Sexual Harassment

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In Suri v. Grey Global Group, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 05627 (App. Div. 1st Dept. August 2, 2018), the Appellate Division, First Department, modified a lower court decision, finding that summary judgment was improperly granted to defendant on plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim under the NYC Human Rights Law.[1]It nonetheless agreed that the lower court properly…

Read More Hostile Work Environment / Sexual Harassment Claim Under the NYC Human Rights Law Resurrected From Summary Judgment Dismissal
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In Ellis v. Washington, 2018 WL 3575518 (W.D.N.Y. July 25, 2018), the court held that plaintiff, who worked as part of the County’s Work Experience Program (WEP), plausibly alleged claims for sexual harassment based on her supervisor’s alleged inappropriate conduct. From the decision: Plaintiff’s Complaint plausibly alleges a Monell violation. It alleges that the County…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Survives Dismissal
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A recent law, New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 5003-b (effective July 11, 2018), relates to the use of confidentiality agreements in settlements of sexual harassment cases. It provides: Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for any claim or cause of action, whether arising under common law, equity, or any provision of law,…

Read More New Law Limits Use of Nondisclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases
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In Daniel v. T&M Protection Resources LLC, 13-cv-43842018 WL 3388295 (S.D.N.Y. July 12, 2018), the court addressed what it characterized as “a threshold legal question,” namely, “whether a plaintiff may aggregate evidence of racial and sexual harassment to support a hostile work environment claim where neither charge could survive on its own.” On this issue,…

Read More Court Discusses “Aggregation” Approach to Hostile Work Environment
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In a recent decision, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Draper Development LLC, 15-cv-877, 2018 WL 3384427 (N.D.N.Y. July 11, 2018) – a quid pro quo sexual harassment case – the court denied the parties’ (including defendant’s) motion for summary judgment. This case arose from a the denial of employment of two female applicants (J.J. and A.R.) and…

Read More “Sex For Job” Text Message Supports Sexual Harassment Claim; Summary Judgment Denied
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In Durden v. Metropolitan Transit Authority, 17-cv-5558, 2018 WL 3360757 (S.D.N.Y. July 10, 2018), the court, inter alia, adopted a Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation that it grant defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim for gender discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The facts, in sum: plaintiff was accused by a…

Read More Gender Discrimination Claim Dismissed; Sexual Harassment Allegation Not Motivated by Discriminatory Animus
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In Crookendale v. New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., No. 154788/2015, 2018 NY Slip Op 31309(U), 2018 WL 3145921 (Sup Ct, N.Y Cty. June 21, 2018) (J. Tisch), the court held that plaintiff’s hostile work environment/sexual harassment claim – asserted under the NYC Human Rights Law – survived summary judgment. From the decision: Here,…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim Against NYC Health & Hospitals Corp. Survives Summary Judgment
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Sexual harassment cases are fact- and context-specific. There is no “bright line rule” as to when a comment or a touch “cross the line” from non-actionable to actionable. Such claims can be based on comments, physical touching, or some combination of the two. A recent decision, Batten v. Global Contact Services, LLC, 15-cv-2382, 2018 WL…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Based on “Hug” Was Actionable, Court Holds
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In Collymore v. City of New York et al, 16-cv-8270, 2018 WL 3014093 (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim. “Title VII recognizes two forms of sexual harassment: direct discrimination (or ‘quid pro quo’) and ‘hostile workplace environment.’ … In addition to pleading abusive or offensive conduct, it is…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Touching Was Not “Because Of” Sex
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From Matter of Stellar Dental Mgt. LLC v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, 2018 NY Slip Op 04483 (App. Div. 4th Dept. June 15, 2018): We conclude that there is substantial evidence to support the determination that petitioner discriminated against each complainant by subjecting her to a sexually hostile work environment (see Matter of Father…

Read More Court Upholds State Division Findling of Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment
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