Employment Law

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In Borzon v. Green, et al., 18-2211 (2d Cir. July 2, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights ACt of 1964. Plaintiff, who is white, alleged that shortly after his hiring, defendant was hired to serve as plaintiff’s…

Read More 2nd Circuit, Citing Negative Performance Reviews, Affirms Dismissal of White Plaintiff’s Title VII Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination because of (among other protected characteristics) race and color. A lesser-known federal law, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as interpreted, also prohibits race discrimination in the making and enforcing of contracts (including the “at-will” employment relationship). While both prohibit race discrimination in employment, these federal…

Read More SCOTUS Grants Certiorari Petition to Review Causation Standard for Race Discrimination Claims Under 42 U.S.C. § 1981
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In Latif v. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 2019 WL 2610985 (SDNY June 26, 2019), the court held that plaintiff’s claims of employment discrimination were subject to mandatory arbitration. In this case, plaintiff “alleges that, beginning in the fall of 2017, he became the target of, inter alia, inappropriate comments regarding his sexual orientation, inappropriate…

Read More Arbitration Compelled in Sexual Harassment Case, Notwithstanding New State Law
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In Cruz v. G-Star Inc. et al, 17-CV-7685, 2019 WL 2521299 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2019), an employment discrimination case involving (inter alia) allegations of sexual harassment, the court imposed sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e) on defendants for engaging in spoliation of evidence (electronically-stored information, or ESI). From the decision: Here, the circumstances…

Read More Court Imposes Spoliation Sanctions in Sexual Harassment Case
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In Osuan v. City of New York et al, 2019 WL 2544866, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. June 20, 2019), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of retaliation under 42 U.S.C. 1981. From the decision: Here, Osuan lodged a complaint with human resources about Martin’s behavior and was terminated without explanation only…

Read More Section 1981 Retaliation Claim Sufficiently Alleged; Termination Two Weeks After HR Complaint Plausibly Indicated Causation
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On Wednesday, June 19, 2019, the New York State Legislature passed changes to state law regarding employment discrimination in general and sexual harassment in particular. In sum, the law (A8421 / S6577; version showing deletions/additions here), among other things: Provides increased protections for protected classes and special protections for employees who have been sexually harassed;…

Read More Legislature Passes Sweeping Amendments to NYS Human Rights Law
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In Reilly v. First Niagara Bank, N.A., 2019 NY Slip Op 04974 (App. Div. 2nd Dept. June 19, 2019), the court affirmed the dismissal – for failure to state a claim under CPLR 3211(a)(7) – of plaintiff’s sex-based discrimination and hostile work environment claims under the New York State Human Rights Law, Executive Law §…

Read More Sex Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment Dismissal Affirmed
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In Olivier v. County of Rockland et al, No. 15-CV-8337 (KMK), 2019 WL 2502349 (SDNY June 17, 2019), the court held that plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to overcome defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The court explained the legal standard applicable to the third (“pretext”) step of the three-step burden-shifting framework applicable to Title VII retaliation…

Read More Retaliation Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Court Cites (e.g.) Weaknesses and Inconsistencies in Defendants’ Proffered Non-Retaliatory Reasons
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In Kubersky v. Cameron Indus., Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 04882 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 18, 2019), a retaliation case brought under New York Labor Law 215, the court affirmed the denial of defendants’ summary judgment motion on the ground that plaintiff did not provide timely notice to the Attorney General of her action.…

Read More Wage Retaliation Statute’s Attorney General Notice Provision Was Not a Condition Precedent to Suit, First Department Holds
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A recent decision, Rodriguez v. Gikher, 2019 WL 2433596, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. June 11, 2019), provides an outline of the elements of a disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as what must be alleged to properly plead such a claim. The court explains: The ADA prohibits discrimination against a…

Read More “Barebones” ADA Disability Discrimination Complaint
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