Employment Discrimination

In John Doe v. The City of New York et al, 511209/2020, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 50916(U), 2021 WL 4468869 (Sup Ct, Sept. 29, 2021), the court (after largely dismissing plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims) denied plaintiff’s cross-motion to proceed under a pseudonym. While relatively short, the court’s analysis is instructive. It explained: Lastly, the…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff May Not Proceed Pseudonymously, Court Holds
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In John Doe v. The City of New York et al, 511209/2020, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 50916(U), 2021 WL 4468869 (Sup Ct, Sept. 29, 2021), the court held that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege a hostile work environment under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Among plaintiff’s allegations were that “he was…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Insufficiently Alleged; Not Enough That Plaintiff “Felt Disrespected”
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In Arbouin v. Bob’s Discount Furniture, LLC et al, 20-CV-1893, 2021 WL 4458932 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2021), the court, inter alia, adopted a Magistrate Judge’s Report & Recommendation that defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim be denied. From the decision: Defendants argue that the R&R errs in finding that the…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plausibly Alleged; Allegations Included Co-Worker’s Touching and Sexual (and Non-Sexual) Comments
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Some court decisions, particularly in the employment discrimination context, are perfect examples of “what not to do” in the workplace. In such a recent case, Shkoza v. NYC Health & Hospitals Corp., 20-CV-3646, 2021 WL 4340787 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2021), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a sex-based hostile work environment under the New…

Read More Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Sufficiently Alleged; Allegations Included “Wives” Comment, Inappropriate Touching
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In Zuckerman v. GW Acquisition LLC d/b/a G&W Industries et al, 20-CV-8742, 2021 WL 4267815 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2021), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s pregnancy/lactation-related unlawful termination claims. (The court also denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims, which I addressed in a separate post.) The court…

Read More Breastfeeding Mother’s Gender/Pregnancy Discrimination Claims Survive Dismissal
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In Barney v. H.E.L.P. Homeless Service Corporation, 19 Civ. 5959, 2021 WL 4267629 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2021), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim sexual orientation-based hostile work environment asserted under the New York City Human Rights Law. Notably, the court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s…

Read More Sexual Orientation Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Under City, But Not State and Federal, Law
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In a recent case emanating from the Northern District of Illinois, Miller v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp., No. 20 C 414, 2021 WL 3883080 (N.D.Ill. Aug. 31, 2021), the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of sexually hostile work environment. This case is instructive as to how courts evaluate the situation…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim, Based on Photo and Vulgar Comments, Sufficiently Alleged
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In Gates v. City of New York et al, 20 Civ. 3186, 2021 WL 3774189 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 25, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s claim of disability discrimination under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Plaintiff alleged that defendants discriminated against him on the basis of his perceived disability, namely, “depression/suicidal.” After outlining the “black…

Read More Court Dismisses NYPD Officer’s “Regarded As” Disability Discrimination Claim
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In Wolfe v. Carter’s, Inc., 19-cv-560, 2021 WL 3562911 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 11, 2021), the court recommended the dismissal of plaintiff’s “quid pro quo” and “hostile work environment” sexual harassment claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This case is instructive regarding, for example, the circumstances under which “requests for…

Read More Sexual Harassment Complaint Dismissal Recommended; Invitations Did Not Amount to “Unwelcome” Conduct Comprising “Sexual Advances or Favors”
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In Maner v. Dignity Health, 18-17159, 2021 WL 3699780 (9th Cir. Aug. 20, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s gender discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil rights Act of 1964, on a “paramour preference” theory. From the decision: In this appeal,…

Read More Ninth Circuit Rejects “Paramour Preference” Theory of Title VII Sex Discrimination Claims
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