In New York practice, “consolidation” is the mechanism for joining two or more actions into one. In Lopez v. Bendell, No. 156292/2017, 2019 WL 6216089 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Nov. 18, 2019), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to consolidate two actions – one asserting discrimination based on race and national origin under…
Read More Consolidation of Discrimination and Wage Actions DeniedIn Saltzman v. Exlservice Holdings Inc., No. 154361/2019, 2019 WL 6843028 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Dec. 11, 2019), the court denied defendants’ motion to compel arbitration of plaintiff’s gender discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under the New York City Human Rights Law. In sum, plaintiff asserts that defendants treated her worse than similarly-situated…
Read More Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Not Subject to Arbitration Clause, Court HoldsHappy New Year! Recently, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) – New York State’s primary anti-discrimination law – has been modified to strengthen employee protections. These changes, some occurring in 2019 and some occurring in 2020, are summarized at the New York State Division of Human Rights’ website, here. These changes include: Effective…
Read More NY State Law Protections for Employees: 2020 and BeyondIn Schmitt v. Artforum International Magazine et al, No. 10080, 159496/17, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 09352, 2019 WL 7173975 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Dec. 26, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law, modifying the lower court’s order dismissing that claim as facially insufficient under…
Read More Retaliation Claim Survives Dismissal Against Artforum International MagazineWhile relatively short, the First Department’s recent decision in Donovan v. NYC Housing Authority, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 09394, 2019 WL 7173616 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Dec. 26, 2019), is instructive on the scope of medical discovery that courts will allow/disallow in an employment discrimination case. The court below had issued an Order denying defendant’s motion,…
Read More Court Orders Medical Discovery in Employment Discrimination/Retaliation CaseIn Schaper v. Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, 2019 WL 7102144 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 20, 2019), the court granted plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint asserting, in addition to claims of hostile work environment and retaliation, a claim of disparate treatment. On September 30, 2019, the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment, noting…
Read More Plaintiff Granted Leave to Amend Complaint to Add Claim of Disparate TreatmentHappy holidays to all! One of my favorite Christmas/seasonal movies is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In my view it’s full of memorable moments and quotable lines. See, e.g., “our motor home’s septic tank is at capacity!” As with most movies, there are also a host of legal issues lurking – which, to a law student…
Read More Clark Griswold’s BonusIn Scalercio-Isenberg v. Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc., 2019 WL 6916099 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 19, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s failure-to-hire gender discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: [Plaintiff] has failed to make out a prima facie case that she suffered age or gender discrimination when…
Read More Failure-to-Hire Gender Discrimination Claim Dismissed Against Morgan StanleyIn Garcia v. NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation, 19 Civ. 997, 2019 WL 6878729 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: [Plaintiff’s complaint] describes an incident where Garcia was publicly questioned about his disability…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Alleged Acts, While “Inappropriate”, Were Too Isolated to Be ActionableIn Matter of Oz Trucking and Rigging Corp., No. 2018-09771, 2486/17, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 09009, 2019 WL 6884935 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept., Dec. 18, 2019), the court confirmed a determination that the complainant suffered sexual harassment/hostile work environment, as well as the award of $7,500 for mental anguish and a civil fine/penalty of $10,000. As…
Read More Sexual Harassment Determination Upheld