In a decision issued today, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia Univ. et al v. Donald Trump et al, 17-cv-5205 (S.D.N.Y. May 23, 2018), U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald held that Donald Trump may not, consistent with the First Amendment, “block” Twitter users from his @realDonaldTrump Twitter account based on their political views. From…
Read More Trump Twitter Ban Violates the First Amendment, SDNY Judge HoldsIn Scott-Robinson v. City of N.Y., No. 15-CV-09703 (NRB), 2016 WL 7378775 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 15, 2016), the Southern District of New York (Judge Buchwald) dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), but held that she sufficiently alleged her failure-to-accommodate-disability claims against individual defendants. Plaintiff, a Child and Family Specialist…
Read More Failure-to-Accommodate Disability (Sciatica) Discrimination Claims Continue Against Individual Defendants; Retaliation Claims DismissedIn Alvarado v. Jeffrey, Inc., No. 14 CIV. 500 (NRB), 2016 WL 922216 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 4, 2016), the court dismissed claims by plaintiff – a gay Hispanic man and salesman at high-end fashion store Just Jeffrey – for race and sexual orientation discrimination, retaliation, and constructive discharge. In dismissing plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims, Judge…
Read More SDNY Dismisses Race & Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation, and Constructive Discharge Claims Against Just Jeffrey and NordstromIn New York, particularly New York City, employees are protected against discrimination (including sexual harassment and retaliation) by various laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. Although these laws are similar in some respects, they differ…
Read More Individual Liability For Sexual Harassment Requires Participation, Court HoldsIn Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Serv., Inc., No. 14 CIV. 8387 NRB, 2015 WL 5037055 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2015), the court addressed the following question: [W]hether an employer is liable for unlawfully retaliating against a plaintiff employee when (1) the plaintiff reports that a coworker [here, Gray] has sexually harassed her, (2) the employer promptly…
Read More Court Discusses and Applies “Cat’s Paw” Theory in Sexual Harassment/Retaliation CaseIn a recent complaint captioned Donahue v. Asia TV USA Ltd., SDNY 15-cv-06490 (filed 8/18/15), plaintiff (a 58 year-old American man) alleges discrimination on the basis of his national origin, age, and disability. As to his anti-American bias claim, the complaint refers to testimony “that [defendant’s] Indian management said that Americans were ‘fat, lazy, dying,…
Read More Lawsuit Alleges Anti-American Bias at Asia TVIn a lawsuit filed April 2, 2015 and captioned Lombardi v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. et al., 15-cv-02516, plaintiff Lombardi asserts various claims against defendant CBS, including gender discrimination, retaliation, constructive discharge, aiding and abetting discrimination, and hostile work environment. Among other allegations, plaintiff (who is male) alleges that at CBS’ December 2013 holiday party, a…
Read More Same-Sex Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against CBS