Race / Color Discrimination

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In Village of Freeport v. Barella (decided February 16, 2016), the Second Circuit addressed whether “‘Hispanic’ describes a race for purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VII.” In this case – which resulted in a $1.35 million jury verdict for plaintiff – plaintiff alleged (in sum) that defendant Village’s former mayor Andrew Hardwick did…

Read More Second Circuit: “Hispanic” is a “Race” For Purposes of Federal Antidiscrimination Laws
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In Santiago-Mendez v. City of New York, 2016 WL 416877 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 4, 2016), the court held that plaintiff’s non-time-barred claims for race, national origin, and gender discrimination as against the City of New York and two individual defendants should not have been dismissed. Here is the Order appealed from; here is plaintiff’s complaint. From the…

Read More Decision: NYPD Detective’s Race, National Origin, and Gender Discrimination Claims Proceed
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In Henry v. Morgan’s Hotel Grp., Inc., No. 15-CV-1789 (ER)(JLC), 2016 WL 303114 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 25, 2016) – a race and sexual orientation discrimination case – the court quashed subpoenas seeking documents from plaintiff’s prior employers. Specifically, the court quashed the subpoenas because they (1) failed to provide adequate notice, (2) would cause prejudice to plaintiff,…

Read More Court Quashes Subpoenas Seeking Documents Held By Discrimination Plaintiff’s Prior Employers
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In a lawsuit captioned Nolan-Griffin v. NYSARC, SDNY 16-cv-370 (filed Jan. 17, 2016), plaintiff alleges, among other things, that her “coworkers regularly made ‘jokes’ wherein the punch line centered on [her] Griffin’s Italian ancestry and her ‘whiteness.’” She also asserts a claim under the “healthcare whistleblowing” statute, NY Labor Law section 741.

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination Based on Italian Ethnicity, Violation of Healthcare Whistleblower Law
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In Alexander-Callender v. NBTY et al, No. 14-CV-2462 (JS)(AYS), 2015 WL 9581819 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 30, 2015), the Eastern District of New York dismissed, as insufficiently pled, plaintiff’s sexual harassment (hostile work environment), race discrimination, and retaliation claims. In her complaint, plaintiff alleged that a co-worker, for example, stared at plaintiff in a “sexually inappropriate manner”…

Read More Sexual Harassment Hostile Work Environment Claim Insufficiently Alleged
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In Turner v. Manhattan Bowery Mgmt. Corp., 49 Misc. 3d 1220(A) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2015), the court held that plaintiff (an African American maintenance worker) presented sufficient evidence to overcome summary judgment on his race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims. As to his hostile work environment claim, the court held: [P]laintiff presented sufficient…

Read More Plaintiff Overcomes Summary Judgment on Race Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims
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In Geras v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 13-CV-5094(ADS)(AYS), 2015 WL 9182980 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2015), the court noted that “although the standard for establishing a hostile work environment is high, … [t]he environment need not be unendurable or intolerable.” From the decision: [T]here is testimonial evidence that the Plaintiff was “harassed [and] belittled on…

Read More “Reverse” Race Discrimination Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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In Bright v. Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., No. 14-4465-CV, 2015 WL 9261278 (2d Cir. Dec. 18, 2015), the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s decision granting summary judgment judgment, of plaintiffs’ race-based hostile work environment claims. As to the merits, the Second Circuit incorporated the district court’s analysis and conclusion, adding that “[m]any of the comments and incidents…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Dismissing Hostile Work Environment Claims; Says District Court Properly Declined to Consider Post-Deposition Affidavits
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In Ihim v. St. Vincent’s Hosp. Westchester, No. 11 CIV. 8024 JCM, 2015 WL 5698038 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2015), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of race and national origin discrimination. Plaintiff – an African American man whose ancestors are from Nigeria – alleged that his suspension without pay was…

Read More “Where Are You From?” Held Not Probative of Discrimination; Title VII Race/National Origin Discrimination Claims Dismissed
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In Tekle v. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., No. 15-CV-6386, 2015 WL 8485273 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2015), the court granted defendant’s motion under FRCP 12(b)(6) to dismiss plaintiff’s race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims. This case illustrates that even arguably “disturbing and arguably race-based” incidents are not necessarily enough to establish violations of the…

Read More Threat to “Hang” Plaintiff Insufficient to State Hostile Work Environment Claim
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