I preface this by noting that this is not a political blog. That said, there are many reasons why I think Donald Trump should/must not be president. As a plaintiffs’ civil rights lawyer, the most glaring is his apparent mocking of a disabled reporter. It was cruel, unnecessary, and the opposite of presidential. Take a look: In the…
Read More On Donald Trump Mocking the DisabledIn Felmine v. Service Star, No. 13-cv-2641, 2016 WL 4005763 (E.D.N.Y. July 25, 2016), the court granted defendants’ summary judgment motion and dismissed plaintiff’s claims for (1) quid pro quo sexual harassment, (2) hostile work environment, (3) retaliation, and (4) disability discrimination. Plaintiff – a cargo handling agent – alleged that defendant “subjected him to…
Read More Court Dismisses Sexual Harassment Claims Based on Conduct of Non-Supervisory Co-WorkerIn Castro v. City of New York, No. 1036, 2016 WL 3919217(N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. July 21, 2016), the court held that a plaintiff asserting a claim under Civil Service Law § 75-b – the public-sector-employee whistleblower statute – is not required to file a notice of claim. That statute, as summarized by the court,…
Read More 1st Dept. Holds That Notice of Claim Requirement Does Not Apply to Civil-Service Whistleblower Retaliation ClaimsIn Fullwood v. SDH Servs. W., LLC, No. 16-CV-1 (RA), 2016 WL 3951186 (S.D.N.Y. July 20, 2016), an employment discrimination/hostile work environment/sexual harassment case, the court granted defendants’ motion to change venue from the Southern District of New York to the Western District of New York. In this case, plaintiff contends that over the course…
Read More Go West, Ms. Plaintiff: Manhattan Federal Court Explains Decision to Transfer Discrimination Case to the Western District of New YorkIn a lawsuit captioned Gonzalez v. Manhattan Auto Care et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 156078/2016 filed July 21, 2016), plaintiff asserts various claims – including hostile work environment and quid pro quo sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation under the NYC Human Rights Law – against the defendants. Plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that the individual…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Alleges Required Consumption of Alcohol, Sexual Comments, Attempted TouchingIn Dhar v. City of New York, No. 15-2698-CV, 2016 WL 3889108 (2d Cir. July 15, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). “To state a prima facie claim of retaliation, a plaintiff must show (1) participation in a protected activity; (2) that the…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim, Citing Large Gap Between Protected Activity and Adverse ActionsIn Deberry v. Brookdale Univ. Hosp. & Med. Ctr., No. 12-CV-6251(SLT)(RLM), 2016 WL 3840673 (E.D.N.Y. July 12, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment claims. Here I’ll focus on its discussion of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. This case is instructive on the issue of when the alleged harassment may be…
Read More Court Discusses the “Imputing Conduct” Element of a Hostile Work Environment ClaimIn a recent New York State court complaint, captioned Prowell v. Advanced Fertility Services, P.C. et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 155828/2016, filed July 14, 2016), plaintiff alleges that she was terminated in retaliation for her complaints about pregnancy discrimination, in violation of the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. She asserts claims…
Read More Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Against Advanced Fertility ServicesIn Walsh v. New York City Housing Authority, 14-181-cv, 2016 WL 3632245 (2d Cir. July 7, 2016), a Title VII gender discrimination failure-to-hire case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the lower court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant. It is worth a read, for at least the reason that it…
Read More Citing People v. Gambini, 2d Circuit Reinstates Female Bricklayer’s Gender Discrimination Failure-to-Hire CaseIn Mykytyn v. Hannaford Bros. Co., No. 15-01427, 2016 WL 3638182 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. July 8, 2016), the court reinstated several of plaintiff’s claims, including his co-worker-based sexual harassment/hostile work environment claim. The facts, as summarized by the court: Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for, inter alia, employment discrimination pursuant to the…
Read More Court Explains and Applies the Standard For Co-Worker Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Claims Under the NYS Human Rights Law