In 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 UpheldIn Daeisadeghi v. Equinox Great Neck, Inc., 2019 WL 6843142 (2d Cir. Dec. 16, 2019) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s national origin-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Equinox after concluding that the harassment…
Read More Jokes About Accent Etc. Insufficient to Make Out Hostile Work Environment Claim, Court HoldsIn Barr v. Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC, 17-cv-00378, 2019 WL 6828987 (N.D.N.Y. Dec. 13, 2019), the court granted summary judgment for defendant on plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. This case involves, inter alia, the application of the so-called “continuing violation doctrine”, and in particular the scenario where a portion of the alleged hostile…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Held Time-Barred; Time Not Working for Defendant Couldn’t Be ConsideredIn Wiggins v. The Garden City Golf Club, 2019 WL 6716750 (EDNY Dec. 10, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff did not make out a race-based hostile work environment claim. Plaintiff (who is black), who worked for defendant as a caddy, claimed that he was subject to discrimination when a white employee placed…
Read More Race Discrimination Claim Dismissed; “Crude” etc. Conduct Was Not DiscriminatoryIn Hogue v. Bd. of Educ. of the City School Dist. of the City of New York, No. 150393/2019, 2019 WL 6467588 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Dec. 02, 2019), the court, inter alia, permitted plaintiff to amend her complaint alleging a hostile work environment. I write here to address one aspect of the…
Read More Notice of Claim Sufficiently Alleged Hostile Work Environment, Court RulesIn Hilsby v. Schultz, No. 21211/2012, 2019 WL 6248396, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 33395(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, Suffolk County Nov. 15, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim under the New York State Human Rights Law. The court summarized the law: “A hostile work environment exists where the workplace is ‘permeated…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Secretary Reassignment and Alleged Anxiety/Fear InsufficientIn Buczakowski v. Crouse Health Hospital, Inc. et al, 18-cv-330, 2019 WL 6330206 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a hostile work environment based on age and disability (cancer). After reciting the hostile work environment standard, the court held that plaintiff “established [defendant] and several of its employees…
Read More Age & Disability-Related Hostile Work Environment Claims Sufficiently Alleged Against Crouse Health HospitalIn Crawford v. ExlService.com, LLC et al, 16-cv-9137, 2019 WL 6284228 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 25, 2019), the court held that the former in-house counsel for defendant “is not categorically precluded from testifying on grounds of attorney-client privilege”, reasoning that “not all conversations between an attorney and a client are privileged.” The court noted that “[a]t trial,…
Read More Former In-House Counsel May Testify in Hostile Work Environment CaseIn Chauhan v. MM Hotel Management LLC et al, 18-cv-5963, 2019 WL 6118006 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s clams of race, national origin, and religion-based hostile work environment claims. First, the court summarized the legal standard: To establish a hostile work environment claim under Title VII, “a plaintiff must show…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed; 6 Incidents Over a 15 Year Period InsufficientIn Crawford v. ExlService.com, LLC, 2019 WL 5887214 (SDNY Nov. 12, 2019), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. The court…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against ExlService