The purpose of a “demand letter” – the proverbial “shot across the bow” – in legal matters generally and employment discrimination matters specifically is, in sum, to (1) alert the target (in an employment discrimination case, the employer) to the existence of a legal issue, (2) express an interest in attempting to resolve it (typically…
Read More The Employment Discrimination Demand LetterIn Rosen v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Education, 2019 WL 4039958 (S.D.N.Y., 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff – a teacher – sufficiently alleged age discrimination under theories of “constructive discharge” and “hostile work environment.” In order to make out a prima facie case under the ADEA, the court explained, a plaintiff must show…
Read More Teacher Plausibly Alleges Age Discrimination, Court HoldsIn Jordan v. United Health Group Inc., No. 18-2268, 2019 WL 4071943 (2d Cir. Aug. 29, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Here, plaintiff contends that she was terminated in retaliation for filing a charge with…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title VII Retaliation Claim; More Than One-Year Gap Too Attenuated to Show CausationIn Jordan v. United Health Group Inc., No. 18-2268, 2019 WL 4071943 (2d Cir. Aug. 29, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After briefly summarizing the law – namely, that “[t]o prevail on [a…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title VII Race Discrimination Claim; Absent/Tardy Co-Worker Comparators Were Not “Similarly Situated”In Coku v. The New York Presbyterian Hospital et al, 17-cv-2488, 2019 WL 3779507 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 12, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. After summarizing the relevant legal standards, and noting that “the standard for establishing a hostile work environment is high”, the court noted that plaintiff did not meet…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Alleged Mistreatment Was Not Due to Protected CharacteristicIn Pulizotto v. McMahon et al, 2019 WL 3997681 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 23, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s sexual orientation-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Claims 9 and 10 allege [defendant] created a hostile work environment for Pulizotto and discriminatorily transferred him based on his sexual orientation in violation of the NYSHRL.…
Read More Sexual Orientation-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Conduct Amounted to “Isolated Acts”In Menaker v. Hofstra University, 18-3089-cv, 2019 WL 3819631 (2d Cir. Aug. 15, 2019), the Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of plaintiff’s sex discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court summarized its holding(s) as follows: (1) Where a university (a) takes an adverse employment action against an…
Read More Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Hofstra Tennis Coach’s Sex Discrimination ClaimIn Bailey v. Sheehan, 2019 WL 3975453 (NDNY August 22, 2019), the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sex-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: There remain a number of relevant factual disputes in this case as to what conduct Defendant actually engaged in, including whether Defendant yelled at Plaintiff and…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim, Including “Dominatrix” Comment, Survives Summary JudgmentIn Wikked Entertainment, Inc. v. Burbacki, No. 652352/2018, 2019 WL 3854921, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 32440(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Aug. 16, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that the facts as alleged, taken as true, fit within a theory of recovery (in the nature of employment discrimination / hostile work environment), but…
Read More Employment Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Counterclaim Allegations Fit Within Legal Theory, But Responding Party Was Entitled to More Definite StatementIn Bentley v. AutoZoners, LLC et al, No. 18-2441-cv, 2019 WL 3884248 (2d Cir. (Conn.) Aug. 19, 2019), the Second Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s sex-based hostile work environment claim. This decision provides a good overview of the law relating to when the conduct of an employee, amounting to a hostile work…
Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Hostile Work Environment Claim; Actions of Non-“Supervisor” Not Imputable to Employer