The New York Attorney General’s investigation has culminated in a detailed, 168-page Report finding that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former state employees, in addition to those outside the state government. It is replete with corroboration, and contains a thorough review of the relevant laws implicated by the governor’s conduct.…
Read More Andrew Cuomo Engaged in Sexual Harassment: ReportIn a recent Order in Doe v. Cuba Gooding, Jr. (SDNY, 20-cv–6569) – in which the plaintiff alleges that defendant, Cuba Gooding, Jr., forcibly raped her in 2013 – the Court (i) granted the plaintiff’s motions to proceed pseudonymously, (ii) granted the plaintiff’s motion for default judgment as to defendant’s liability, and (iii) reserved judgment as…
Read More Default Judgment Issued in Cuba Gooding, Jr. Rape CaseIn Hay v. New York Media LLC, 20-CV-6135, 2021 WL 2741653 (S.D.N.Y. July 1, 2021), the court discussed and applied the geographic limitations of the New York City Human Rights Law. The plaintiff in this case is Bruce Hay, a professor at Harvard Law School. He brought this lawsuit against the author (Kera Bolonik) and…
Read More MA Professor’s NYC Human Rights Law Sexual Harassment Claim Lacked Geographic Connection to NYC; Leave to Amend Complaint Denied as FutileIn Bockus v. Maple Pro, Inc., 850 Fed.Appx. 48 (2d Cir. March 19, 2021) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s sex discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court summarized plaintiff’s allegations as follows: The complaint alleges that Bockus was terminated because he is a…
Read More “Reverse” Sex Discrimination Claim, Asserted by Male Employee, Properly Dismissed, Second Circuit HoldsIn a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit[1]Note: This firm does not engage in the practice of law, and its owner is not licensed to practice law, in the jurisdiction which issued this decision. held that the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits, as a form of “discrimination,” sexual harassment. The…
Read More Sexual Harassment is Prohibited by the Fair Housing Act, 11th Circuit HoldsIn New York State Division of Human Rights v. Hawk, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 03687, 2021 WL 2389091 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. June 11, 2021), the court enforced orders issued by the New York State Division of Human Rights that found respondents Ronald E. Hawk and Big Money Jim, Inc., doing business as Chaffee…
Read More $10,000 Awarded in Sexual Harassment Case Against Chaffee Flatts and OwnerIn Corradino v. Liquidnet Holdings Inc. & Seth Merrin, 19 Civ. 10434, 2021 WL 2853362 (S.D.N.Y. July 8, 2021) (J. Schofield), the court, inter alia, held that the plaintiff sufficiently alleged retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human…
Read More Retaliation Claims, Arising From Sexual Harassment Complaint, Sufficiently Alleged Against Liquidnet Holdings, Court HoldsIn Corradino v. Liquidnet Holdings Inc. & Seth Merrin, 19 Civ. 10434, 2021 WL 2853362 (S.D.N.Y. July 8, 2021) (J. Schofield), the court, inter alia, held that the plaintiff sufficiently alleged “hostile work environment” sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York…
Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Sufficiently Alleged Against Liquidnet Holdings, Court HoldsWhile I typically write about new developments in the law, every so often I come across a court decision that, while older, is interesting enough to warrant discussion here. One such case is Iannone v. Frederic R. Harris, Inc., 941 F.Supp. 403 (S.D.N.Y. 1996). In sum, the plaintiff here was terminated, she alleges, in retaliation…
Read More Retaliation Claim, Arising From Expressed Concerns About “Racy” Photo, Survives DismissalA recent decision, Boyce v. Bruce Weber and Little Bear, Inc., 19-cv-3825, 2021 WL 2821154 (S.D.N.Y. July 7, 2021), is instructive as to how courts resolve evidentiary issues arising in the context of sexual harassment claims. In this case, plaintiff (a fashion model) asserts claims for sexual harassment against defendant Weber (a fashion photographer) under…
Read More Court Rules on “Modus Operandi” Witnesses in Bruce Weber Sexual Harassment Case