2023

In Ahmed v. Christine Wormuth, Secretary, Department of the Army, 2023 WL 2309776 (N.D.Cal., 2023), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s retaliation claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This case illustrates the importance of clearly articulating, in one’s complaint, the “protected activity” at issue: The…

Read More Title VII Retaliation Claim Dismissed; Allegation That Plaintiff “Voiced Concerns,” Without More Detail, Held Insufficient
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In Grainger v. The City of New York, No. 158264/2019, 2023 WL 2307497 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 27, 2023), the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on on plaintiff’s (a lesbian woman) claims that she was subject to discrimination based on her sexual orientation. After summarizing the “black letter” law, the…

Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against the City of New York
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In Eustache v. Bd. of Educ. of the City School Dist. of the City of New York, No. 153619/2019, 2023 WL 2307500 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County March 1, 2023), the court granted plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, finding that the court previously erred in dismissing plaintiff’s cause of action for retaliation under the New…

Read More Retaliation Claim Sufficiently Alleged; Suspension Closely Followed Complaint of Sexual Harassment
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In Garza v. Antony Blinken, Secretary of United States Department of State, 2023 WL 2239352 (D.D.C. Feb. 27, 2023), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s sex-based hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Plaintiff’s allegations against Favret do not amount…

Read More Title VII Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Staring at Breasts, Among Other Conduct, Deemed Insufficient by Court
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In Gonzalez v. Grove House Inc., No. 153665/2022, 2023 WL 1880165 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 03, 2023), an employment discrimination case, the court granted plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment. From the decision: Plaintiff has satisfied CPLR 3215(f) by providing an affidavit executed by Plaintiff explaining the facts of her claim (NYSCEF…

Read More Default Judgment Granted in Employment Discrimination Case; Supporting Affidavit Executed in Spain
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In Hernandez v. Kwiat Eye and Laser Surgery, PLLC, 2023 WL 372105 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2023), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s sex-based hostile work environment claims. This is, unfortunately, yet another example of unpleasant, arguably sex-based conduct – when viewed through the lens of the applicable legal standard – does not rise to the…

Read More Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed; “Vagina” Comments Insufficient
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In Yost v. Everyrealm, Inc. et al, No. 22 Civ. 6549 (PAE), 2023 WL 2224450 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 2023), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim asserted under the (extremely lenient) New York City Human Rights Law. After summarizing the “black letter” law pertaining to this claim, the court…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claims Dismissed Notwithstanding Alleged “Sexual Gossip”
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In Brandenburg, Elizabeth et al v. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America et al, 2023 WL 2185827 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 23, 2023), the court addressed the following question, which has divided various courts: “whether, and under what circumstances, a clergy member can bring a claim for hostile work environment discrimination or retaliation against a religious employer.”…

Read More Nuns’ Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claims Survive Summary Judgment Against Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America; “Ministerial Exception” Did Not Bar Claims
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In Simmons v. Transforce, Inc., 2023 WL 2192239 (S.D.Miss. Feb. 23, 2023), the court granted defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c). From the decision: Plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts to state a hostile work environment claim. His allegations that he was bullied and harassed and treated…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Conclusory Allegations of Bullying and Harassment Held Insufficient
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In Williams v. New York City Housing Authority, No. 21-1527-cv, 2023 WL 2171483 (2d Cir. Feb. 23, 2023), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: The district court erred when it identified…

Read More Second Circuit Revives Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim From Summary Judgment Dismissal Against NYC Housing Authority
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