Author: mjpospis

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In Ghonda v. Time Warner Cable, Inc., 16-cv-2610, 2017 WL 395111 (EDNY Jan. 27, 2017) – in which plaintiff asserts claims of employment (gender) discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation – the court denied plaintiff’s request to quash a subpoena seeking information relating to plaintiff’s prior employer. From the Order: Plaintiff’s contention that the mere service…

Read More Court Permits “Former Employer” Discovery in Sexual Harassment Case
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In Boustany v. Xylem, Inc. et al., No. 1:15-CV-10023-GHW, 2017 WL 377939 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 25, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII sexual harassment lawsuit. This case concerns the territorial applicability of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The “black letter” law provides: Title VII’s protections extend to American citizens working abroad. ……

Read More Citing Title VII’s Territorial Limitations, Court Dismisses Middle Eastern Woman’s Sexual Harassment Case
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A recent New York state court decision, Fernandez v. POP Displays & Active Staffing Services (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 154516/2016 Jan. 5, 2017), illustrates the limitations on the geographic reach of the New York City Human Rights Law. The court granted defendant POP Display’s motion to dismiss under CPLR 3211(a)(2) for lack of subject…

Read More Court Dismisses NYC Human Rights Law Claims (Sexual Harassment Etc.) Against Non-NYC Company
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In Offor v. Mercy Medical Center, No. 16-839, 2017 WL 253616 (2d Cir. Jan. 20, 2017) (Summary Order), the court vacated the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) dismissal of plaintiff’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) retaliation claim, but affirmed the dismissal of her Title VII race and national origin discrimination claim. From the Order:…

Read More 2d Circuit Vacates Dismissal of FMLA Retaliation Claim, But Affirms Dismissal of Race/National Origin Discrimination Claim
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In a recently-filed New York state court lawsuit, Valenti v. American International Group et al. (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 150678/2017, filed 1/20/17), plaintiff asserts claims of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and retaliation under the New York City and State Human Rights Laws. In her complaint, plaintiff describes the atmosphere at the company as…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against AIG
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In Blundell v. Nihon Kohden Am., 15-cv-1503, 2017 WL 318842 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s age discrimination claims.[1]The court also denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s retaliation claim and his failure-to-accommodate-disability claim in part. This decision is instructive on the use, in litigation, of age-related comments as proof of age discrimination to…

Read More Court Dismisses Age Discrimination Claims, Notwithstanding Age-Related Comments
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Here is the recently-filed lawsuit, captioned Springs v. City of New York et al (SDNY 17-cv-00451), in which a black firefighter alleges that he endured sexual hazing and race discrimination. Among other things, plaintiff alleges that one defendant told him “I don’t like you … blacks getting on the job this way. You don’t have good…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Hazing and Race Discrimination at NY Fire Dept.
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In Schindler v. Plaza Constr. LLC, 2017 NY Slip Op 30029(U), 153291/2016 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. Jan. 9, 2017), the court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of gender discrimination (wrongful termination) under the New York City Human Rights Law, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) (documentary evidence establishing a defense) and 3211(a)(7) (failure to state…

Read More Female Crane Operator States Claim of Gender Discrimination (Wrongful Termination) Under the NYC Human Rights Law
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On January 17, 2017, the Second Circuit heard oral argument (audio here) in the case of Christiansen v. Omnicom Group.   This is an appeal of Southern District of New York Judge Lori Failla’s Opinion and Order in Christiansen v. Omnicom Group Inc., 15-cv-3440, 167 F. Supp. 3d 598 (SDNY March 9, 2016), which dismissed plaintiff’s…

Read More Second Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Title VII Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case
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