2018

In Stoica v. Phipps, 2018 WL 1226045 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. Index No. 153834/2017, March 8, 2018) (J. Lebovits), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claims under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws.[1]It also held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged various other claims, including…

Read More Nanny Sufficiently Alleges Hostile Work Environment / Sexual Harassment; Claims Were Not “Too Outrageous and Incredible to be Believed”
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In Graham v. Goodwill Industries, Inc., 16-cv-6468, 2018 WL 1318988 (EDNY March 14, 2018), the court held, inter alia, that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiff’s sexual harassment claims under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws.[1]The court also, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under Title VII of…

Read More Federal Court Lacked Subject Matter Jurisdiction Over Sexual Harassment Claims Adjudicated at State Agency
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In Hill v. Frontier Telephone of Rochester, Inc., 2018 WL 1256220 (W.D.N.Y., 2018) – a race discrimination/hostile work environment case – the court dismissed plaintiff’s case, finding that there was no issue of fact as to whether the alleged harasser’s conduct could be imputed to the employer. The court explained the law: Where, as here,…

Read More Co-Worker’s Harassment Not Imputed to Employer; Employer’s Response Held Sufficient
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In Sharkey v. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., 2018 WL 1229831 (S.D.N.Y. March 5, 2018), the court, inter alia, struck down a jury verdict of $563,000 for emotional distress suffered by plaintiff as a result of her alleged retaliatory termination in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). From the Opinion: If Sharkey is…

Read More Court Strikes Down $563K Emotional Distress Damages Jury Verdict in SOX Case as “Infected With Passion and Prejudice”
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In Rodrigues v. Watershed Ventures LLC, 2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 30322(U), 2018 WL 1030303 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Feb. 23, 2018), the court held, inter alia, that a release agreement relating to plaintiff’s claims, asserted in a separate federal court action, was not broad enough to preclude his race discrimination claims. From the Decision and Order: [T]he…

Read More Race Discrimination Claims Survive; Not Barred By Release of Wage & Hour Claims
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In Rodrigues v. Watershed Ventures LLC, 2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 30322(U), 2018 WL 1030303 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Feb. 23, 2018), the court held, inter alia, that plaintiffs sufficiently alleged a claim for discrimination under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. The court explained the applicable legal standards: In employment discrimination actions brought pursuant…

Read More Race Discrimination Claim Sufficiently Alleged Against Watershed Ventures
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In Watkins v. First Student, Inc., 2018 WL 1135480 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s race- and gender-based hostile work environment claims. Here, those claims faltered – as many do – because the alleged “hostility” was not due to plaintiff’s protected class(es). From the decision: Taking the allegations of the Complaint, the May…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Against First Student, Inc. Fail Due to Lack of Connection Between Alleged Bullying Etc. and Protected Class(es)
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In Montanez v. McDean LLC, No. 16-cv-447, 2018 WL 1183688 (N.D.N.Y. March 6, 2018), the court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim, asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After explaining the legal standard for making out a hostile work environment claim,…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; “Quickly Rebuffed” “Suggestive Remarks” Insufficient
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In Penn v. New York Methodist Hospital, 2018 WL 1177293 (2d Cir. March 7, 2018), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race and religious discrimination claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the Opinion: [T]he district court did not err in applying the ministerial exception doctrine. While a…

Read More Citing the “Ministerial Exception,” 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title VII Race/Religious Discrimination Claim
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