Court: SDNY

Goonan v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, decided July 22, 2014, illustrates an employer’s obligation to reasonably accommodate employees with known disabilities and to engage in an “interactive process” to determine what accommodation(s) are appropriate. Plaintiff, who worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for 25 years, suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder…

Read More 9/11-Related PTSD Disability Discrimination Case Continues
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In Lyman v. New York and Presbyterian Hospital, decided July 14, 2014, the Southern District of New York denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s disability discrimination and retaliation claims. This decision illustrates that “[b]ecause direct evidence of an employer’s discriminatory intent will rarely be found, affidavits and depositions must be carefully scrutinized for circumstantial…

Read More “Problem” Employee Presents Enough Evidence of Disability Discrimination to Survive Summary Judgment
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Here is the recently-filed complaint against NYG Capital and its CEO Benjamin Wey. Plaintiff Hanna Bouveng alleges, among other things, that she “was repeatedly and consistently subjected to unsolicited sexual propositions and sexual commands, as well as sexual gropings, molestations, assault and battery, as well as stalking.”

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit by Hanna Bouveng Against NYG Capital and Benjamin Wey
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In Haight v NYU Langone Med. Ctr. (decided June 27, 2014), the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff, a pediatric nurse, sufficiently pleaded claims for hostile work environment sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and negligent hiring/retention. Plaintiff alleged, among other things, that a co-worker discussed plaintiff’s medical problems with other NYU employees, put her hands…

Read More Nurse Sufficiently Alleges Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment
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In Echevarria v. Insight Medical, P.C. et al, SDNY Case No. 13-cv-03710, a federal jury recently awarded a plaintiff $50,000 in compensatory damages ($0 in punitive damages) in her sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against a Bronx medical practice and its principals. Plaintiff alleged that one individual defendant sexually harassed her – by, for example, sending her unwanted text messages…

Read More Jury Awards $50,000 to Plaintiff on Retaliation Claims in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
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“‘You’re an asshole[]’ is not how an attorney should address her adversary.” That is the opening line of federal judge James C. Francis IV’s Order in Alexander Interactive v. Adorama, 12-6608, 2014 WL 2968528 (SDNY June 26, 2014). This decision serves as a reminder to attorneys to conduct themselves in a civil manner. This case arises…

Read More Don’t Call Your Adversary an Asshole, Federal Court Warns
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Here’s the recently-amended class-action sexual harassment lawsuit, Sanz et al v. Johny Utah 51 LLC et al., 14-cv-04380, filed by several employees against western-themed bar Johnny Utah’s. It also contains claims of wage violations under the FLSA and New York Labor Law. NY Post coverage here. Specifically, it alleges that “[b]y intentionally using the ramped…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Johnny Utah’s
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Below is the federal court complaint recently filed against PFIP LLC (doing business as Planet Fitness) and others. (News coverage here.) The suit alleges that about one month after the start of plaintiff’s employment, her (unnamed) manager “began making continual inappropriate sexual comments and innuendos towards and around Plaintiff.” She alleges, for example, he told her that…

Read More Sexual Harassment Suit Against Planet Fitness
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In Chinnery v. NYS Office of Children and Family Svcs, decided April 25, 2014, Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Maas recommended that defendant OCFS be granted summary judgment on plaintiff’s disparate treatment, retaliation, and hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While the court’s discussion of…

Read More Court Reiterates That “Mere Workplace Bullying” Unrelated to the Plaintiff’s Membership in a Protected Class Does Not Constitute a Hostile Work Environment
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In Cruz v. NYS Dept. of Corrections, the Southern District of New York held (in a decision dated June 4, 2014) that the male plaintiff stated claims for hostile work environment and “quid pro quo” sexual harassment arising from unfair treatment by his female supervisor. The facts, as summarized by the court: Until August 8, 2012,…

Read More Male Corrections Employee States Sexual Harassment Claims Arising From Alleged Mistreatment by Female Boss
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