Faragher/Ellerth Defense

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In a recent decision, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Draper Development LLC, 15-cv-877, 2018 WL 3384427 (N.D.N.Y. July 11, 2018) – a quid pro quo sexual harassment case – the court denied the parties’ (including defendant’s) motion for summary judgment. This case arose from a the denial of employment of two female applicants (J.J. and A.R.) and…

Read More “Sex For Job” Text Message Supports Sexual Harassment Claim; Summary Judgment Denied
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Sexual harassment cases are fact- and context-specific. There is no “bright line rule” as to when a comment or a touch “cross the line” from non-actionable to actionable. Such claims can be based on comments, physical touching, or some combination of the two. A recent decision, Batten v. Global Contact Services, LLC, 15-cv-2382, 2018 WL…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Based on “Hug” Was Actionable, Court Holds
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In MacCluskey v. University of Connecticut Health Center, 2017 WL 6463200 (2d Cir. Dec. 19, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s judgment following a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff on her sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court framed…

Read More Sexual Harassment Jury Verdict Upheld; Co-Worker’s Sexual Harassment Imputable to Employer
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In Lamarr-Arruz & Ansoralli v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., 15-cv-04261, 2017 WL 4280690 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2017), the court rejected the defendant’s reliance on the so-called “Faragher/Ellerth affirmative defense” to plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981.[1]I wrote about the court’s evaluation of the first element of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim under section 1981…

Read More Faragher/Ellerth Defense Inapplicable to Plaintiff’s Hostile Work Environment Claim Under 42 U.S.C. § 1981
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In Kennedy v. Federal Express Corp. and Alvin Beal, as Aider and Abettor, 2017 WL 4422514 (2d Cir. Oct. 5, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit (inter alia) vacated the district court’s judgment[1]Kennedy v. Fed. Express Corp., No. 5:13-CV-1540, 2016 WL 5415774 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 28, 2016) dismissing plaintiff’s sexual harassment and sex discrimination claims. (It also…

Read More Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claim Against FedEx Resurrected
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In Lamarr-Arruz & Ansoralli v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., 15-cv-04261, 2017 WL 4280690 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2017), the court denied defendant CVS’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. Here I will focus…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Summary Judgment; Court Clarifies Scope of 42 U.S.C. § 1981
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In Welch v. Bill Cram, Inc. et al, 2017 WL 3676040 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 25, 2017), the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of quid pro quo sexual harassment, hostile work environment sexual harassment, and retaliation (but granted it with respect to his gender discrimination/disparate treatment claim. With respect to plaintiff’s quid…

Read More Sexual Harassment & Retaliation Claims Continue Against Upstate Auto Dealer Bill Cram, Inc.
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In Burgos v. Works, No. 13-CV-704S, 2017 WL 2403305, at *8–9 (W.D.N.Y. June 2, 2017), the court (inter alia) denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s race and sex-based hostile work environment, race and sex-based adverse-action discrimination, and retaliation claims.[1]However, it dismissed plaintiff’s age-based hostile work environment and discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination…

Read More Race and Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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In Berrie v. Bd. of Educ. of Port Chester-Rye Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 14-CV-6416 (CS), 2017 WL 2374363 (S.D.N.Y. May 31, 2017) (J. Seibel), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed in Light of Plaintiff’s Failure to Utilize Harassment Reporting Procedures
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In Magnusson v. County of Suffolk, No. 16-1876-CV, 2017 WL 1958699 (2d Cir. May 11, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s sexual harassment claims under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. 1983 (Equal Protection). The court held that plaintiff’s Title VII’s claim was appropriately dismissed, because she did not follow the…

Read More Title VII Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed Due to Failure to Follow Internal Grievance Procedures
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