In Babbitt v. Koeppel Nissan, Inc., 2019 WL 3296984 (EDNY July 23, 2019) – an employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation case brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the court ruled on the parties’ respective motions to compel discovery. One issue addressed by the court – which has become…
Read More Social Media Discovery Compelled (in Part) in Sexual Harassment CaseOn Tuesday, July 23, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed a law, Senate Bill S1719C (A5981), which “establishes the crime of unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image” (a/k/a “revenge porn”). The legislation, inter alia, amends the Penal Law by adding a new section (§ 245.15), titled “Unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image”, and…
Read More “Revenge Porn” Legislation Signed Into Law in New YorkIn Nana v. Le Viking LLC d/b/a Bistro Chez Lucienne, 17-CV-928, 2019 WL 3244181 (SDNY July 19, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff was entitled to $5,000 in emotional distress damages on his retaliation claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law. The court noted that “[a]lthough the…
Read More Emotional Distress Damages of $5,000 Awarded in Wage Retaliation CaseIn Kallinikos v. New York State Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision et al, 2019 WL 3216769 (EDNY July 17, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged religious discrimination, in the form of a failure-to-promote, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court explained the applicable pleading standard:…
Read More Religious Discrimination Failure-to-Promote Claim Sufficiently AllegedA recent decision, Konteye v. NYC Dept. of Education et al, 2019 WL 3229068 (S.D.N.Y. July 18, 2019), yet again illustrates that not every perceived workplace slight gives rise to an actionable “hostile work environment” claim. From the decision: [C]onsidering the totality of the circumstances, Plaintiff failed to meet his burden of showing that “[his]…
Read More Title VII Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Notwithstanding Allegations of Verbal “Harassment”, Screaming, Criticism, Etc.In a recent New York State Court filing, petitioner Andrea Tantaros – in the matter of Tantaros v. Fox News Channel, LLC et al, Index No. 156936/2019 – seeks a Temporary Restraining Order precluding Respondents from continuing to arbitrate Petitioner’s sexual harassment allegations, to grant her request for a preliminary and permanent injunction staying the…
Read More Andrea Tantaros Attempts to Utilize NY’s New Anti-Arbitration Law in New FilingIn Cao-Bossa v. New York State Dep’t of Labor, 18-CV-0509, 2019 WL 2743505 (N.D.N.Y. July 1, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff should be permitted to amend her complaint to add a claim for national origin discrimination. From the decision: As to Plaintiff’s claim for national origin discrimination, Defendant argues that amendment would…
Read More National Origin Discrimination Claim by Chinese Plaintiff May Proceed; Persons Identified as “American” Were Appropriate ComparatorsIn McKinney v. Quayshanna Tanner of Set and Service Resource et al, 2019 WL 3067116 (SDNY July 12, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s claims under the New York City Human Rights Law. From the decision: The Court must dismiss Plaintiff’s NYCHRL claims. The NYCHRL does not apply to discriminatory acts that occurred outside…
Read More Court Dismisses NYCHRL Discrimination Claim Arising From Events Outside NYCToday is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch to the Moon. This event culminated in what is arguably the greatest achievement of mankind. Like most if not all human events and endeavors, there are numerous legal issues arising from it. Many of these issues are addressed in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967,…
Read More To the Moon … and Beyond!In Doe v. Gong Xi Fa Cai, Inc. d/b/a Alta Restaurant, 2019 WL 3034793 (SDNY July 10, 2019) – in which plaintiff asserts claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. and other statutes for alleged sexual discrimination and retaliation – the court denied plaintiff’s motion to…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff May Not Proceed Anonymously, Court Concludes Upon Application of 10-Factor Test