The Southern District of New York’s recent decision in Hiralall v. Sentosacare, LLC, No. 13 CIV. 4437 (GBD), 2016 WL 1126530 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 18, 2016) demonstrates that nepotism – defined here as “favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence” – does not, at least in this case, rise to the…
Read More Nepotism Insufficient to Establish Race/National Origin DiscriminationIn McMahon v. New York Organ Donor Network, Inc., No. 156669/12, 2016 WL 1251204 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Mar. 28, 2016), the plaintiff was terminated from his position as a probationary Transplant Coordinator of the New York Organ Donor Network. Plaintiff claimed that he was fired after making complaints that defendant’s employees were procuring organs from individuals…
Read More Court Orders Discovery of Other Employees’ Personnel Records in Whistleblower Retaliation CaseIn an Gottwald v. Sebert (NY Sup. Ct. 653118/2014 April 6, 2016), the court dismissed singer Kesha’s claims against, inter alia, Lukasz Gottwald (professionally known as Dr. Luke). This is a breach of contract action brought by Gottwald, and includes counterclaims asserted by Kesha alleging, among other things, violations of New York City and State statutes…
Read More Court Dismisses Kesha’s Claims Alleging, e.g., Gender Discrimination Under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws and Gender-Motivated ViolenceOn March 28, 2016, Mayor de Blasio signed into law several bills (including Intros 805-A, 814-A, 818-A, and 819) amending the New York City Human Rights Law. These new laws, among other things, enhance the rights of New Yorkers to be free from discrimination in the areas of public accommodations and employment. During a public…
Read More Mayor de Blasio Signs Legislation Amending the New York City Human Rights LawIn Guzman v. Concavage Marine Constr. Inc., No. 14-CV-8587 (KMK), 2016 WL 1273285 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss/strike plaintiff’s allegation that he suffered a physical workplace injury as a result of his employer’s owner’s racist attitude towards him, in violation of 42 U.S.C. 1981. This decision is instructive as…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Arising From Alleged Racism-Caused Bodily Injury ProceedsIn Bouveng v. NYG Capital LLC et al, No. 14 CIV. 5474 (PGG), 2016 WL 1312139 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), Judge Gardephe – in a lengthy and thoughtful opinion – ruled on defendants’ post-trial motions following a jury’s verdict in favor of, and considerable award to, Hanna Bouveng in her sexual harassment lawsuit against various…
Read More SDNY Upholds Jury Verdict on Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claims Against Benjamin Wey et alIn Lopez v. Advantage Plumbing & Mech. Corp., No. 15-CV-4507 (AJN), 2016 WL 1268274 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), the court held, among other things, that plaintiffs could amend their complaint to add a national origin discrimination (hostile work environment) claim under the NYC Human Rights Law (but not federal or state law) based on defendants’ “English-only”…
Read More “English Only” National Origin Discrimination Hostile Work Environment Claim Plausibly Alleged Under NYC Human Rights LawIn Weslowski v. Zugibe, 96 F. Supp. 3d 308 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) aff’d, 626 F. App’x 20 (2d Cir. 2015), the court dismissed the wrongful termination complaint filed by an Assistant District Attorney. Among other things, the court unsurprisingly held that public employees do not have a right to watch pornography in the workplace. As to…
Read More Public Employee Did Not Have Right to Download or Watch Pornography in the WorkplaceIn a lawsuit filed on March 25, 2016 in Manhattan federal court, Durazzo v. BRG West Village LLC 16-cv-02232, the plaintiff alleges that he was denied the opportunity to purchase his West Village Apartment because he has cancer, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. (He also asserts claims for breach of contract.) The federal Fair…
Read More Fair Housing Act Lawsuit By Cancer Patient Denied Opportunity to Purchase West Village ApartmentIn Ahmed v. Astoria Bank, No. 14-CV-4595, 2016 WL 1254638 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of discrimination and hostile work environment (race, religion, national origin) and retaliation. This decision is instructive on what is required to survive summary judgment on a Title VII hostile work…
Read More Alleged “Terrorist” (Etc.) Comments Were Insufficient to Survive Summary Judgment on Hostile Work Environment Claim; Retaliation Claim Dismissed For Failure to Exhaust Administrative (EEOC) Remedies