In Legrá v. Bd. of Educ. of the City Sch. Dist. of the City of N.Y., No. 14-CV-9245 (JGK), 2016 WL 6102369 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 19, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination complaint – alleging employment discrimination, retaliation, and harassment – on statute of limitations and other grounds. Here’s the law: An action alleging an employer’s…
Read More Days-Late Employment Discrimination Lawsuit DismissedIn Whipple v. Reed Eye Associates, No. 15-CV-6759L, 2016 WL 5719431 (W.D.N.Y. Oct. 3, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s claim for retaliation, but sustained her claims for tortious interference with economic advantage and defamation. In dismissing her retaliation claim against one defendant, the court explained: [P]laintiff alleges that Weissend sexually harassed her, and that after she…
Read More Tortious Interference and Defamation Claims Survive, Retaliation Claim Dismissed, in Sexual Harassment CaseOn August 25, 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a document titled “EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Retaliation and Related Issues“. This document, among other things, outlines the elements of a retaliation cause of action under the statutes administered by the EEOC – including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age…
Read More EEOC Issues “Enforcement Guidance on Retaliation and Related Issues”In Figueroa v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, No. 15-01941, 2016 WL 5509917 (N.Y. App. Div. Sept. 30, 2016), the court determined that the NYS Division of Human Rights correctly dismissed complaints alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. From the decision: [W]e agree with the District that substantial evidence supports the determination of the…
Read More Administrative Dismissal of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Claims UpheldIn a recent Summary Order, Dunaway v. MPCC Corp. (2d Cir. Sept. 27, 2016), the Second Circuit affirmed the summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s age discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This decision teaches that asking age-related questions during a job interview is not, alone, necessarily sufficient to sustain a failure-to-hire discrimination claim.…
Read More Age-Related Comments During Job Interview Insufficient to Establish Failure-to-Hire ADEA ClaimIn Sarr v. Saks Fifth Ave. LLC, 151303/2015, 2016 NY Slip Op 31751(U) (NY Sup Ct NY Cty Sept. 20, 2016), the court dismissed the claims brought by the Muslim plaintiff, under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws, of employment discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment. After reviewing the legal standard/burden-shifting framework for evaluating plaintiff’s discrimination claims,…
Read More Court Dismisses Muslim Plaintiff’s Employment Discrimination, Retaliation, Hostile Work Environment Claims Against Saks Fifth AvenueIn Andrus v. Corning, Inc., No. 14-CV-6667-FPG, 2016 WL 5372467 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2016), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII hostile work environment sexual harassment claim arising from sexual comments made by plaintiff’s co-worker. She alleged: (i) In April 2013, Mr. Drane [the alleged harassing co-worker]…
Read More Title VII Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Co-Worker’s Sexual Comments, While Inappropriate, Could Not Be Imputed to EmployerIn a recently-filed Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit, captioned Cohen v. Speyer Legacy School et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 157853/2016), plaintiff asserts that he was subjected to discrimination based on his sexual orientation and retaliation against an elite private Manhattan school for gifted children. Plaintiff (who is gay) alleges, among other things, that he…
Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against Speyer Legacy SchoolIn La Porta v. Alacra, Inc., 142 A.D.3d 851, 2016 NY Slip Op 06113 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 22, 2016), the court held that plaintiff stated claims for hostile work environment sexual harassment and retaliation (but not hostile work environment-based constructive discharge). The court summarized plaintiff’s claims as follows: Plaintiff, the manager of defendant…
Read More Sexual Harassment Case (Including Facebook “Boobs” Comment) Survives Motion to DismissIn Elmessaoudi v. Mark 2 Restaurant LLC, No. 14 CIV. 4560 (PGG), 2016 WL 4992582 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 15, 2016), the court held that plaintiff submitted sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on his retaliation claim. From the decision: Plaintiff has presented circumstantial evidence that is sufficient to create a question of fact as to whether…
Read More Retaliation/Sexual Harassment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Pretext Shown