In a recently-filed Manhattan federal lawsuit, captioned Kantrowitz v. Procter & Gamble, SDNY 16cv02813, plaintiff alleges, among other things: [Plaintiff], a [Procter & Gamble] employee of two years in good standing who sold products geared to women at P&G’s Dolce and Gabbana [] makeup shop at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, was fired after she announced…
Read More Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Against Procter & GambleIn Krebaum v Capital One, N.A., 2016 NY Slip Op 02914 (App. Div. 1st Dept. April 14, 2016), the court modified a lower court’s order, and held that plaintiff’s claims of age discrimination and retaliation under the New York State and City Human Rights Law should have been denied. Upon review of the evidence in the…
Read More Negative Comments About Age Sufficient to Overcome Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s Age Discrimination ClaimIn a lawsuit filed this week, captioned Villalta v. JS Barkats PLLC and Sunny Barkats, 16-cv-2772 (SDNY filed April 13, 2016), plaintiff asserts claims of gender discrimination and quid pro quo and hostile work environment sexual harassment against a Manhattan law firm and its owner. Plaintiff alleges, among other things: Defendant [Sunny] Barkats exploited Plaintiff, who…
Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Manhattan Law Firm JS Barkats PLLCIn Picarella v. HSBC Securities, 14-cv-4463 (Order filed April 5, 2016), Southern District of New York Judge Andrew Carter denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ retaliation claims. Plaintiffs Michael Picarella and James Rist asserted that HSBC retaliated against them after they reported the sexual harassment of a coworker. I previously wrote about this case…
Read More Retaliation Claims Against HSBC for Reporting Coworker Sexual Harassment Survive Summary JudgmentIn a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on April 12, 2016, Malik v. City of New York et al, Index No. 153118/2016, plaintiffs allege that Richard Emery, the Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), referred to CCRB Executive Director Mina Malik and another female CCRB employee as “pussies” (which the complaint characterizes…
Read More Misogny and Retaliation Alleged at Civilian Complaint Review BoardIn an Gottwald v. Sebert (NY Sup. Ct. 653118/2014 April 6, 2016), the court dismissed singer Kesha’s claims against, inter alia, Lukasz Gottwald (professionally known as Dr. Luke). This is a breach of contract action brought by Gottwald, and includes counterclaims asserted by Kesha alleging, among other things, violations of New York City and State statutes…
Read More Court Dismisses Kesha’s Claims Alleging, e.g., Gender Discrimination Under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws and Gender-Motivated ViolenceOn March 28, 2016, Mayor de Blasio signed into law several bills (including Intros 805-A, 814-A, 818-A, and 819) amending the New York City Human Rights Law. These new laws, among other things, enhance the rights of New Yorkers to be free from discrimination in the areas of public accommodations and employment. During a public…
Read More Mayor de Blasio Signs Legislation Amending the New York City Human Rights LawIn Bouveng v. NYG Capital LLC et al, 175 F.Supp.3d 280 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), Judge Gardephe – in a lengthy and thoughtful opinion – ruled on defendants’ post-trial motions following a jury’s verdict in favor of, and considerable award to, Hanna Bouveng in her sexual harassment lawsuit against various defendants, including Benjamin Wey. Among…
Read More SDNY Upholds Jury Verdict on Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claims Against Benjamin Wey et alIn Lopez v. Advantage Plumbing & Mech. Corp., No. 15-CV-4507 (AJN), 2016 WL 1268274 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), the court held, among other things, that plaintiffs could amend their complaint to add a national origin discrimination (hostile work environment) claim under the NYC Human Rights Law (but not federal or state law) based on defendants’ “English-only”…
Read More “English Only” National Origin Discrimination Hostile Work Environment Claim Plausibly Alleged Under NYC Human Rights LawIn Matter of Cruz v. Schriro, 2016 NY Slip Op 50363(U) (NY Sup Ct. NY Cty. March 24, 2016), the court held that the petitioner – a probationary NYC Dept. of Correction Correction Officer – sufficiently alleged that he suffered a “disability” under the NYC Human Rights Law and that the respondent failed to accommodate his disability.…
Read More Probationary Corrections Officer Sufficiently Alleges That Rikers Island-Related Hives and Allergic Reactions Constituted a “Disability” Under the NYC Human Rights Law