In McConkey v. The Churchill School and Center, 24-cv-6091 (LJL), 2025 WL 2062195 (S.D.N.Y. July 23, 2025), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of sexual orientation discrimination asserted in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Given Plaintiff’s minimal burden at the motion…
Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Survive DismissalIn Abraham v. New York City, No. 154577/2024, 2025 WL 1907928 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County July 10, 2025), the court, inter alia, held that the “joint employer” doctrine did not apply, and thus granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims against defendants New York City and the New York City Department…
Read More Joint Employment Doctrine Held Not to Apply to Municipal DefendantsIn Emilio Garcia v. ROC Nation LLC et al, 1:24-cv-7587-GHW, 2025 WL 1865965 (S.D.N.Y. July 2, 2025), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff – a cameraman working in rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s (a/k/a Megan Pete) entourage – sufficiently alleged sexual orientation-based discrimination/hostile work environment. The court summarized the facts, in pertinent part, as follows:…
Read More Megan Thee Stallion Cameraman Plausibly Alleges Sexual Orientation-Based Hostile Work Environment, Court HoldsIn Simmons v. Baccarat Inc., No. 651516/2023, 2025 WL 1735659 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 23, 2025), the court, inter alia, granted plaintiff’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of hostile work environment and sexual harassment under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: The Moving Defendants correctly assert…
Read More Hostile Work Environment, Sexual Harassment Claims Dismissed; Evidence Indicated That Plaintiff Participated in “Sexually Themed” Text MessagesIn a unanimous opinion issued today (authored by Justice Jackson), Ames v. Ohio Dept. of Youth Services, No. 23-1039, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court opinion, holding that majority-group plaintiffs are not required to meet a heightened evidentiary standard of showing “background circumstances” to establish a prima facie case of discrimination at the…
Read More SCOTUS Rejects Heightened Evidentiary Standard in “Reverse Discrimination” CasesIn Zadok v. Lomner, No. 151526/2024, 2025 WL 675168 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 03, 2025), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s housing discrimination claim under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). From the decision: To plead a cause of action for housing discrimination, a plaintiff must…
Read More Citing “Stray Remarks” Doctrine, Court Dismisses Housing Discrimination ClaimIn Vannier v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Services et al, 2025 WL 345807 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2025), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, plaintiff – a transgender man who worked…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Sufficiently Alleged; Allegations Include Assignment to Unsuitable WorkspaceIn Goodwin v. UTGR, Inc., 2024 WL 4355044 (D.R.I. Sept. 30, 2024), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Here, Mr. Goodwin has presented evidence in which a reasonable jury could conclude…
Read More Sexual Orientation-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary JudgmentIn Lanier v. Wise County et al, Civil Action No. 4:23-cv-01241-O, 2024 WL 4536468 (N.D.Tex. Oct. 21, 2024), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of same-sex sexual harassment asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: The Fifth Circuit has established a two-step process…
Read More Applying Fifth Circuit Law, Court Dismisses Title VII Same-Sex Sexual Harassment ClaimIn Longchamp v. Equinox Holdings Co., Inc., No. 153431/2021, 2024 WL 4041714 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Sep. 04, 2024), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of gender and sexual orientation-based hostile work environment under the New York City Human Rights Law. This case is a good…
Read More Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Under NYC Human Rights Law Survives Summary Judgment