NYC Human Rights Law

In 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 Holds
Share This:

In a case decided today, Teran v. JetBlue Airways Corp., 2015 NY Slip Op 07546, 2015 WL 5971959 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Oct. 15, 2015), the Appellate Division, First Department reversed the lower court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s constructive discharge and retaliation claims under the New York City Human Rights Law.…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff’s Constructive Discharge and Retaliation Claims Survive Summary Judgment
Share This:

In Sosa v. Local Staff LLC (14-3704-cv), a Summary Order issued by the Second Circuit on Oct. 9, 2015, the court discussed what constitutes “protected activity” for purposes of asserting a retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the NYC Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). In this employment discrimination case,…

Read More Complaint About “You’re So Street” Comment Was Not “Protected Activity”; Retaliation Claim Properly Dismissed
Share This:

A recent Southern District decision, Villar v. City of New York, No. 09-CV-7400 DAB, 2015 WL 5707125 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2015), illustrates how a plaintiff can overcome summary judgment on a gender discrimination claim by demonstrating that a defendant’s proffered legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the discriminatory act is a “pretext” for discrimination. Plaitniff, a Hispanic…

Read More Wrongful Termination Gender Discrimination Claim Against NYPD Survives Summary Judgment
Share This:

In a recent race discrimination lawsuit, captioned Li’Gon v. ASPCA, SDNY 15-07686 (filed Sept. 29, 2015), plaintiff Benjamin Li’Gon alleges that the defendant terminated him because of his race, gender, and sexual orientation. Plaintiff, who is a gay black man, alleges (among other things) that “ASPCA cultivated a work environment in which it allowed its…

Read More “Sexual Chocolate” Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against ASPCA
Share This:

An employee of the Metropolitan Repertory Ballet alleges in a recent lawsuit, Volpe v. Anthony Carmine Paniccioli et al (NY Sup. Ct., NY Cty., Index # 159739/2015, filed 9/21/15), that her boss, defendant Paniccioli, subjected her to sexual assault and sexual harassment and breached an agreement to pay her for her work on a movie…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Metropolitan Repertory Ballet Board Member/Sponsor
Share This:

In a recent lawsuit captioned Schultz v. Congregation Shearith Israel of the City of New York et al (SDNY, 15-cv-07473, filed 9/22/15), plaintiff alleges that her employer, described in the complaint as “the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States”, fired plaintiff “immediately after learning that when her Orthodox marriage ceremony was performed, she was also…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Unlawful Termination by Jewish Congregation for Having Pre-Marital Sex
Share This:

In Lenart v. Coach Inc., No. 15-CV-1922 JMF, 2015 WL 5319735 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 11, 2015), the court held that the plaintiff – a male tax lawyer – stated a claim for a sex-based hostile work environment under the NYC Human Rights Law (but not under Title VII or the New York State Human Rights Law).…

Read More Male Employee States Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Against Coach Under the NYC Human Rights Law
Share This:

In a recently-filed lawsuit, Silva v. Georgio Armani Corp. et al (filed NY Sup. Ct., NY Cty., Index # 159449/2015) (complaint here), plaintiff Fabio Silva – formerly defendant’s General Counsel and VP for Legal Affairs – alleges that defendant discriminated against him based on his Mexican nationality and his colon cancer diagnosis and retaliated against…

Read More Lawsuit Against Georgio Armani Alleges Disability Discrimination, National Origin Discrimination, Retaliation, and Hostile Work Environment
Share This: