From Morse v. Fidessa Corp., 2017 NY Slip Op 27276 (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Aug. 8, 2017): Here, plaintiff alleges that he was told he was fired because of his perceived marriage to Wakefield and that he would be considered for future employment if he ended his marriage with Wakefield (complaint ¶¶ 42, 43; proposed amended complaint…
Read More NYCHRL Marital Status Discrimination Claim Survives DismissalIn Milione v. City Univ. of N.Y., 2017 (App. Div. 2d Dept. Aug. 23, 2017), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims. Plaintiff, an Italian American, initially sued in federal court, alleging that “defendants discriminated and retaliated against him based on his national origin and his advocacy for Italian Americans.” The federal court…
Read More Federal Court’s Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Employment Discrimination Operates as Collateral Estoppel as to State and City Human Rights Law ClaimsIn O’Halloran v. Metropolitan Transp. Auth., 2017 NY Slip Op 06237 (Aug. 22, 2017), the court addressed the following narrow issue on appeal: [W]hether the motion court providently permitted plaintiff to amend her complaint to include belated claims of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation on the ground that those claims related back to the original pleading,…
Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Rendered Timely Under the “Relation Back” Doctrine, CPLR 203(f)In Edwards v. Nicolai, 2017 NY Slip Op 06235 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Aug. 22, 2017), the court modified a lower court’s Order (issued by Judge Shlomo Hagler) dismissing plaintiff’s causes of action for gender discrimination in violation of the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws, to deny defendant’s motion as to those…
Read More Court Reinstates “Too Cute” Gender Discrimination Claims Under NYS and NYC Human Rights LawsIn Legg v. Ulster County, et al, 2017 WL 3668777 (N.D.N.Y. 09-cv-00550 Aug. 24, 2017) (J. Scullin), the court – after upholding a jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor on her Title VII hostile work environment/sexual harassment claim[1]I discussed this aspect of the case here. – held that the damages awarded by the jury to compensate…
Read More Court Remits $200K Emotional Distress Damage Award to $75K in Hostile Work Environment/Sexual Harassment CaseIn Legg v. Ulster County, et al, 2017 WL 3668777 (N.D.N.Y. 09-cv-00550, Aug. 24, 2017) (J. Scullin), the Northern District of New York, inter alia, upheld a jury verdict in favor of one plaintiff (a female corrections officer) on her hostile work environment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[1]The court also…
Read More NDNY Upholds Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Jury Verdict for Plaintiff Corrections OfficerIn Caruso v. Bon Secours Charity Health System, Inc., 16-3107-cv, 2017 WL 3638203 (2d Cir. Aug. 24, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation claims. As to plaintiff’s retaliation claim, the court explained: It is true that, roughly five months prior to her termination, Caruso had filed a…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim, Finding That Termination Was Caused by Fight With Co-Worker, Rather Than Sexual Harassment ComplaintIn Caruso v. Bon Secours Charity Health System, Inc., 16-3107-cv, 2017 WL 3638203 (2d Cir. Aug. 24, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed summary judgment in defendant’s favor on plaintiff’s employment discrimination and retaliation claims. As to the discrimination claims, the court explained: Substantially for the reasons stated by the District Court, we conclude…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Race/Sex/National Origin/Age Discrimination Claims; Fight With Co-Worker, Not Unlawful Bias, Was Reason for TerminationFrequently, plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases will attempt to prove discrimination by reference to comments or remarks that allegedly demonstrate discriminatory intent. For the purpose of evaluating such evidence, courts have developed the “stray remarks” doctrine. The court in Luka v. Bard College, 2017 WL 2839641 (SDNY June 29, 2017) (J. Carter) recently explained: As a…
Read More The “Stray Remarks” Doctrine in Employment Discrimination LawIn Schultz v. Congregation Shearith Israel of the City of New York et al, 2017 WL 3427130 (2d Cir. Aug. 10, 2017), the Second Circuit (among other things) affirmed the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s constructive discharge claim. The court explained that “[t]he constructive-discharge doctrine contemplates a situation in which an employer discriminates against an…
Read More Constructive Discharge Claim Properly Dismissed, 2d Circuit Holds