March 2023

In Degefu v. Department of Veterans Affairs et al, Civil Action No. 20-cv-3548 (BAH), 2023 WL 2707494 (D.D.C. March 30, 2023), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. From the decision: The record before this Court suffices to meet the standard that a reasonable juror could…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Alleged Abusive Treatment Followed Accommodation Request
Share This:

In a recent case, Ilana Gamza-Machado De Souza v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., et al, 21 Civ. 5553 (LGS), 2023 WL 2691458 (S.D.N.Y. March 29, 2023), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s (a Jewish woman) claims of race- and religion-based discriminatory termination, in violation of Title VII…

Read More Jewish Employee’s Race/Religion-Based Discriminatory Termination Claim Survives Summary Judgment
Share This:

In Sylla v. New York City Department of Education et al, 18-CV-6524 (RPK) (MMH), 2023 WL 2667072 (E.D.N.Y. March 28, 2023), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. In this case, plaintiff alleged that a co-worker repeatedly called him “mono”, which is Spanish for monkey.…

Read More “Monkey” Comments Cited in Decision Denying Summary Judgment on Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim
Share This:

In Judkins v. The Brooklyn Hospital Center et al, 2023 WL 2652279 (E.D.N.Y. March 27, 2023), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s race- and sex-based hostile work environment claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. To plead a claim for hostile work…

Read More Race, Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed; Favoring Friends Held Insufficient
Share This:

In Biondolillo v. Livingston Correctional Facility, 2023 WL 2612508 (W.D.N.Y. March 23, 2023), the court, inter alia, granted plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration and reinstated plaintiff’s claim of pregnancy discrimination asserted under the New York State Human Rights Law. The crux of the court’s decision is its determination that plaintiff clearly alleged, in her complaint, that…

Read More Pregnancy Discrimination Claim Resurrected on Reconsideration; Eleventh Amendment Defense Inapplicable
Share This:

In Summerville v. Tradeweb Markets, LLC, No. 160245/2021, 2023 WL 2613131 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 23, 2023), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s race- and gender-based discrimination and hostile work environment claims asserted under the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: Plaintiff alleges that the…

Read More Race/Gender Discrimination & Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed
Share This:

Legislation pending before the New York City Council, Int 0209-2022, would “amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in opportunities of employment, housing, and access to public accommodations.” The legislation is summarized as follows: This bill would prohibit…

Read More NYC-Proposed Legislation to Prohibit Discrimination Based on Weight, Height
Share This:

In White–Barnes v New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, No. 535384, 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 01561, 2023 WL 2602608 (N.Y.A.D. 3 Dept. Mar. 23, 2023), the court modifying and reversing a lower order dismissing, on summary judgment, plaintiff’s claim of an age-based hostile work environment leading to her constructive discharge. In sum,…

Read More “Grandma” Comments Result in Age-Based Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, Constructive Discharge Claims Being Resurrected From Summary Judgment Dismissal
Share This:

In Atalla v. Rite Aid Corporation, 2023 WL 2521909 (Cal.App. 5 Dist. Feb. 24, 2023), the court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim. The facts of this case include plaintiff’s supervisor sending her inappropriate text messages. Standing alone, these facts might initially suggest an actionable claim of sexual harassment. However,…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claims Dismissed; Inappropriate Text Messages Were Sent by Supervisor Not Acting in That Capacity
Share This:

In Johnson v. The City of Troy et al, 1:20-cv-1279 (MAD/TWD), 2023 WL 2587945 (N.D.N.Y. March 21, 2023), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After summarizing the “black letter” law governing this claim,…

Read More Title VII Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against City of Troy
Share This: