The halls are decked, the cocoa is hot, and the office party is finally back on the calendar. While the holidays are a time for joy, they also bring a unique set of legal considerations that can turn a “Winter Wonderland” into a “Litigation Landscape.” Whether you’re a business owner or a homeowner, here…
Read More The Holiday Liability List: Keeping Your Season Merry and Lawsuit-FreeDecember 24, 2025 Santa Claus Chief Executive Officer North Pole Industries 123 Elf Road North Pole, 88888 RE: NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RETRACTION Dear Mr. Claus: This firm has been retained to represent Brandon Ratt, a/k/a B. Ratt (hereinafter “Client”) regarding the egregious and unsubstantiated publication of their name on…
Read More Open Letter to S. Claus: Cease and Desist ImmediatelyIn Ibrahim v. Marco A. Rubio, No. 1:24-CV-02915 (TNM), 2025 WL 3718637 (D.D.C. Dec. 23, 2025), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s age discrimination claim asserted under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). From the decision: Ibrahim states a plausible ADEA claim. He is 65 years old. Compl. ¶ 47.…
Read More U.S. Embassy Employee Plausibly Alleges ADEA Age Discrimination Claim, Court HoldsIn Marlin v. Daniel P. Driscoll, Secy’ of the Army, No. 1:21-CV-00989 (CJN), 2025 WL 3640628 (D.D.C. Dec. 16, 2025), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s disability-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Marlin argues that she was “subjected to a hostile work environment from at least 2012…
Read More Disability-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Alleged Conduct Over Several Years InsufficientIn Quinn v. Austin, No. CV 24-10285-NMG, 2025 WL 2841890 (D. Mass. Oct. 7, 2025), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: In support of a hostile work environment claim in this case, Quinn…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed, Notwithstanding Confederate Flag AllegationIn Huang v. Chibaola, Inc., No. 650248/2025, 2025 WL 3636451 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Dec. 08, 2025), the court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: Under the NYSHRL, a plaintiff who alleges discrimination in employment has the initial…
Read More Discrimination Claims Dismissed; Plaintiff Apparently Not Subject to Bag-Search PolicyIn Croswell v. 7 Rising Star Inc., No. 520808/2024, 2025 WL 3634069 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Dec. 09, 2025), the court found defendants liable, and awarded plaintiff substantial damages, for her claim of sexual harassment under the New York City Human Rights Law. The court summarized the law, and applied it to the facts, as follows:…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Awarded Damages, Following InquestIn Boliak v. Father Michael P. Reilly et al, No. 153941/16, 2025 WL 3672342 (N.Y. App. Div. 1 Dept. Dec. 18, 2025), the court, inter alia, held that the lower court improperly dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under the “ministerial exception.” From the decision: Plaintiffs Boliak, Maureen Smith, and Thomas Rodes were all employed…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Not Barred by the “Ministerial Exception”, First Department HoldsIn Sander v. Westchester Reform Temple, 2025 NY Slip Op 06958 (N.Y. Ct. Appeals Dec. 16, 2025), the New York Court of Appeals held that plaintiff’s discrimination claim was barred by the “ministerial exception.” From the decision: Plaintiff Jessie Sander alleges that she was fired from her teaching position at Westchester Reform Temple for co-authoring…
Read More NY Court of Appeals Holds “Ministerial Exception” Bars Plaintiff’s Discrimination Claim; Declines to Rule on Scope of “Recreational Activities” Discrimination StatuteIn Bonafede v. Museum of Modern Art, No. 150557/2024, 2025 WL 3634707 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Dec. 11, 2025), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a claim of hostile work environment under the New York City Human Rights Law. The court summarized the facts as follows: Bonafede brings this action as a result…
Read More MoMA Performer Sufficiently Alleges NYCHRL Hostile Work Environment Claim, Court Holds