NYC Human Rights Law

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In Laboy v. Office Equip. & Supply Corp., No. 15-cv-3321, 2016 WL 5462976 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2016), a race discrimination and unpaid wages lawsuit, the court entered judgment in plaintiff’s favor following defendants’ default. The facts, in sum/part, taken from plaintiff’s complaint: [Defendants Michael] Prince and [Steven] Maglio referred to Laboy and other dark skinned…

Read More Court Awards Damages, Including $25,000 for Emotional Distress, in N-Word Race Discrimination Case Upon Defendants’ Default
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In Sarr v. Saks Fifth Ave. LLC, 151303/2015, 2016 NY Slip Op 31751(U) (NY Sup Ct NY Cty Sept. 20, 2016), the court dismissed the claims brought by the Muslim plaintiff, under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws, of employment discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment. After reviewing the legal standard/burden-shifting framework for evaluating plaintiff’s discrimination claims,…

Read More Court Dismisses Muslim Plaintiff’s Employment Discrimination, Retaliation, Hostile Work Environment Claims Against Saks Fifth Avenue
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In Kaplan v. New York City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, 2016 NY Slip Op 06063 (App. Div. 2nd Dept. Sept. 21, 2016), the court reversed a CPLR 3211(a)(7) dismissal (for failure to state a claim) of plaintiff’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation. This decision provides helpful guidance on who has what burden of…

Read More 2d Dept. Reverses Dismissal of “Masturbating Boss” Sexual Harassment Case Under the NYC Human Rights Law
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In a recently-filed Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit, captioned Cohen v. Speyer Legacy School et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 157853/2016), plaintiff asserts that he was subjected to discrimination based on his sexual orientation and retaliation against an elite private Manhattan school for gifted children. Plaintiff (who is gay) alleges, among other things, that he…

Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against Speyer Legacy School
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In La Porta v. Alacra, Inc., 142 A.D.3d 851, 2016 NY Slip Op 06113 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 22, 2016), the court held that plaintiff stated claims for hostile work environment sexual harassment and retaliation (but not hostile work environment-based constructive discharge). The court summarized plaintiff’s claims as follows: Plaintiff, the manager of defendant…

Read More Sexual Harassment Case (Including Facebook “Boobs” Comment) Survives Motion to Dismiss
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From St. Jean Jeudy v. City of New York, 2016 NY Slip Op 06045 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 15, 2016): It is undisputed that plaintiff made out the first three elements of his claim of invidious employment discrimination under the State and City [Human Rights Laws]. We find that he also made out the fourth…

Read More Accent-Based Race/National Origin Discrimination Claims Survive Motion to Dismiss
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The Americans with Disabilities Act, New York State Human Rights Law, and New York City Human Rights Law all prohibit discrimination on the basis of a “disability”. The term “disability” is defined by the statutes in a specific way; thus a medical condition must come under the statutory definition of “disability” in order for a disability discrimination…

Read More What is a “Disability” Within the Meaning of the Anti-Discrimination Laws?
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Employment discrimination law is (for the most part) statutory, and is distributed among a variety of federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Although these statutes’ protections may overlap, they differ in terms of (e.g.) which employers are covered, administrative filing prerequisites, and damages/remedies. Below is a summary (not a complete listing or explanation) of…

Read More Which Employment Discrimination Laws Protect New York City Workers?
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Not every action taken by an employer against an employee is actionable under the anti-discrimination laws, even if the action is tied to a so-called protected characteristic. The dividing line between actionable and non-actionable conduct – for claims of retaliation or status-based discrimination – is the presence, or absence, of an “adverse employment action.” As…

Read More What is an “Adverse Employment Action”?
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In Rogers v. Bank of New York Mellon, No. 09 CIV. 8551 (HBP), 2016 WL 4362204 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2016), the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s various claims, including hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and race/color pay discrimination. As to her hostile work environment claim,…

Read More “Crazy Black Bitch” Comment Insufficient to Establish Hostile Work Environment
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