Retaliation

by

In Valleriani v. Route 390 Nissan (filed Sept. 2, 2014), the Western District of New York denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s gender-based hostile work environment claim: [T]o constitute gender discrimination in the form of a hostile work environment, the conduct directed at Plaintiff had to be based on her gender. Here, the incidents…

Read More Content, Rather Than Motivation, for Sexually Offensive Language is Relevant in Hostile Work Environment Case, According to Court
Share This:
by

In Shafer v. The American University in Cairo, plaintiff – a tenure-track Assistant Professor – alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment, demoted, and discriminated against relative to tenure as a result of her identity as a white American Muslim woman, and then retaliated against for complaining about discrimination.  The court granted summary judgment to defendants…

Read More Retaliation, But Not Religious Discrimination, Claims Continue Against American University in Cairo
Share This:
by

According to a lawsuit filed earlier this year, the male executives at Archie Comics behaved more like Reggie Mantle than Archie Andrews. Plaintiffs – several female employees – allege that various male executives humiliated, harassed, bullied, and intimidated female employees because of their gender and their support of co-CEO Nancy Seiberkleit. They further allege that “Archie Comics is…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Gender Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation at Archie Comics
Share This:
by

In Giscombe v. New York City Dept. of Education, the Southern District of New York denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Here’s plaintiff’s amended complaint. Plaintiff, a physical education teacher, claimed that the DOE re-opened an investigation into claims that he…

Read More NYC Gym Teacher’s Retaliation Claims, Following (Retracted) Allegations of Inappropriate Sexual Conduct Towards Students, Continues
Share This:
by

In Lapaix v. City of New York (decided Aug. 12, 2014), the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff – a retired Marine Colonel – adequately pleaded various employment discrimination claims. Here’s plaintiff’s complaint. Initially the court held that plaintiff stated military status discrimination claims under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the New…

Read More Retired Marine States Military Status, Race, and National Origin Discrimination Claims
Share This:
by

In Semmler v. County of Monroe, decided August 6, 2014, the Western District of New York reiterated that not all complaints of perceived discrimination will constitute “protected activity” necessary to make out a claim of retaliation. Specifically: A plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case of retaliation [under Title VII] unless she has engaged in protected activity.…

Read More Not Every Complaint of Discrimination is “Protected Activity” Sufficient to Give Rise to a Retaliation Claim
Share This:
by

In Nielsen v. AECOM Technology Corp. (decided August 8, 2014), the Second Circuit clarified the standard to be applied when evaluating whistleblower retaliation claims under Section 806 the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1514A (SOX). Congress enacted SOX “[t]o safeguard investors in public companies and restore trust in the financial markets following the collapse of…

Read More Second Circuit Clarifies SOX Whistleblowing Standard
Share This:
by

Here are recently-filed papers – including the supporting Affirmation, Opposition, and Reply (without exhibits) – relating to plaintiff Hanna Bouveng’s request for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction preventing defendant Benjamin Wey from intimidating and harassing plaintiff and her family, friends, colleagues, and business acquaintances. In this sexual harassment lawsuit, plaintiff alleges that while employed…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Alleges Witness Intimidation and Post-Termination Harassment by Alleged Harasser Benjamin Wey
Share This:
by

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal lawsuit on July 31, 2014 against Seapod Pawnbrokers, a Brooklyn and Queens-based business, alleging that its owner harassed workers because of their sex, race, and ethnicity, and then fired them for complaining. According to the agency’s press release, the harassment included referring to employees, most of whom were…

Read More EEOC Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, Race Discrimination, National Origin Discrimination, and Retaliation Against Seapod Pawnbrokers
Share This:
by

In Lozada v. Elmont Fire Dept., decided July 22, 2014, the New York State Division of Human Rights found that complainant, volunteer firefighter Beatrie Lozada, was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment in violation of the New York State Human Rights Law. It dismissed, however, her claims that she was subject to discrimination based on…

Read More “Badonkadonk” Sexual Harassment Results in $60,000 Award to Volunteer Firefighter
Share This: