Associational Discrimination

In Dolac v. County of Erie et al, 2021 WL 5267722 (2d Cir. Nov. 12, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claim for “associational discrimination” asserted under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court summarized the general law as follows: [The ADA prohibits, among…

Read More Dismissal of ADA “Associational” Disability Discrimination Claim Affirmed
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In Lapko v. Grand Market Intern. Corp., No. 514403/2019, 2020 WL 4818702, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 32711(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, Kings County Aug. 12, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of national origin “discrimination by association” claim asserted under the New York City Human Rights Law. From the decision:…

Read More National Origin Discrimination Claim, Based on Association With Russian Persons, Sufficiently Alleged Under NYC Human Rights Law
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In a recent decision, Kelleher v. Fred A. Cook, Inc., 18‐2385, 2019 WL 4616715, the Second Circuit held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a claim for “associational discrimination” under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (ADA), and vacated the lower court’s decision dismissing the complaint. Here, Plaintiff alleged that he was…

Read More 2d Circuit Overturns Dismissal of ADA “Associational” Disability Discrimination Claim
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Among the different types of discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act is so-called “associational discrimination.” Specifically, the ADA, inter alia, prohibits an employer from excluding or otherwise denying equal jobs or benefits to a qualified individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have…

Read More Court Explains 2d Circuit Standard for “Associational Discrimination” Under the ADA
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In Reiter v. Maxi-Aids, Inc., 14-cv-3712, 2018 WL 557864 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 19, 2018), the court, inter alia, upheld a jury’s determination that plaintiff was subject to “associational discrimination” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In sum, defendant’s principal (Zaretsky) terminated plaintiff shortly after plaintiff advised Zaretsky about an issue concerning his daughter, Bailey, who…

Read More Father’s ADA Claim, Alleging Discrimination by Association With Suicidal Daughter, Jury Verdict Upheld
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In Toombs v. N.Y. City Hous. Auth., No. 16-CV-3352-LTS, 2017 WL 1169649 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2017), the court held that plaintiff plausibly alleged race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation, but dismissed her failure-to-accommodate “associational” disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff, a black female NYC Housing Authority Caretaker, alleged “that she…

Read More Race Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment Claims Continue; Associational Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed
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In Macchio v. Michaels Elec. Supply Corp., 2017 NY Slip Op 02636 (App. Div. 2d Dept. April 5, 2017), the court held that plaintiff presented sufficient evidence of pretext to survive summary judgment on his discrimination, retaliation, and FMLA claims, but that his hostile work environment claim was properly dismissed. In this case, plaintiff alleged,…

Read More Employment Discrimination (Ancestry, Association, Religion), Retaliation, and FMLA Claims Survive Summary Judgment; Hostile Work Environment Claim Properly Dismissed
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Many employment discrimination cases involve allegations by an employee (or former employee) that they have endured discriminatory treatment based on one or more of that person’s protected characteristics. But what you may not know is that there is another type of claim – referred to in the case law as “associational discrimination” – based on the…

Read More Your Sick Daughter or Your Job? Associational Discrimination Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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In Chiara v. Town of New Castle, decided January 14, 2015, the Appellate Division, 2nd Dept. explicitly recognized a cause of action for discrimination “by association” under the New York State Human Rights Law, codified at Executive Law § 296. Specifically, it concluded that a plaintiff alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of religion in…

Read More Anti-Semitic Comments Support Employment Discrimination Claim by Non-Jewish Employee Married to Jewish Woman
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