Sexual Orientation / LGBTQ Discrimination

In Garvey v. Childtime Learning Ctr., No. 5:16-CV-1073, 2017 WL 1378179 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2017), the Judge McAvoy adopted Magistrate Judge Baxter’s Report and Recommendation that plaintiff’s discrimination claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – based on the failure to hire him due to his perceived sexual orientation – be…

Read More Court Dismisses Gay Plaintiff’s Title VII Discrimination Complaint; Gender Stereotyping Claim Not Plausibly Alleged
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In Alvarado v. Nordstrom, Inc., No. 16-971-CV, 2017 WL 1175654 (2d Cir. Mar. 29, 2017) (Summary Order), the court vacated the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under the NYC Human Rights Law. It affirmed its dismissal, however, of plaintiff’s race discrimination and hostile work environment claims (as well as his retaliation claims under federal…

Read More NYC Human Rights Law Retaliation Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Race Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment Claims Properly Dismissed
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held, in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (No. 15-1720) (April 4, 2017), that discrimination because of sexual orientation is discrimination based on “sex” in violation of Title VII. From the opinion: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it…

Read More 7th Circuit: Sexual Orientation Discrimination is “Sex” Discrimination Under Title VII
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In Christensen v. Omnicom Group Inc., No. 16-748, 2017 WL 1130183 (2d Cir. Mar. 27, 2017), the Second Circuit overturned a lower court decision that dismissed (under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)) the discrimination claim by plaintiff, an openly gay man, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, the Second…

Read More Second Circuit Permits Gay Man’s Title VII Discrimination Case to Proceed on Gender Stereotyping Theory
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In Lorber v. Jacob Lew, No. 15-cv-9995, 2017 WL 633446 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 15, 2017) (J. Kimba M. Wood), the court dismissed (for failure to state a claim under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)) plaintiff’s gender-based hostile work environment claim, but stayed its decision on defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Title VII sexual orientation discrimination claim (which…

Read More SDNY Dismisses Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim; Stays Ruling on Title VII Sexual Orientation Discrimination (Stereotyping) Claim Pending Second Circuit Rulings
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On January 17, 2017, the Second Circuit heard oral argument (audio here) in the case of Christiansen v. Omnicom Group.   This is an appeal of Southern District of New York Judge Lori Failla’s Opinion and Order in Christiansen v. Omnicom Group Inc., 15-cv-3440, 167 F. Supp. 3d 598 (SDNY March 9, 2016), which dismissed plaintiff’s…

Read More Second Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Title VII Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case
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In Andaya v. Atlas Air, Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 00141 (App. Div. 2d Dept. Jan. 11, 2017), the Appellate Division, Second Department affirmed the lower court’s order[1]Andaya v. Atlas Air, Inc., NY Sup. Ct., Westchester Cty., Index No. 58877/2012, Sept. 25, 2014 granting defendant summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation…

Read More 2d Dept. Affirms Dismissal of Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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In Bliss v. MXK Rest. Corp., No. 16CV2676, 2016 WL 6775439 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s gender and sexual orientation-based hostile work environment, retaliation, and aiding-and-abetting discrimination claims. In her complaint, plaintiff – a bartender/manager at defendants’ Remix nightclub – alleged (among other things) that she was subjected to a hostile work…

Read More Remix Bartender’s Gender-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed as Insufficiently Pled
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In Hermés of Paris, Inc. v. Swain, No. 16-CV-6255 (CM), 2016 WL 4990340 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2016), the court granted the request by petitoner (Hermes) to compel arbitration of the respondent/employee’s claims. Respondent, who worked in one of Hermes’ retail locations, filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court alleging claims of sexual orientation discrimination, creation of…

Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim Must Be Arbitrated; Consent to Arbitration Was “Knowing and Voluntary”
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From James v. City of N.Y., No. 157296/14, 2016 WL 6637734 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. Nov. 10, 2016): Crediting the allegations in the complaint for purposes of this motion to dismiss, we find that plaintiff, a correction officer and captain during the relevant time periods, has adequately alleged a claim for sexual orientation-based discrimination…

Read More Correction Officer Sufficiently Alleges Sexual Orientation Discrimination Under the NYC Human Rights Law
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