In Schmitt v Artforum Intl. Mag., Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 33345(U) (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Dec. 20, 2018), the court (inter alia) dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim under teh NYC Human Rights Law. In sum, plaintiff alleges retaliation by both defendants a violation of the New York City Human Rights Law [Administrative Code of the City…
Read More Retaliation Claim Under NYC Human Rights Law Insufficiently PledIn Rivas v. New York State Lottery, 2018 WL 6656390 (2d Cir. Dec. 18, 2018) (Summary Order), the court (inter alia) affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim. What makes this case arguably somewhat unique is that the alleged retaliation occurred after plaintiff left defendant’s employment. From the Order: The District Court did not err in…
Read More Post-Termination Retaliation Claim Dismissal AffirmedIn Lonergan-Milligan v. New York State Office of Mental Health, 2018 WL 6605686 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claim. The law: A prima facie case of a hostile work environment involves two showings: (1) that the complained-of conduct ‘was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Conduct Was Neither “Severe” Nor “Pervasive”In Burgis v. City of New York Dept. of Sanitation, 2018 NY Slip Op 33322(U) (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Dec. 20, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims of discriminatory failure to promote. As to the disparate treatment claim, the court explained: Here, as defendant contends, the Court finds that the complaint is devoid of any…
Read More NYC Sanitation Department Wins Dismissal of Discriminatory Failure-to-Promote ClaimsIn Duarte v. St. Barnabas Hospital, 15-CV-6824, 2018 WL 4440501 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2018) – a disability discrimination case – the court held, inter alia, that a jury award of $750,000 for punitive damages was too high, and that $125,000 was more appropriate. The court explained, inter alia, that “[u]nder the [New York City Human Rights…
Read More Court Explains Remittitur of $750,000 Punitive Damages Award in Disability Discrimination CaseIn Duarte v. St. Barnabas Hospital, 15-CV-6824, 2018 WL 4440501 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2018) – a disability discrimination case – the court held, inter alia, that a jury award of $624,000 for compensatory/emotional distress damages was too high, and that $125,000 was more appropriate. To do this, the court employed the procedural mechanism of “remittitur.” After explaining…
Read More Court Explains Remittitur of $624,000 Emotional Distress Damages Award to $125,000 in Disability Discrimination CaseGenerally, the anti-discrimination laws – such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – prohibit discrimination against employees and applicants based on certain protected characteristics (as in the case of Title VII, race, color, religion, sex, and national origin). That said, there exists a (limited) exception, where such a characteristic is…
Read More The “Bona Fide Occupational Qualification” (“BFOQ”) in Employment LawEmployment discrimination cases are often resolved by settlement – i.e., a negotiated agreement for the parties to discontinue a case on agreed-upon terms. A settlement can be reached either before or after the commencement of litigation. In many, if not most, cases, the agreement will be reduced to a writing and signed by the parties.…
Read More Settling an Employment Discrimination Case: The AgreementFederal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination based on, among other factors, “disability.” That term is, in turn, defined in the statutes themselves. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A. § 12101 et seq., defines a “disability” as: “(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major…
Read More Is Obesity a “Disability” Under the Anti-Discrimination Laws?One doesn’t have to go very far into the Interwebs to find stories, often accompanied by video(s), of people behaving badly. Recent examples include a lawyer’s racist tirade at a midtown deli, and a woman’s racist outburst on a NYC subway train. If – and, let’s face it, when – their employer(s)[1]As always, unless otherwise…
Read More Can You Be Fired For Non-Work (Mis)Conduct?