Below is the complaint recently filed in New York state court by three female plaintiffs against various Merrill Lynch entities. More information on this (for example) here and here. Plaintiffs allege discrimination in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), following the non-prejudicial dismissal of those claims from plaintiffs’ federal lawsuit. (You can…
Read More Lawsuit: “Boys Club” Alive and Well at Merrill LynchA recent Southern District decision, Brown v. City of New York, outlines conduct that could easily form a roadmap for a corporate sexual harassment training course (in the “what not to do” sense). There, New York City employee Sheila Brown sued the City of New York, alleging (under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…
Read More Conduct of Aggressive, Masturbating Misogynistic Co-Worker Results in Denial of Summary Judgment for Defendant on Sexual Harassment ClaimsBelow is the complaint recently filed by an employee of Capital One Bank for sexual harassment under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Plaintiff claims that she was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment, that the company failed to take steps to stop it, and that she was fired for complaining about…
Read More Bankers (Allegedly) Behaving BadlyBelow is the sexual harassment and race discrimination complaint filed by plaintiff Elizabeth Shiflett against Scores Holding Company last Friday. She sues under Title VII and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. This is one of the relatively few cases in which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found reasonable cause to believe…
Read More Sexual Harassment Complaint Against ScoresBelow is the complaint, captioned Burhans and Rivera v. Lopez and Silver, 13 CIV 3870, filed in the Southern District of New York by Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera against (former) Assemblyman Vito Lopez and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Fourteenth Amendment (through 42 U.S.C. § 1983), the New York State Human…
Read More Federal Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Vito Lopez and Sheldon SilverA recent New York trial court decision again underscores the breadth of the New York City Human Rights Law. The case is Davis v. Phoenix Ancient Art, decided April 22, 2013. There, plaintiff Emily Davis alleged that she was subjected to sexual harassment and constructively discharged. Plaintiff’s allegations: [I]n September 2010, while at an art…
Read More NYC Human Rights Law Claims Continue, While State Human Rights Law Claims FailIn Krause v. Lancer & Loader Group LLC, 40 Misc.3d 385 (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. May 1, 2013), the court confirms that both the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) and the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) recognize claims of pregnancy discrimination, and that she stated such a claim under both laws.…
Read More Plaintiff States Claim for Pregnancy Discrimination Under the New York State and City Human Rights LawsIn Fattoruso v. Hilton Grand Vacations Co., 12-2405 (2d Cir. May 17, 2013), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. Plaintiff claimed that Hilton violated the NYCHRL by retaliating against him for “raising the issue of his supervisor’s inappropriate relationship with and preferential treatment of…
Read More Second Circuit Rejects Retaliation Claim Under the New York City Human Rights Law; Complaints Re: “Paramour Preference” Not Protected ActivityIn employment discrimination law, the phrase “hostile work environment” has a very specific meaning that does not encompass all circumstances that the word “hostile” might suggest. Courts repeatedly say, for example, that the employment laws do not provide a “general civility code” for the workplace. In addition, as set forth below, in order to be actionable, the…
Read More What is a “Hostile Work Environment”?Mihalik v. Credit Agricole Cheuvreux N. Am., Inc., decided by the Second Circuit today, again illustrates the breadth of the New York City Human Rights Law’s protections against employment discrimination and retaliation. The Second Circuit vacated the lower court’s decision granting summary judgment to defendant and remanded the case for trial. Plaintiff alleged that her supervisor [CEO…
Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Based On “Boys’ Club” Atmosphere Proceeds To Trial