Religion-Based Discrimination

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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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From Hammond v. New York-Presbyterian Hosp./Columbia University Medical Center, 2018 WL 1448072 (N.Y.Sup.), 2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 30472(U) (NY Sup. Ct. March 20, 2018): The allegations in plaintiff’s complaint do not make out a claim for hostile work environment based on her religion under either the state or local human rights laws. Plaintiff includes only three…

Read More Religious Discrimination (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Not Stated; “Bible Ridicule” (Among Other) Allegations Insufficient
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In Shaw v. McDonald, 17-1122, 2018 WL 1357382 (2d Cir. March 16, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s religious discrimination (disparate treatment) claim. The court gives us a refresher on the legal standard for pleading a discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including…

Read More Religious Discrimination Claim Dismissed; Remarks Held Not Probative
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In Penn v. New York Methodist Hospital, 2018 WL 1177293 (2d Cir. March 7, 2018), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race and religious discrimination claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the Opinion: [T]he district court did not err in applying the ministerial exception doctrine. While a…

Read More Citing the “Ministerial Exception,” 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title VII Race/Religious Discrimination Claim
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In Isakov v. HASC Ctr., Inc. Druker, No. 17-CV-5775 (BMC), 2018 WL 1114714 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 2018), the court held that plaintiff plausibly alleged a claim for religion-based employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Plaintiff asserted, inter alia, that he was treated differently/unfairly after he stopped practicing “Orthodox” Judaism,…

Read More Race, Religious Discrimination Claims Stated Against HASC Center; Plaintiff Alleged Mistreatment Due to Switching From “Orthodox” to “Traditional” Judaism
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In Leizerovici v. Hasc Center, Inc., No. 17-CV-5774 (BMC), 2018 WL 1115348 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 2018), the court held that plaintiff plausibly alleged religious discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: [Plaintiff] claims that just months before he was terminated, Osipov [one of plaintiff’s supervisors] expressly…

Read More Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges Title VII Religious Discrimination Claim
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In Breitstein v. Michael C. Fina Co., 2017 NY Slip Op 08883 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 21, 2017), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s religious discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation causes of action under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. This decision teaches/confirms that, in a discrimination case, the question is not…

Read More Religious/Age Discrimination & Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed Against Michael C. Fina
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In Fallon v. Mercy Catholic Medical Center of Southeastern Pennsylvanie, No. 16-3573 (3d Cir. Dec. 14, 2017), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claim for religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, plaintiff hospital worker was terminated after he…

Read More Anti-Vaccine Stance Not “Religious”; Title VII Discrimination Claim Properly Dismissed
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