In Mozzachio v. Schanzer, No. 2018-12385, 521309/17, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 06522, 2020 WL 6601906 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept., Nov. 12, 2020) – a sexual harassment case – the court, inter alia, held that an arbitration agreement was enforceable by the defendant. In this case, the plaintiff alleges claims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment,…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Bound by Arbitration Agreement, Court HoldsIn Crump v. New York City Housing Authority, No. 163138/2015, 69 Misc. 3d 1202(A), 130 N.Y.S.3d 925, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 51143(U), 2020 WL 5884588 (Sup Ct, Oct. 02, 2020), the court, inter alia, rejected defendants’ “after-acquired-evidence” defense. (The court also denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of retaliation and sexual orientation…
Read More Court Rejects After-Acquired Evidence Defense in Employment Discrimination CaseIn Butler v. City School District of New Rochelle et al, 2020 WL 6639121 (S.D.N.Y., 2020), the court denied plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of its decision to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of retaliation asserted under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The court explained that such a motion is subject to a strict standard, which requires the movant…
Read More Section 1981 Retaliation Claim Dismissed Against New Rochelle School DistrictIn Tese-Milner v. ATCO Properties & Management, Inc., No. 113902/2007, 2020 WL 6591380 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Nov. 10, 2020), a sex discrimination case, the court, inter alia, upheld a jury verdict of $700,000 in emotional distress/pain and suffering damages. In rendering its decision, the court outlined the evidence relating to the merits,…
Read More Court Upholds $700k Emotional Distress Damages Jury Verdict in Sex Discrimination CaseIn Correa v. City of New York, 2020 NY Slip Op 06383 (NY App. Div. 1 Dept. Nov. 10, 2020), the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: Plaintiff alleges that defendants discriminated against her on the…
Read More Disability Discrimination Claim, Arising From Depression Disclosure, Properly DismissedIn Truitt v. Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, 2020 WL 4208452 (S.D.N.Y. July 21, 2020), the court dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination and constructive discharge claims under New York Labor Law § 201-d(2)(a), which prohibits discrimination because of “an individual’s political activities outside of working hours, off of the employer’s premises and without use of the employer’s…
Read More Court Dismisses “Political Activities” Discrimination Claim Under NY Labor Law § 201-dIn Van Soeren v. Disney Streaming Service, 2020 WL 6131255 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 16, 2020), the court dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination complaint asserted under, e.g., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, plaintiff – a male product designer and former at-will employee of defendant – asserted that he was subject to pregnancy discrimination…
Read More Title VII Discrimination Claim, Based on Wife’s Pregnancy, Dismissed; “New Parent” Status Not Protected ClassIn Bernstein v. New York City Department of Education, 2020 WL 6564809 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 9, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s age-based hostile work environment and (related) constructive discharge claims. From the decision: First, a school system is entitled to ask a teacher when she plans to retire without automatically creating an inference that…
Read More Hostile Work Environment & Constructive Discharge Claims Dismissed Against NYC Dept. of EducationIn Petrisko v Animal Medical Center, No. 12095, 151573/18, 2019-5044, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 05830, 2020 WL 6065450 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Oct. 15, 2020), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s defamation, retaliatory discharge, and tortious interference. From the decision: The motion court correctly dismissed as untimely the defamation claims arising from statements that were…
Read More Retaliation, Defamation, and Tortious Interference Claims Properly Dismissed, Court HoldsThe U.S. Department of Labor has issued additional guidance (FLSA2020-15) (November 3, 2020) regarding the compensability of time that employees spend attending voluntary training programs in various factual scenarios under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Guidance addresses the issue in the context of six hypothetical scenarios. Generally, the FLSA requires employers to compensate…
Read More Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Compensability of Employee Time at Voluntary Training Programs