Religion-Based Discrimination

In Geffner v. Quanta Services, Inc., 2018 WL 6807388 (S.D.N.Y. 2018), the court, inter alia, found that plaintiff failed to state claim(s) of employment discrimination – based, e.g., on his religion – against his supervisor (Austin). The decision is instructive as to how and when individual liability for employment discrimination may be imposed under 42…

Read More Employment Discrimination Claims Not Stated Against Individual Supervisor, SDNY Holds
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From Gebrial Rasmy, Plaintiff, v. Marriott International, Inc., d/b/a JW Marriott Essex House Hotel, et al., Defendants., 2018 WL 4682231 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 28, 2018): Plaintiff writes in his opposition brief that Efstratiou would tell Plaintiff, who he knew to be a devout Christian, that “God is garbage” and “Religions [are] for the stupid people,” but…

Read More Court Dismisses Christian’s “Anti-Religion” Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Claim; Comments Not Made Directly to Plaintiff Deemed “Stray Remarks”
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In Vaigasi v. Solow Management Corporation, et al. , 17-784-cv (2d Cir. Sept. 14, 2018) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims, including those for gender, religious, and age discrimination. As to his gender discrimination claim, the court states: Vaigasi does not plausibly allege that his gender was a basis for any of…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims; “Write Up” Threat Insufficient
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In Cantey v. Mount Vernon City School District, 16-cv-2669, 2018 WL 3315574 (S.D.N.Y. July 5, 2018), the court dismissed claims asserted by plaintiff -an African American Jehovah’s witness – that she suffered discrimination on the basis of her race and religion under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the center of this…

Read More Title VII Claims Barred By Settlement Agreement; Duress Claim Rejected
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In Adlah v. Emergency Ambulance Services, 17-CV-4688, 2018 WL 3093972 (E.D.N.Y. June 22, 2018), the court held that plaintiff – who worked for defendant as an EMT – pleaded enough facts to support his claims of employment discrimination and hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the basis…

Read More Lebanese Muslim Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges National Origin and Religion-Based Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment Claims
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In a 7-2 decision issued today, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (U.S. No. 16-111 June 4, 2018) (J. Kennedy), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to create a cake for a gay couple’s wedding because of his claimed religious opposition to same-sex marriage. Importantly,…

Read More SCOTUS Issues Narrow Decision in Baker’s Favor in “Gay Wedding Cake” Case
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A federal (EDNY / Brooklyn) jury recently awarded several employees a collective $5.1 million in damages against a health insurance company that, the plaintiffs claimed, forced them to follow the practices of an obscure religion called “Onionhead.” (I wrote about the lawsuit’s filing here.) The verdict sheet (below) reflects, inter alia, that the jury awarded…

Read More EDNY Jury Awards $5.1M in “Onionhead” Religious Discrimination Case [EEOC v. United Health Programs of America]
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In Salas v. New York City Department of Investigation, 2018 WL 1614339, 16-cv-8573 (S.D.N.Y. March 30, 2018), the court (inter alia) held that plaintiff failed to state a religious discrimination (hostile work environment) claim. From the decision: Salas has failed to allege even a single instance where she or a coworker was personally harassed on the…

Read More Religious Discrimination (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Not Stated
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