Employment Discrimination

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Here is the lawsuit recently filed by a teacher against the New York City Department of Education and principal Howard Kwait. Plaintiff alleges sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation. For example, she alleges that the principal, Howard Kwait, made numerous sexual advances toward her, including on one occasion straddled and touched plaintiff and simulated sexual…

Read More Teacher Sues School (John Bowne) and Principal Howard Kwait for Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation
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In Diggs v. Oscar De La Renta, LLC (decided Dec. 9, 2014), a race discrimination case, the Supreme Court, Queens County denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s discrimination claim under the NYC Human Rights Law and her retaliation claims under the NYC and NYS Human Rights Laws. According to plaintiff, twice on second…

Read More Co-Worker’s “N-Word” Use Supports Discrimination Claim
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December 25, 2014 By Mail S. Claus Chief Executive Officer Claus Manufacturing, Inc. 25 Holiday Lane North Pole, AK 01225 Re: Deere v. Claus Mfg. Confidential and For Settlement Purposes Only Dear Mr. Claus: This law firm has been retained to represent Mr. Rudolph Deere (“Mr. Deere” or “our client”), a current employee of Claus…

Read More Deere v. Claus Manufacturing
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In EEOC v. Vamco Sheet Metals Inc, the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff – a proposed intervenor in a lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – may state a claim for discrimination under Title VII where she was allegedly harassed for breastfeeding her baby. From the decision: Title VII…

Read More Discrimination Related to Breastfeeding May Violate Title VII
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In Bright v. Coca Cola, 12-cv-234 (EDNY Nov. 3, 2014), an employment discrimination case, the Eastern District of New York granted summary judgment in defendant’s favor. Judge Cogan’s decision is instructive regarding the use of depositions in employment litigation. For non-lawyers/litigators, a “deposition” is (briefly and generally speaking) a witness’s out-of-court testimony that is reduced to…

Read More “Have You Identified All Facts Supporting Your Claims?”
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In Albin v. LVMH Moet Louis Vuitton, the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff plausibly alleged claims of pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (of which the Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a part), the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights…

Read More Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges Pregnancy Discrimination Against Louis Vuitton
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In Peralta v. Roros 940, Inc., 72 F. Supp. 3d 385 (E.D.N.Y. 2014), the Eastern District of New York denied defendants’ summary judgment motion as to plaintiff’s discriminatory termination (based on pregnancy) claim, but granted it as to her pregnancy-based hostile work environment claim. The defendant, a FedEx subcontractor, alleged that plaintiff, a delivery driver, was…

Read More Unequal Treatment of Non-Pregnant Co-Workers Supports Pregnancy Discrimination Claim Against FedEx Subcontractor
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A recent district court decision, Patrick v. Garlick, No. 13-CV-6365L, 2014 WL 6883634 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2014), explains the differences between federal and state anti-discrimination law  regarding individual liability of the alleged harasser. There, plaintiffs, employees of Seneca Lake State Park, sued Steve Garlick (the park’s branch manager and the plaintiffs’ supervisor), alleging that Garlick subjected them…

Read More Court Explains Individual Liability Under State Human Rights Law
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Here is the complaint recently filed by plaintiff Michael Douglas against Bleecker Kitchen & Co. and its co-owner (and owner of Gold Bar) Joshua Berkowitz. Plaintiff – who is bi-racial (mixed Black and Asian Asian ancestry) – asserts, among other things, that Berkowitz made derogatory comments about black people, in violation of the New York City…

Read More Race Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Lawsuit Against Bleecker Kitchen and Owner Joshua Berkowitz
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In Rivera v. Balter Sales Co. (decided 12/1/14), the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged claims for aiding and abetting discriminatory conduct (under the New York State Human Rights Law) and false arrest. What is interesting about this case is that plaintiff sued not only her former employer, but also the…

Read More Fired Plaintiff Sufficiently Alleges “Aiding and Abetting” Claim Arising From Retaliatory Arrest
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