Hostile Work Environment

In Johnson v. PRIDE Industries, Inc., No. 19-50173, 2021 WL 3440524 (5th Cir. Aug. 6, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court’s grant of summary judgment on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. (Note: the EEOC submitted an Amicus Curiae, i.e., “friend of the court,” brief in this…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Racial Epithets Were Not “Isolated”
Share This:

In Modica v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Education et al, 20-CV-4834, 2021 WL 3408587 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 4, 2021), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a disability-based hostile work environment claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. The court reached this conclusion after determining that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege claims under federal law (the…

Read More Disability-Based “Ridicule” at Meeting Sufficient to State Discrimination Under NY City, but Not Federal and NY State, Law
Share This:

In Jane Doe v. John Doe,[1]Ed. note: I have modified the name of Defendant to “John Doe” in light of (yet without acknowledging any obligation imposed by) the Court’s Order dated Nov. 5, 2021, NYSCEF Doc. No. 60. No. 155961/2020, 2021 WL 3290843 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Aug. 02, 2021) – a sexual…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Denied Opportunity to Amend Complaint to Add Claims to Assert Defamation Counterclaim Was Retaliatory
Share This:

In a document titled “Position Statement of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Concerning the Sexual Harassment Allegations Made Against Him” dated August 3, 2021, Governor Cuomo’s attorney attempts to refute the sexual harassment allegations against him. From the Position Statement: The way he interacts with others is not gender-based: he has hugged or kissed male and…

Read More Andrew Cuomo’s “Position Statement” Regarding Sexual Harassment Allegations
Share This:

In Byer v. Periodontal Health Specialists of Rochester, PLLC et al, 2021 WL 3276725 (2d Cir. August 2, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the lower court’s order dismissing her claim of constructive discharge. (The court did, however, vacate the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment…

Read More Citing Praise of Boss and Voluntary Extension of Employment, Court Affirms Dismissal of Constructive Discharge Claim
Share This:

The New York Attorney General’s investigation has culminated in a detailed, 168-page Report finding that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former state employees, in addition to those outside the state government. It is replete with corroboration, and contains a thorough review of the relevant laws implicated by the governor’s conduct.…

Read More Andrew Cuomo Engaged in Sexual Harassment: Report
Share This:

In Byer v. Periodontal Health Specialists of Rochester, PLLC et al, 2021 WL 3276725 (2d Cir. August 2, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, vacated a district court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s racial harassment case asserted under the New York State Human Rights…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment
Share This:

In Avent v. Target Corporation et al, 19-1565, 2021 WL 3089120 (NDNY July 22, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The court explained: [T]he Court found that Plaintiff sufficiently stated…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Sufficiently Alleged Against Target
Share This:

A recent decision, Estevez v. Berkeley College et al, 18-cv-10350, 2021 WL 3115452 (S.D.N.Y. July 19, 2021), once again discusses when alleged gender-based conduct crosses the line and becomes an actionable “hostile work environment.” As the court’s detailed decision addresses a number of additional issues (including whether the alleged conduct was “because of” plaintiffs’ sex),…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Comments About Appearance Were Not “Severe or Pervasive”
Share This:

In New York State Division of Human Rights v. Hawk, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 03687, 2021 WL 2389091 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. June 11, 2021), the court enforced orders issued by the New York State Division of Human Rights that found respondents Ronald E. Hawk and Big Money Jim, Inc., doing business as Chaffee…

Read More $10,000 Awarded in Sexual Harassment Case Against Chaffee Flatts and Owner
Share This: