In employment discrimination law, the phrase “hostile work environment” has a very specific meaning that does not encompass all circumstances that the word “hostile” might suggest. Courts repeatedly say, for example, that the employment laws do not provide a “general civility code” for the workplace. In addition, as set forth below, in order to be actionable, the…
Read More What is a “Hostile Work Environment”?If you feel you are being singled out, bullied, or harassed at work because of one or more protected characteristics – such as your sex, age, race, sexual orientation, or disability – you may feel powerless and confused about what to do and how to proceed. If so, you should keep the following information in…
Read More What Should I Do If I Think I’m Being Harassed at Work?In Malik v. American International Group, Inc., the Supreme Court, Queens County denied defendants’ summary judgment motions regarding a number of plaintiff’s claims, including sexual harassment (quid pro quo and hostile work environment), race discrimination, and disability discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law. Time Bar and Continuing Violation Doctrine Defendants argued that plaintiff’s claims…
Read More Issues of Fact Preclude Summary Judgment for Defendant on Sex, Race, and Disability Discrimination ClaimsThe New York State Division of Human Rights recently awarded substantial damages to a corrections officer who alleged that she suffered a hostile work environment and that her supervisor turned a blind eye to what was going on. The recommended findings of fact, opinion and decision, and order in Lora Abbott Seabury v. Rensselaer County et…
Read More Supervisor’s Inaction Leads to Substantial Award for Victim of Sexual HarassmentLast week in Kelly v. Howard I. Shapiro & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claims. The facts, however, are not quite typical: [Plaintiff] quit her job as a human resources manager at her family business after complaining about an affair that one of her brothers, a vice president…
Read More Second Circuit Rejects “Sexual Favoritism” Claim And Clarifies The “Objectively Reasonable Belief” Element Of RetaliationIn a recent case, Shavuo v. Shinseki, the Southern District of New York highlighted the often-misunderstood difference between a work environment that may seem “hostile” and a “hostile work environment” (as that term is used in employment discrimination law). The court stated: With respect to Shavuo’s repeated references to a “hostile work environment,” we again…
Read More When A Work Environment That Seems Hostile Isn’t A “Hostile Work Environment”Below is the text (with some portions edited out due to spatial concerns) of the interview between me and Huffington Post blogger Jincey Lumpkin, a fellow lawyer and Vanderbilt graduate. The full interview can be accessed here. Disclaimer: Nothing below should be considered legal advice and as such should not be relied upon. Furthermore, this may…
Read More Huffington Post Interview On Sexual HarassmentBelow is the complaint filed last week by paralegal (and law school graduate but not yet admitted attorney) against the Law Firm of Ray & Associates and its principal attorney James Ray. Plaintiff alleges violations of various laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York City Human Rights Law. While plaintiff asserts…
Read More Polygamy and Pornography: More Lawyers (Allegedly) Behaving BadlyIn Cid v. ASA Institute of Business & Computer Technology, Inc., the Eastern District of New York found that plaintiff stated plausible claims for hostile work environment and retaliation (as well as aiding and abetting against individual defendants). Plaintiff claimed that her supervisor made unwelcome sexual comments, gave her unwanted gifts, and asked her out, and…
Read More Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges Sexual Harassment, Retaliation, and Aiding/Abetting ClaimsBelow is the complaint filed on March 13, 2013 by Alexandra Marchuk (a Vandy Law grad) against law firm Faruqi & Faruqi – a self-proclaimed “recognized leader in protecting the rights of employees“- and its partner Juan E. Monteverde for sexual harassment. Among other things, plaintiff alleges: Mr. Monteverde intensified his improper actions on the…
Read More Briefs & Blow Jobs: Prominent Plaintiffs’ Law Firm And Partner Sued For Sexual Harassment