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From Gallagher v. Pepe Auto Group et al, 18-cv-3433, 2019 WL 801955 (SDNy Feb. 21, 2019): Here, the arbitration agreement, which provides, “Any dispute under this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration,” is broad. Therefore, there is a presumption of arbitrability regarding plaintiff’s claims that arise under the Employment Agreement. Those claims include plaintiff’s…

Read More Employment Discrimination Claims (But Not Post-Termination Claims) Subject to Arbitration
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In O’Halloran v. Metropolitan Transp. Auth., 2019 NY Slip Op 01318 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 21, 2019), an employment discrimination case, the Appellate Division, First Department unanimously affirmed the lower court’s decision granting plaintiff’s motion (pursuant to CPLR 3124) compelling the defendant to provide certain discovery. Citing New York CPLR 3101(a) and relevant case law,…

Read More Order Compelling Discovery in Employment Discrimination Case Affirmed
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From Lawtone-Bowles v. City of New York, 2019 WL 652593 (S.D.N.Y. 2019): [Plaintiff] alleges little more than a few stray remarks. “Big Daddy” and “cabbage patch baby” bear no facial connection to any protected characteristic. Rubin v. Abbott Labs., 2015 WL 5679644, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2015). A single excited utterance of the pejorative…

Read More “Big Daddy” and Other Remarks Were Insufficient to Plausibly Allege a Hostile Work Environment
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On February 14, 2019, New York Governor Cuomo signed the “Child Victims Act,” powerful and important legislation which strengthens the rights of those victimized by child abusers. The legislation: Increases the amount of time during which perpetrators of these crimes may be held criminally accountable; Allows victims of these crimes to commence a civil lawsuit…

Read More Governor Cuomo Signs the “Child Victims Act”
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In 554 Euo LLC v. Bldg. Maintenance Employees Union, Local 486, No. 654999/2018, 2019 WL 645975 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 11, 2019), the court upheld an arbitrator’s decision to impose a less serious sanction (loss on one months’ pay), instead of termination, upon an employee found to have engaged in workplace harassment. The…

Read More Court Upholds Arbitrator’s “Progressive Discipline” Determination in Light of Workplace Harassment
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In Matter of Romero v. DHL Holdings (USA) Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 00936 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 7, 2019), the court affirmed the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board’s determination that the claimant was discharged for cause, and not in violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law. The court summarized the law: Workers’ Compensation Law…

Read More Workers’ Compensation Retaliatory Discharge Claim Dismissal Affirmed
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In Nokaj v. North East Dental Management, LLC et al, 16-cv-3035, 2019 WL 634656 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 14, 2019), the court (inter alia) denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim of “aiding and abetting” discrimination (sexual harassment) under the New York State Human Rights Law. The court holds that plaintiff may maintain an “aiding…

Read More Aiding & Abetting Sexual Harassment Claim, Based on Supervisor Inaction, Survives Summary Judgment
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In Baker v. Medical Answering Services, LLC, 18-cv-00870, 2019 WL 634654 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 14, 2019), the court dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination complaint, finding that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Plaintiff has, however, failed to plausibly allege circumstances giving rise to…

Read More Inference of Discrimination Not Sufficiently Alleged; Employment Discrimination Complaint Dismissed
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From Petterson v. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2019 WL 367840, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2019): While the alleged statements, such as “Barbara’s bush” and “sucking dick” by themselves are insufficient to show a hostile work environment, when coupled with the other evidence presented, a jury could conclude that Plaintiff was subjected…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Court Cites Derogatory Terms and Threatening Behavior
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In Canosa v. Harvey Weinstein et al, 2019 WL 498865 (S.D.N.Y. 2019), the court, inter alia, clarified that sexual harassment is a form of “discrimination” under federal law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws, and does not constitute an independent common-law tort.…

Read More Sexual Harassment is a Statutory Claim, Not a Common-Law Tort, Court Explains
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