NYS Human Rights Law

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Halloween is a fun holiday. Not so, however, for employees forced to endure sexual harassment during a company Halloween party. In Maher v. All. Mortg. Banking Corp., No. CV 06-5073 DRH ARL, 2010 WL 3516153 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2010), report and recommendation adopted, No. 06 CV 5073 DRH ARL, 2010 WL 3521921 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 1,…

Read More Sexual Harassment During Company Halloween Party Among Facts of Case Resulting in $170,000 Compensatory Damages Award
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In N.Y. State Div. of Human Rights v. Besdad, Inc., No. 2014-08481, 2016 WL 6269891 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. Oct. 26, 2016), the court upheld a determination by the NYS Division of Human Rights that the respondents discriminated against the complainant on the basis of his race and color by subjecting him to a…

Read More Desire Not to “Offend” Alleged Harasser Properly Found to Result in Condonation of Racial Discrimination
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In Tibbetts v. Pelham Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 2014-11219, 2016 WL 5928741 (N.Y. App. Div. 2nd Dept. Oct. 12, 2016), the court affirmed the summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the New York State Human Rights Law. Plaintiff, a probationary music teacher employed by defendant, alleged that she was fired approximately two…

Read More Music Teacher’s Disability Discrimination Claim Properly Dismissed; Court Cited Parental Complaints as Reason for Termination and Defendant’s Lack of Notice of Alleged Disability
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In Figueroa v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, No. 15-01941, 2016 WL 5509917 (N.Y. App. Div. Sept. 30, 2016), the court determined that the NYS Division of Human Rights correctly dismissed complaints alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. From the decision: [W]e agree with the District that substantial evidence supports the determination of the…

Read More Administrative Dismissal of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Claims Upheld
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In Spinelli v. City of New York, 13-cv-7112, 2016 WL 5476001 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2016), the Court adopted a Magistrate’s Report & Recommendation to, among other things, deny defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s age discrimination claim under the New York State Human Rights Law. As to plaintiff’s prima facie case, the Court explained:…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Evidence Included Shifting of Responsibilities to Clerical Tasks and Ageist Remarks
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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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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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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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