The Declaration of Independence is arguably one of the greatest legal documents – and the greatest break-up note – of all time. Its opening, well-known to every American schoolchild, states: When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and…
Read More Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of HappinessIn Rosas v. Balter Sales Co., Inc. et al, 12-CV-6557, 2018 WL 3199253 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 2018), the court, inter alia, upheld a jury verdict – i.e., denied defendants’ motion for judgment as a matter of law under Fed. R. Civ. P. 50 – in plaintiff’s favor on his race-based hostile work environment claim.[1]The court also…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives DismissalIn Rosas v. Balter Sales Co., Inc. et al, 12-CV-6557, 2018 WL 3199253 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 2018), the court, inter alia, upheld a jury verdict – i.e., denied defendants’ motion for judgment as a matter of law under Fed. R. Civ. P. 50 – in plaintiff’s favor on his race discrimination (termination) claim.[1]It also denied defendants’…
Read More Race Discrimination Jury Verdict for Plaintiff UpheldIn Smith v. Centerlight Healthcare, Inc., 17-cv-2135, 2018 WL 3104086 (S.D.N.Y. June 21, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). After summarizing the legal standard, the court applied the law to the facts,…
Read More Title VII, ADEA Retaliation Claims DismissedIn Crookendale v. New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., No. 154788/2015, 2018 NY Slip Op 31309(U), 2018 WL 3145921 (Sup Ct, N.Y Cty. June 21, 2018) (J. Tisch), the court held that plaintiff’s hostile work environment/sexual harassment claim – asserted under the NYC Human Rights Law – survived summary judgment. From the decision: Here,…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim Against NYC Health & Hospitals Corp. Survives Summary JudgmentFrom Matter of New York State Div. of Human Rights v. International Fin. Servs. Group, 2018 NY Slip Op 04673 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 26, 2018): Determination of petitioner New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR), dated May 19, 2015, granting the complaint for disability discrimination, awarding complainant $64,436.03 in back pay and $10,000 for…
Read More Disability Discrimination Awards For Back Pay, Emotional Distress Upheldin Tillery v. New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, 2018 WL 3098881 (2d Cir. June 25, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s disparate treatment, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As to her disparate treatment claim, plaintiff…
Read More Race Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed Against NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse ServicesIn a recent decision, Russell v. New York University, 2018 WL 3115795 (C.A.2 June 25, 2018) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. This case is instructive as to when an alleged harasser’s conduct may be “imputed” to an entity defendant/employer. The law: To prevail on a hostile work…
Read More Alleged Hostile Work Environment Not Imputable to NYUSexual harassment cases are fact- and context-specific. There is no “bright line rule” as to when a comment or a touch “cross the line” from non-actionable to actionable. Such claims can be based on comments, physical touching, or some combination of the two. A recent decision, Batten v. Global Contact Services, LLC, 15-cv-2382, 2018 WL…
Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Based on “Hug” Was Actionable, Court HoldsIn a recently-filed lawsuit, captioned Jung v. Soho House, NY Sup Ct. NY Cty. Index No. 155882/2018 (filed June 22, 2018), plaintiff Hyun Jae Jung (known on Instagram as Miju Bijou) alleges, inter alia, that defendant Soho House’s “employees denied access of the Club to Plaintiff and her emotional support animal” – a French bulldog named…
Read More Lawsuit: Public Accommodation Discrimination Claim Against Soho House Following Support Dog-Based Ejection