Twenty-twenty has, to say the least, been quite a (miserable) year, characterized by the introduction and propagation of a deadly virus, lockdowns, business closures, eviction moratoriums, protests, etc. As we run out the clock, I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts as a New York City-based attorney/solo practitioner working in the…
Read More Year in Review: 2020In Martinez v. McCarthy, 2020 WL 7579516 (2d Cir. Dec. 22, 2020) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims – asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – by plaintiff, a “dual status” employee of the U.S. Army.…
Read More Feres Doctrine Bars Title VII Discrimination Claims by “Dual Status” Army EmployeeIn Jean v. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2020 WL 7321057 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 3, 2020), the court dismissed a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency responsible for administering various federal anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment…
Read More Sovereign Immunity Precludes Lawsuit Against EEOC Based on Alleged Mishandling of Investigation of Employment Discrimination ClaimIn Wiggins v. Mount Sinai Hospitals Group, Inc. et al, No. 151209/2016, 2020 WL 7646949 (N.Y. Sup Ct, N.Y. Cty. Dec. 22, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s race- and gender-based hostile work environment claims asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. As to the state law claim, the court…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed Against Mt. SinaiIn Brittany McHenry v. Fox News Network et al, 2020 WL 7480622 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 18, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of gender discrimination and sexual harassment asserted under the New York City Human Rights Law. From the decision: The Amended Complaint adequately pleads claims against Murdoch for sexual…
Read More Gender Discrimination/Sexual Harassment Claims Sufficiently Stated Against George Murdoch by Brittany McHenryIn HC2, Inc. v. Delaney, 20-cv-3178, 2020 WL 7480675 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 18, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed the employee’s whistleblower retaliation claims. The employee (Delaney) alleges that the employer (HC2) violated New York Labor Law §§ 740 and 215 by terminating his employment after he complained about HC2’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically,…
Read More COVID Whistleblower Retaliation (NY Labor Law § 740) Claim DismissedIn EEOC v. AZ Metro Distributors, LLC, 2020 WL 7404432 (EDNY Dec. 16, 2020), the court, inter alia, held that a jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor on claims of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act was supported by sufficient evidence, and therefore denied defendant’s Rule 50 motion for judgment as a matter…
Read More Age Discrimination Jury Verdict Supported by Sufficient EvidenceIn a recent case, Belvin and Mayers v. Electchester Management, LLC, 2020 WL 7262877 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 10, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed one plaintiff’s retaliation claim, finding that they did not establish a prima facie case of retaliation. From the decision: Regarding the first claim, Mr. Mayers has failed to adduce evidence of retaliation…
Read More Retaliation Claim Dismissed; Insufficient Help in Putting Up Christmas Decorations Was Not An “Adverse Employment Action”In Rivera v. NYC Department of Education, 2020 WL 7496282 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Focusing on the timely allegations, the only non-conclusory allegations in this category are that Fanning “acted very coldly” towards Plaintiff and that Plaintiff received negative performance evaluations for…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed Against NYC Dept of Education; “Acting Coldly” Plus Negative Performance Evaluations InsufficientFrom Fernandes v Jadah Carroll, LLC, No. 12665, 158642/19, 2020-02599, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 07669, 2020 WL 7391276 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Dec. 17, 2020): Defendants demonstrated conclusively that they were not subject to the New York City Human Rights Law’s prohibition on discrimination in employment based on disability because they employed fewer than four persons…
Read More NYC Human Rights Law Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed; Defendants Employed Fewer Than Four Persons