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The New York State Division of Human Rights has released its “Guidance on Sexual Harassment For All Employers in New York State.” It provides, among other things: The provisions of the [New York State] Human Rights Law generally apply to employers with four or more employees. However, with regard specifically to sexual harassment, the Human…

Read More NYS Division of Human Rights Issues Guidance on Sexual Harassment to New York State Employers
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In Riddle v. Citigroup, 15-233-cv, a Second Circuit Summary Order issued today, the court held that the district court properly dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim for failure to state a claim. This Order is instructive on how courts evaluate a retaliation claim based on so-called “temporal proximity” between the alleged protected activity, on the one hand,…

Read More Retaliation Claim Properly Dismissed; Sixteen Months Was Too Long to Establish “Temporal Proximity”
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The Southern District of New York’s recent decision in Eisner v. City of New York, 15-cv-1888, provides a good overview of how courts analyze discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). It also reaffirms the principle that, absent the critical element of causation, merely…

Read More Court Dismisses Attorney’s Disability Discrimination Claims
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In a lawsuit captioned Batista v. Best Buy Stores, NY Sup Ct Index 151565-2016 (filed 2/25/16), plaintiff – a member of Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” – alleges that she was subjected to discrimination based on her gender and race. She asserts claims of gender discrimination, hostile work environment, constructive discharge, and retaliation. She alleges, among other things,…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Best Buy
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In a Brooklyn federal lawsuit, captioned Cox v. 5Linx Enterprises, Inc. et al, 16-cv-00611 (EDNY filed 2/5/16), the plaintiff alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment and then retaliation for complaining about it, in violation of various statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, she alleges (among other things)…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against 5Linx Enterprises Inc. et al
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In Kamdem-Ouaffo v. Pepsico, Inc., 133 A.D.3d 825, 21 N.Y.S.3d 150, 152 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015), the Appellate Division, Second Department dismissed plaintiff’s claim brought pursuant to New York’s “whistleblower law”, codified at Labor Law § 740. Plaintiff alleged that his employment was terminated, his contract was not renewed, and he was not offered a…

Read More Court Dismisses Labor Law § 740 (Whistleblowing) Lawsuit Arising From Termination Following Formaldehyde Complaint
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Singh v. Covenant Aviation Sec., LLC, 131 A.D.3d 1158, 1159-60, 16 N.Y.S.3d 611 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. 2015) illustrates the difference between the New York State Human Rights Law, on the one hand, and the broader New York City Human Rights Law, on the other. Plaintiff, who identifies as Indian, worked for defendant as…

Read More Plaintiff Fired for Sleeping on the Job Survives Summary Judgment on NYC Human Rights Law (But Not NYS Human Rights Law) Claim
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In Febrianti v. Worldwide, No. 15-CV-0635 (JMF), 2016 WL 50202 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 8, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge claims. Here, plaintiff, who identifies as a Southeast Asian non-Chinese speaker, worked for defendant as a cleaner in the Union Square W Hotel. She alleged, among other things, that she…

Read More Hotel Cleaner’s Retaliation, Hostile Work Environment, Constructive Discharge Claims Insufficiently Alleged
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