Emotional Distress Damages

by

Pursuant to a May 5, 2017 Consent Decree in EEOC v. Special Education Associates (EDNY 17-cv-1791) (a failure-to-hire sex discrimination case), the defendant must pay $57,000 in damages to the underlying complainant, comprising $20,000 in back pay and $37,000 in compensatory damages.[1]The Decree contains other remedial measures, such as requiring the defendant to distribute an antidiscrimination…

Read More EEOC Consent Decree Entered in Failure-to-Hire Sex Discrimination Case
Share This:
by

In Matter of NYS Div. of Human Rights v. SUV Prod., Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 02910 (NY App. Div. 1st Dept. April 13, 2017), the court unanimously confirmed the findings of the New York State Division of Human Rights’ (DHR) December 19, 2008 Order concluding that respondent subjected complainants to discrimination and a hostile work environment based…

Read More Court Upholds NYSDHR Finding of National Origin Discrimination & Hostile Work Environment and Resulting Damages
Share This:
by

Halloween is a fun holiday. Not so, however, for employees forced to endure sexual harassment during a company Halloween party. In Maher v. All. Mortg. Banking Corp., No. CV 06-5073 DRH ARL, 2010 WL 3516153 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2010), report and recommendation adopted, No. 06 CV 5073 DRH ARL, 2010 WL 3521921 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 1,…

Read More Sexual Harassment During Company Halloween Party Among Facts of Case Resulting in $170,000 Compensatory Damages Award
Share This:
by

In Laboy v. Office Equip. & Supply Corp., No. 15-cv-3321, 2016 WL 5462976 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2016), a race discrimination and unpaid wages lawsuit, the court entered judgment in plaintiff’s favor following defendants’ default. The facts, in sum/part, taken from plaintiff’s complaint: [Defendants Michael] Prince and [Steven] Maglio referred to Laboy and other dark skinned…

Read More Court Awards Damages, Including $25,000 for Emotional Distress, in N-Word Race Discrimination Case Upon Defendants’ Default
Share This:
by

In Misas v. N.-Shore Long Island Jewish Health Sys., No. 14-cv-8787, 2016 WL 4082718 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2016), the court reaffirmed that an employment discrimination/sexual harassment plaintiff seeking only so-called “garden variety” emotional distress damages does not put their medical condition in issue for discovery purposes. In this case, plaintiffs assert claims of, inter alia, sexual…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiffs’ Assertion of “Garden Variety” Emotional Distress Damages Does Not Authorize Extensive Medical Discovery
Share This:
by

In New York State Div. of Human Rights v. Team Taco Mexico, Corp., No. 2014-06673, 2016 WL 3265489 (N.Y. App. Div. June 15, 2016), the court held that there was “substantial evidence in the record to support the determination of the Commissioner of the [NYS Division of Human Rights] … that the respondent David Orduna…

Read More Court Upholds NYSDHR Sexual Harassment Determination and Award Against Team Taco Mexico And Individual Harasser
Share This:
by

In In re Townsend, No. 15-43411-CEC, 2016 WL 2927522 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. May 16, 2016), the court granted plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment that a judgment entered on a $450,000 jury verdict in Ganci v. U.S. Limousine Service and Raymond Townsend, EDNY 10-cv-3027, was non-dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code. The Bankruptcy Code “exempts from discharge any debt for…

Read More Sexual Harassment Judgment Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy, Court Holds
Share This:
by

In Thurmond v. Bowman, No. 14-CV-6465W, 2016 WL 1295957 (W.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), a Fair Housing Act case, the court discussed the discoverability of social media evidence in connection with a claim for emotional distress damages. From the decision: I disagree that the entirety of a plaintiff’s social media account is per se relevant to…

Read More Seeking Emotional Distress Damages Does Not Automatically Make Social Media Posts Relevant and Discoverable, Court Holds
Share This:
by

A recent decision, Kelly v. Times/Review Newspapers Corp., 14-cv-2995, 2016 WL 2901744 (E.D.N.Y. May 18, 2016), illustrates how courts are applying the newly-amended Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in employment cases. In this employment discrimination case, plaintiff “seeks compensatory damages, alleging that he suffered actual anguish, embarrassment, suffering, and humiliation as result of his wrongful involuntary termination…

Read More Court Applies Amended Discovery Rule to Discovery Demands Seeking Information Relating to Claimed Emotional Distress in Age Discrimination Case
Share This:
by

In Belton v. Lal Chicken, Inc., 2016 NY Slip Op 03115, 2016 WL 1629367 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. Apr. 26, 2016), the Appellate Division, First Department upheld a jury verdict of $320,000 for plaintiff on her sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. From the decision: Plaintiff…

Read More Court Upholds Sexual Harassment (Hostile Work Environment) Jury Verdict for Plaintiff, Citing Rejection of Unwanted Advances and Lack of “Meaningful” Anti-Discrimination Policy
Share This: