Sexual Harassment

by

Here is the complaint recently filed by plaintiff against his employer, Wall Street Languages, Ltd. (d/b/a Rennert International), alleging sexual harassment. Specifically, plaintiff claims that his male supervisor subjected him to numerous instances of harassing conduct, including asking plaintiff about the size of his penis and inviting him to an all-male, naked pool party.

Read More Same-Sex Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Wall Street Languages d/b/a Rennert International
Share This:
by

Here is the lawsuit recently filed by a teacher against the New York City Department of Education and principal Howard Kwait. Plaintiff alleges sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation. For example, she alleges that the principal, Howard Kwait, made numerous sexual advances toward her, including on one occasion straddled and touched plaintiff and simulated sexual…

Read More Teacher Sues School (John Bowne) and Principal Howard Kwait for Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation
Share This:
by

A recent district court decision, Patrick v. Garlick, No. 13-CV-6365L, 2014 WL 6883634 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2014), explains the differences between federal and state anti-discrimination law  regarding individual liability of the alleged harasser. There, plaintiffs, employees of Seneca Lake State Park, sued Steve Garlick (the park’s branch manager and the plaintiffs’ supervisor), alleging that Garlick subjected them…

Read More Court Explains Individual Liability Under State Human Rights Law
Share This:
by

Judicial opinions are often difficult to distill into discrete bullet points. However, a recent decision can be taken as a cautionary instruction to male supervisors, for example, not instruct their female subordinates, in writing, to remember that they are “a man first and a supervisor second” and that being “sex[y]” is “crucial to the position”, and…

Read More “Mock” Sexual Harassment Letter From Alleged Harasser Supports Plaintiff’s Case Against School District
Share This:
by

In Nelson v. Vigorito, the Appellate Division, Second Department affirmed the denial of summary judgment to defendants on plaintiff’s claim of sexual harassment based on a hostile work environment under the New York State Human Rights Law. Here are the facts, as summarized by the court: The plaintiff, a former employee of the defendant Security…

Read More Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Claims Continue Against Long Island Car Dealership
Share This:
by

In a lawsuit captioned Misas v. North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and Julio Cardoza, SDNY 14-cv-8787 (filed Nov. 4, 2014), plaintiffs allege that defendants North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and Julio Cardoza subjected them to harassment, discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation. They assert, for example, that a supervisor told one plaintiff…

Read More Sausages, Pornography, Witchcraft, and Spanking: Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Lenox Hill Hospital
Share This:
by

In Jackson v. OpenCommunications Omnimedia, LLC, the New York State Supreme Court ordered defendants to produce “all documents and notes related to an internal investigation conducted … in connection with the Plaintiff’s complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination.” Defendants resisted production on the ground of privilege. Citing the liberal discovery principles embodied in CPLR 3101, the court granted…

Read More Court Orders Production of Materials Relating to Internal Sexual Harassment Investigation
Share This:
by

A recent Appellate Division, Second Department decision, Sicuranza v. Philip Howard Apts. Tenants Corp. (decided 10/22/14), held that the plaintiff’s claims of sexual harassment, battery, negligent hiring, and negligent supervision were barred by a release executed by the plaintiff as part of a separation agreement she entered into with her former employer, nonparty Cooper Square Realty, Inc.…

Read More Release Bars Sexual Harassment, Battery, Negligent Hiring, and Negligent Supervision Claims
Share This:
by

A recent Eastern District decision, Delisi v. National Ass’n of Professional Women, illustrates the circumstances under which an individual defendant – here, defendant’s general counsel – may be liable under the “aiding and abetting” and retaliation provisions of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). Generally, plaintiff asserted that she was subjected to sexual harassment, and…

Read More Company’s Alleged Failure to Investigate Discrimination Complaint Supported “Aiding and Abetting” and Retaliation Claims
Share This: