August 2021

In Hairston v. Christine Wormuth, Secretary, Department of the Army, N0. 20-1806, 2021 WL 3196469 (8th Cir. 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim against the defendant Army. Plaintiff, a general supply specialist, alleged that her immediate supervisor (Johnson) subjected her…

Read More Sexual Harassment Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed Against Army; “Nice Booty” Comment Withstanding
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From Maragh v. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. et al, 16-CV-7530, 2021 WL 3501238 (S.D.N.Y. August 5, 2021): Maragh’s hostile work environment claim is based on the same evidence as his discrimination claim. Thus, it suffers from the same fatal defects, including the dearth of admissible evidence, allegations of facially neutral conduct, and the amorphous…

Read More Title VII Co-Worker Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed Against RIOC
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In Johnson v. PRIDE Industries, Inc., No. 19-50173, 2021 WL 3440524 (5th Cir. Aug. 6, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court’s grant of summary judgment on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. (Note: the EEOC submitted an Amicus Curiae, i.e., “friend of the court,” brief in this…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Racial Epithets Were Not “Isolated”
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In Modica v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Education et al, 20-CV-4834, 2021 WL 3408587 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 4, 2021), the court, inter alia, held that the plaintiff, a teacher, sufficiently alleged retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law.…

Read More Teacher’s Retaliation Claim Proceeds Under Americans With Disabilities Act and Related Statutes
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In Modica v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Education et al, 20-CV-4834, 2021 WL 3408587 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 4, 2021), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a disability-based hostile work environment claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. The court reached this conclusion after determining that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege claims under federal law (the…

Read More Disability-Based “Ridicule” at Meeting Sufficient to State Discrimination Under NY City, but Not Federal and NY State, Law
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In Jane Doe v. John Doe,[1]Ed. note: I have modified the name of Defendant to “John Doe” in light of (yet without acknowledging any obligation imposed by) the Court’s Order dated Nov. 5, 2021, NYSCEF Doc. No. 60. No. 155961/2020, 2021 WL 3290843 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Aug. 02, 2021) – a sexual…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Denied Opportunity to Amend Complaint to Add Claims to Assert Defamation Counterclaim Was Retaliatory
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In a document titled “Position Statement of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Concerning the Sexual Harassment Allegations Made Against Him” dated August 3, 2021, Governor Cuomo’s attorney attempts to refute the sexual harassment allegations against him. From the Position Statement: The way he interacts with others is not gender-based: he has hugged or kissed male and…

Read More Andrew Cuomo’s “Position Statement” Regarding Sexual Harassment Allegations
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In Byer v. Periodontal Health Specialists of Rochester, PLLC et al, 2021 WL 3276725 (2d Cir. August 2, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the lower court’s order dismissing her claim of constructive discharge. (The court did, however, vacate the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment…

Read More Citing Praise of Boss and Voluntary Extension of Employment, Court Affirms Dismissal of Constructive Discharge Claim
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The New York Attorney General’s investigation has culminated in a detailed, 168-page Report finding that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former state employees, in addition to those outside the state government. It is replete with corroboration, and contains a thorough review of the relevant laws implicated by the governor’s conduct.…

Read More Andrew Cuomo Engaged in Sexual Harassment: Report
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In Byer v. Periodontal Health Specialists of Rochester, PLLC et al, 2021 WL 3276725 (2d Cir. August 2, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, vacated a district court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s racial harassment case asserted under the New York State Human Rights…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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