Retaliation

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In Heffernan v. City of Paterson, No. 14-1280 (decided April 26, 2016), the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a circuit court decision that affirmed the dismissal of a police officer’s First Amendment retaliation case arising from his punishment for engaging in what was (incorrectly) perceived as protected political activity. Justice Breyer authored the opinion; Justices Thomas…

Read More SCOTUS Holds That First Amendment Retaliation Case May Continue, Despite Employer’s Incorrect Belief that Employee Engaged in Protected Political Activity
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In 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 Times
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Motta v. Glob. Contract Servs. Inc., No. 15 CIV. 8555 (LGS), 2016 WL 1611489 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2016) is instructive on the “aiding and abetting” liability provisions of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). Plaintiffs worked as call center representatives at Global Contract Services, Inc.…

Read More Access-A-Ride Call Center Employees Fail to Sufficiently Allege “Aiding and Abetting” Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims Against the NYCTA and MTA
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In 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 Case
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In Shalom v. Hunter Coll. of City Univ. of New York, No. 14-3426-CV, 2016 WL 1358607 (2d Cir. Apr. 6, 2016), the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claims under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) for (1) quid pro quo sexual harassment, (2) hostile educational environment,…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title IX Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment, Hostile Educational Environment, and Retaliation Claims
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In a recently-filed lawsuit, captioned Bliss v. MXK Restaurant Corp. d/b/a Remix et al, 16-cv-02676 (SDNY, filed April 11, 2016), plaintiff – a gay female – alleges that she was subjected to a hostile work environment, gender discrimination, and sexual orientation discrimination. Among other things, she alleges that throughout her employment she was required to work…

Read More Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against Club Remix and its Owner
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In Krebaum v Capital One, N.A., 2016 NY Slip Op 02914 (App. Div. 1st Dept. April 14, 2016), the court modified a lower court’s order, and held that plaintiff’s claims of age discrimination and retaliation under the New York State and City Human Rights Law should have been denied. Upon review of the evidence in the…

Read More Negative Comments About Age Sufficient to Overcome Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s Age Discrimination Claim
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In Picarella v. HSBC Securities, 14-cv-4463 (Order filed April 5, 2016), Southern District of New York Judge Andrew Carter denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ retaliation claims. Plaintiffs Michael Picarella and James Rist asserted that HSBC retaliated against them after they reported the sexual harassment of a coworker. I previously wrote about this case…

Read More Retaliation Claims Against HSBC for Reporting Coworker Sexual Harassment Survive Summary Judgment
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In a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on April 12, 2016, Malik v. City of New York et al, Index No. 153118/2016, plaintiffs allege that Richard Emery, the Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), referred to CCRB Executive Director Mina Malik and another female CCRB employee as “pussies” (which the complaint characterizes…

Read More Misogny and Retaliation Alleged at Civilian Complaint Review Board
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The 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
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