In a recent case, Jane Doe[s] v. JetBlue Airways Corporation et al, 2020 WL 4605216 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2020), the court discussed and applied Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s venue provision. The alleged facts of this case, involving the rape of female flight attendants, are horrific. However, the court did not address…
Read More Sexual Harassment Case Dismissed; Eastern District of New York Venue ImproperIn Lowman v. NVI LLC, 2020 WL 4199956 (2d Cir. July 22, 2020) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s religious discrimination case asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Plaintiff asserted, inter alia, that defendant violated his rights under both statutes by refusing to hire…
Read More Religious Discrimination Claim Dismissal Affirmed; Deviating From Federally-Mandated SSN Disclosure Would be an “Undue Hardship”In Barton et al v. Warren County et al, 2020 WL 4569465 (N.D.N.Y. August 7, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiffs’ gender/pregnancy-based hostile work environment claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[1]Here, for the sake of narrowing the discussion, I’ll discuss the court’s evaluation of the claims asserted by…
Read More Pregnancy-Related Title VII Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Three Alleged Remarks in One-Month Period Insufficiently “Severe” or “Pervasive”In Cooney v. City of New York Dept. of Sanitation, No. 650113/2013, 2020 WL 4391481 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County July 30, 2020), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint asserting disability discrimination arising from the Department of Sanitation’s rejection of plaintiff as a candidate for employment. In this case,…
Read More Disability Discrimination Claim Against Dept. of Sanitation Dismissed; No “Reasonable Accommodation” For Skin ConditionIn Mancilla v. ABM Industries, Inc., 2020 WL 4432122(S.D.N.Y. July 29, 2020), a sexual harassment/assault case, the court granted defendants’ motion to compel arbitration. The facts of this case, as alleged, are horrific: Plaintiff reported to work on the night of September 17, 2018, and was informed that her ABM supervisor that night would be…
Read More Arbitration Compelled in Sexual Harassment/Assault Case Against ABMIn Matter of Chaplin v .New York State Div. of Human Rights, 2020 NY Slip Op 04302 (App. Div. 2d Dept. July 29, 2020), the Appellate Division, Second Department confirmed the New York State Division of Human Rights’ award of $5,000 for compensatory damages for mental anguish, and no damages for, inter alia, lost income,…
Read More Court Denies Petition Seeking Review of $5k Award in Employment Discrimination/Retaliation CaseIn Reppert v. New York State Department of State, 19-cv-01518, 2020 WL 4346932 (N.D.N.Y. July 28, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s race discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Initially, the court explained the well-established law: Because discrimination claims implicate an employer’s usually unstated intent and state…
Read More Race Discrimination Complaint Dismissed; Allegations of “Racist Behavior” Held Insufficiently SpecificIn a recent decision, captioned Judd v. Weinstein, 2:18-cv-05724 (9th Cir. July 29, 2020), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived Ashely Judd’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, overturning a district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claim under § 51.9 of the California Civil Code. From the Opinion: In sum, we conclude…
Read More Ninth Circuit Revives Ashley Judd’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Harvey WeinsteinIn Newton v. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc., No. 154178/2019, 2020 WL 3961988, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 32290(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County July 10, 2020), a sexual harassment case, the court – citing CPLR 7515 – held that plaintiff was not bound by an arbitration agreement, and thus could proceed with her…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff May Proceed in Court; Arbitration Not RequiredIn Santiago v. 1199 SEIU et al, 2020 WL 4350048 (E.D.N.Y. July 29, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim asserted under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Plaintiff asserted – albeit, according to the court, non-specifically – that he was subjected to discrimination because of his alchoholism. From the decision: Although…
Read More Alcoholism-Related ADA Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed