Employment Discrimination

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In a recent decision (Sloth v. Constellation Brands), the Western District of New York declined to give collateral estoppel effect to the findings of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). Plaintiff alleged that she was subjected to sexual harassment at work.  The WCB denied her benefits, finding in part that she made false…

Read More Workers’ Compensation Board Findings Not Entitled to Collateral Estoppel Effect in Sexual Harassment Case
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In Baldwin v. Bank of America, N.A., the New York Supreme Court, Kings County, recently held that plaintiff adequately pled “aiding and abetting” claims against her former supervisor, Perez. Plaintiff alleged discrimination on the basis of gender, pregnancy, and disability. Her complaint contained four causes of action: three against the defendant Bank, and the fourth…

Read More Plaintiff Adequately Pleads “Aiding and Abetting” Claim Against Individual Under the New York City Human Rights Law
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In Noon v. IBM, the Southern District of New York recently ruled against defendant on plaintiff’s discrimination, failure-to-accommodate, and retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Plaintiff sued her employer, International Business Machines (IBM), for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Plaintiff, who began working for IBM in…

Read More Disability Discrimination Case Against IBM Continues
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In Serdans v. New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Appellate Division, First Department permitted plaintiff’s claim that defendant failed to accommodate her disability to continue. Plaintiff, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner specializing in critical care, “suffers from a neurological disorder for which she was treated with deep brain stimulus (DBS) through electrodes permanently implanted in…

Read More Court Allows Failure to Accommodate Neurological Disability Claim to Continue
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An eye-opening Metro article highlights the difficulties faced by victims of domestic violence with respect to obtaining appropriate housing. Victims of domestic violence may also suffer discrimination in the workplace, where its effects can be particularly devastating. As explained by the New York Supreme Court court in Reynolds v. Fraser, decided in 2004: The ability to hold on…

Read More Workplace Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sex Offenses, or Stalking
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In Reynolds v. All Island Media, Inc., the New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, held that plaintiff Leona Reynolds adequately stated claims arising from the alleged sexual harassment by her supervisor, Angelo Donofrio. The court summarized plaintiff’s allegations as follows: The amended complaint alleges, among other things, that plaintiff was sexually harassed by Donofrio throughout…

Read More At-Will Employee Stated Claim For Sexual Harassment and Breach of the Contractual Obligation of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
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A Nassau County trial court recently held, in DeMay v. Wheatley Hills Golf Club, Inc., that plaintiff presented enough evidence to proceed on her gender discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and aiding and abetting claims under the New York State Human Rights Law, NY Executive Law § 296(1)(a). Plaintiff Toni DeMay, the former General Manager of…

Read More Court Finds in Favor of Female Manager Against Country Club on Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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‘Tis the season for company holiday parties, where the awkward mingling with co-workers and the free flow of alcohol can combine to create uncomfortable and humiliating social situations and, in some cases, possible legal liability for discrimination and harassment. Despite various warnings about maintaining professionalism, it seems that every year there are people who embarrass themselves…

Read More Company Holiday Parties, Professionalism, and Discrimination/Sexual Harassment
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced a $350,000 settlement in the case captioned EEOC v. La Rana Hawaii, LLC d/b/a Señor Frog’s & Altres, Inc., Case No. CV-11-00799 LEK BMK, which it filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. From the EEOC press release: The [EEOC alleged] that at least…

Read More $350,000 Settlement in Senor Frog Sexual Harassment Case
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A recent case, Cogle v. Bergstein (Supreme Court, New York County, decided Nov. 18, 2013) illustrates the pitfalls that exist when pleading defamation and discrimination claims in New York State courts. Plaintiff, a nurse, worked for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) at Bellevue Hospital.  She alleged that she was suspended based on defamatory…

Read More Court Dismisses Plaintiff’s Defamation and Failure-to-Accommodate Disability Discrimination Claims
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