Here’s the recently-amended class-action sexual harassment lawsuit, Sanz et al v. Johny Utah 51 LLC et al., 14-cv-04380, filed by several employees against western-themed bar Johnny Utah’s. It also contains claims of wage violations under the FLSA and New York Labor Law. NY Post coverage here. Specifically, it alleges that “[b]y intentionally using the ramped…
Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Johnny Utah’sA recent Eastern District decision, Sandvik v. Sears Holding/Sears Home Improvement Products, Inc., illustrates the nature and quantity of evidence necessary to overcome summary judgment in an age discrimination case under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and its state/city law counterparts. Plaintiff – who worked for defendant for 38 years before his departure…
Read More Ageist Comments Support Discrimination Claim Against SearsBelow is the federal court complaint recently filed against PFIP LLC (doing business as Planet Fitness) and others. (News coverage here.) The suit alleges that about one month after the start of plaintiff’s employment, her (unnamed) manager “began making continual inappropriate sexual comments and innuendos towards and around Plaintiff.” She alleges, for example, he told her that…
Read More Sexual Harassment Suit Against Planet FitnessThe New York State and City Human Rights Laws are powerful weapons in the civil rights plaintiff’s arsenal. For example, they reach a broader range of people, and offer broader coverage, than their federal counterparts. However, as illusratd by a recent First Department decision, Benham v. eCommission Solutions (decided June 24, 2014), they are limited…
Read More Citing Geographical Limitations of NY State and City Human Rights Laws, First Department Dismisses Plaintiff’s Employment Discrimination ComplaintIn Bethea v. City of New York (decided June 12, 2014), the Eastern District of New York held that plaintiff adequately pleaded sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Plaintiff alleges that she was subjected to repeated sexual harassment by her co-worker, Sergeant Michelle Williams,…
Read More Police Officer Adequately Alleges Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation ClaimsBelow is the employment discrimination complaint, recently filed by security guard Tiffany Bryan against her employer AEG Management Brooklyn, alleging race discrimination. She seeks recovery under 42 U.S.C. section 1981 and the New York City Human Rights Law. It alleges that plaintiff, a black woman, “was ridiculed, discriminated against, and effectively terminated for the way she wears…
Read More Lawsuit Alleges Discriminatory Treatment For Failure to Tame AfroIn Burhans v. Lopez, decided June 10, 2014, the Southern District of New York denied defendant Sheldon Silver’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ amended federal court complaint for failure to state a claim. This lawsuit arises out of sexual harassment committed by former New York State Assemblyman Vito Lopez against plaintiffs, who served as his legislative aides. As…
Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Continues Against Sheldon SilverIn Dominguez v. Caliber Associates II, Inc. et al. (NY Sup. Ct. Index No. 150944/2014), decided May 20, 2014, the Supreme Court (NY County) denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims for sexual harassment under the NYC Human Rights Law and battery against Caliber Associates and Caliber’s owner. (The court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s causes…
Read More NYC Real Estate Agent’s Sexual Harassment and Battery Claims Survive Dismissal, Notwithstanding Her Alleged “Independent Contractor” StatusIn Graham v. Women in Need, Inc., 13-cv-07063 (May 30, 2014), the Southern District of New York denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of disability discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Facts Here are the facts, as alleged by plaintiff: Plaintiff is a former employee of WIN, a not-for-profit corporation organized…
Read More Stroke Victim Adequately Alleges Disability Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Under the Americans With Disabilities ActIn Thomas v. EONY LLC and David Shavolian (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Index No. 158961/2013 May 23, 2014), a New York trial court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiff alleged, for example, that defendant violated the New York State and City Human Rights Laws…
Read More There’s Zealous Advocacy, Then There’s This: Judge “Aghast” at Sexual Harassment “Defense”