court explained that a discrimination plaintiff “must satisfy his initial burden by showing (1) that he belonged to a protected class; (2) that…

Read More Citing “Stray Remarks” Doctrine, Court Dismisses National Origin Discrimination Case Based on “Haitian Voodoo” Comment
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A recent study (summary here, abstract here) indicates that plaintiffs bringing sex discrimination cases fare better when a female judge is assigned to the case. The summary lists the following “key findings”: Whenever a female judge is assigned to the case, plaintiffs are 6.7 percentage points more likely to settle and 7.1 percentage points more…

Read More Sex Discrimination Cases Are More Likely to Settle Under Female Judges, Study Finds
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In Pertillar v. AAA Western and Central New York, 16-238, 2018 WL 583115 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 26, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s race discrimination and hostile work environment claims, but held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged retaliation. The court summarized the requirements for pleading retaliation: A plaintiff claiming retaliation under Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act…

Read More Retaliation Claim Sufficiently Alleged, Based on “Very Close” Temporal Proximity Between Protected Activity & Adverse Action
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In Canty v. The Dept. of Educ. of the City of New York (Sup. Ct. Kings Cty. 500257/2015 Feb. 1, 2018), the court held, inter alia, that plaintiff – a 61 year-old, African teacher – stated a cause of action for retaliation and discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law. In sum, the court held that…

Read More Teacher States Age/Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Under the NYCHRL
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From French v. County of Erie, 2018 WL 647470, at *1 (W.D.N.Y., 2018): It is undisputed that the defendants met their burden of production of legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons for plaintiff French’s termination under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework. See Bucalo v. Shelter Island Union Free Sch. Dist., 691 F.3d 119, 130 n.6 (2d Cir. 2012) (citing…

Read More Retaliation Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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In Artis v. District of Columbia, 2018 WL 491524 (U.S. Sup. Ct. Jan. 22, 2018), the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted a federal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1367(d), which provides the timeframe for when state claims must be re-filed in state court after their dismissal from a federal action. In many cases, particularly employment discrimination cases,…

Read More SCOTUS Interprets Statute Relating to Timeframe For Refiling State Law Claims (Including For Employment Discrimination) When Federal Court Dismisses Them
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In Picarella v. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., 2018 WL 627517 (2d Cir. Jan. 31, 2018) (Summary Order) – an employment discrimination case – the Second Circuit declined to upset a jury verdict and resulting judgment in favor of defendant HSBC. Plaintiff asserted claims of retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…

Read More 2d Circuit Declines to Award New Trial in Employment Discrimination Case; Defense Counsel’s Opening Statement Was Not Improper
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On January 10, 2018, the New York City Human Rights Law was amended with respect to its definitions of “sexual orientation” (N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(20)) and “gender” (id. § 8-102(23)) to effectively broaden those terms. The NYC Human Rights Law, inter alia, prohibits discrimination (in various forms) “because of the actual or perceived … gender [or]…

Read More Local Law Amends NYC Human Rights Law’s Definitions of “Sexual Orientation”, “Gender”
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