Hostile Work Environment

In Mondesir v. N. Shore LIJ Health Sys., No. 14-CV-6496 (JGK), 2016 WL 6952254 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 28, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s race discrimination (hostile work environment) claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Plaintiff, a black woman born in Haiti, worked as a medical assistant for defendant. She alleged, among other things, that a manager’s…

Read More Court Discusses “Dog Whistle”, or “Coded”, Racism; Dismisses Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim
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In a lawsuit filed in New York State Court on 11/22/16, captioned Corcoran v. Siebert Cisneros Shank Co LLC et a (Index No. 159868/2016), plaintiff asserts that “[h]is working environment … more closely resembled a rowdy teenage boys’ locker room than a professional trading floor at a well-regarded Wall Street firm.” This allegation evokes president-elect Donald…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Siebert Cisneros Shank
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In Pall v. Roosevelt Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 11734/13, 2016 WL 6885459 (N.Y. App. Div. 2nd Dept Nov. 23, 2016), the court affirmed the dismissal – for failure to state a claim under CPLR 3211(a)(7) – of plaintiff’s defamation and (NYS Human Rights Law) hostile work environment claims. The facts, as summarized by the…

Read More “Bitches” Comment Was Opinion; Teacher’s Defamation and Hostile Work Environment Claims Properly Dismissed
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In Case v. Onondaga Cty., No. 5:14-cv-272, 2016 WL 6781237 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 16, 2016), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As to plaintiff’s harassment claim, the court explained: Here, assuming, without deciding, that [alleged…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed in Light of Policy and Investigation
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In Bliss v. MXK Rest. Corp., No. 16CV2676, 2016 WL 6775439 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s gender and sexual orientation-based hostile work environment, retaliation, and aiding-and-abetting discrimination claims. In her complaint, plaintiff – a bartender/manager at defendants’ Remix nightclub – alleged (among other things) that she was subjected to a hostile work…

Read More Remix Bartender’s Gender-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed as Insufficiently Pled
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In Hermés of Paris, Inc. v. Swain, No. 16-CV-6255 (CM), 2016 WL 4990340 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2016), the court granted the request by petitoner (Hermes) to compel arbitration of the respondent/employee’s claims. Respondent, who worked in one of Hermes’ retail locations, filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court alleging claims of sexual orientation discrimination, creation of…

Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim Must Be Arbitrated; Consent to Arbitration Was “Knowing and Voluntary”
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An upstate sexual harassment lawsuit, Knapp v. General Electric Company, 16-cv-00340, has been settled (under undisclosed terms) following mandatory mediation. Plaintiff alleged, in her March 23, 2016 federal court complaint, that she was constructively discharged after she complained about sexual harassment. Specifically, plaintiff alleged (e.g.) that a supervisor left her notes such as “you look sexy…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against General Electric Settled
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From Radler v. Catholic Health Sys. of Long Island, Inc., No. 2014-10867, 2016 WL 6604540 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. Nov. 9, 2016): To establish entitlement to summary judgment in a case alleging discrimination, the defendants must demonstrate either the plaintiff’s inability to establish every element of intentional discrimination, or, having offered a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Properly Dismissed on Summary Judgment; “Coarse Comments” Regarding Inappropriate Attire Insufficient
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In Douyon v. NYC Dept. of Education, No. 15-3932, 2016 WL 6584894 (2d Cir. Nov. 7, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims of hostile work environment sexual harassment, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and retaliation. In sum, plaintiff asserted that her supervisor, Laurence Harvey, subjected her to sexual harassment and…

Read More Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed Against NYC Dept. of Education
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Donald J. Trump’s election is likely to be a major topic of discussion among many people, particularly at work. The topic of sex – including sexual harassment and sexual assault – has, one could say, dominated this election. While sex is no stranger to politics (see, e.g., Clinton/Lewinsky) this time seems … different. Examples include…

Read More Donald Trump, Sexual Harassment, and the Workplace
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