In Motta v. Glob. Contract Servs. Inc., No. 15 CV 8555 (LGS), 2016 WL 2642229 (S.D.N.Y. May 4, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation and discriminatory pay claims as insufficiently pled. While the court held that the complaint was deficient, its decision is nevertheless instructive as to what must be alleged in order to survive a…
Read More SDNY Explains Discriminatory Pay, Retaliation Pleading DeficienciesIn Alvarado v. Jeffrey, Inc., No. 14 CIV. 500 (NRB), 2016 WL 922216 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 4, 2016), the court dismissed claims by plaintiff – a gay Hispanic man and salesman at high-end fashion store Just Jeffrey – for race and sexual orientation discrimination, retaliation, and constructive discharge. In dismissing plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims, Judge…
Read More SDNY Dismisses Race & Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation, and Constructive Discharge Claims Against Just Jeffrey and NordstromIn Bell v. McRoberts Protective Agency, No. 15-CV-0963 (JPO), 2016 WL 1688786 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 25, 2016), the court held that plaintiff failed to sufficiently allege race/gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment claims. The court’s explanation of why the plaintiff’s claims were insufficiently pled is instructive as to what courts look for when evaluating these…
Read More Race/Sex Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Claims Insufficiently AllegedIn Capek v. BNY Mellon, N.A., No. 15-cv-4155, 2016 WL 2993211 (S.D.N.Y. May 23, 2016) the court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s race and religious discrimination claims. Plaintiff alleged in her federal court complaint, e.g., that “[i]n the mistaken belief that [she] is Jewish, she was required by her managers to cultivate clients in…
Read More Work Assignments Based on Perceived Jewish Faith Supports Race/Religious Discrimination Claims, Court HoldsIn Goodwine v. City of New York, No. 15-CV-2868 (JMF), 2016 WL 3017398 (S.D.N.Y. May 23, 2016), the court denied defendants’ FRCP 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss plaintiff’s retaliation and gender/race disparate treatment claims. Plaintiff, an African American woman employed by the NYC Dept. of Information & Telecommunications, sufficiently alleged retaliation by alleging that (1) she…
Read More Plaintiff Sufficiently Alleges Retaliation and Gender/Race Discrimination (But Not Hostile Work Environment)In Love v. Premier Util. Servs., LLC, No. 15-cv-5698, 2016 WL 2853532, at (E.D.N.Y. May 13, 2016), the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of race discrimination (wrongful termination) and racially hostile work environment claims. Race Discrimination As to plaintiff’s race discrimination claim, Eastern District Judge Spatt ruled: [T]he complaint in this case clearly…
Read More Allegations Including “N” Word Use and Racist Confederate Flag-Flying Supervisor Sufficient to Plausibly Allege Race Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment ClaimsIn Salem v. Royal Air Maroc, No. 15-CV-5909 (KBF), 2016 WL 1717219, (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 28, 2016), the Southern District of New York dismissed plaintiff’s claims of discrimination occurring in Egypt, arising from conduct by agents of a foreign entity (Royal Air Maroc). Judge Forrest held that “neither federal nor state and local discrimination laws protect [plaintiff] against…
Read More Discrimination Claims Arising From Conduct Outside U.S. DismissedIn a recently-filed lawsuit, captioned Grant v. New York Times et al, 16-cv-03175 (filed April 28, 2016), two named plaintiffs (individually and on behalf of all similarly situated persons) allege age, race, and gender discrimination against the New York Times. From the complaint: The New York Times, widely touted as the “paper of record,” has…
Read More Age, Race, Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against the New York TimesIn Styka v. My Merchants Services LLC et al (EDNY 14-cv-6198 (March 15, 2016)), an employment discrimination/sexual harassment/hostile work environment/retaliation case, Eastern District of New York Magistrate Judge Scanlon recommended awarding plaintiff $120,000 to compensate her for emotional distress (in addition to other damages, such as back pay and punitive damages) following defendants’ default. This case…
Read More Court Recommends Award of $120,000 in Emotional Distress Damages in Gender Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment/Sexual Harassment CaseThe Southern District of New York’s recent decision in Hiralall v. Sentosacare, LLC, No. 13 CIV. 4437 (GBD), 2016 WL 1126530 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 18, 2016) demonstrates that nepotism – defined here as “favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence” – does not, at least in this case, rise to the…
Read More Nepotism Insufficient to Establish Race/National Origin Discrimination