NYS Human Rights Law

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In Russo v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, No. 15-01243, 2016 WL 1066422 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. Mar. 18, 2016), the court affirmed the State Division of Human Rights’ dismissal of the petitioner’s employment discrimination and retaliation claims. The New York State Division of Human Rights is a statewide administrative agency that…

Read More Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed by the New York State Division of Human Rights
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In Christiansen v. Omnicom Group Inc., 15-cv-3440 (SDNY March 9, 2016), the court dismissed discrimination claims brought by plaintiff, an HIV-positive openly-gay man. The court dismissed plaintiff’s disability discrimination and retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the NYS Human Rights Law. As to plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim, the court explained: Statements…

Read More Court Declines to Extend Title VII to Cover Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
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In Regan v. City of Geneva, 136 A.D.3d 1423, 25 N.Y.S.3d 515 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. Feb. 11, 2016), the court held that plaintiff stated a claim for disability discrimination under the NYS Human Rights Law (NY Executive Law § 290 et seq.) and the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC § 701…

Read More Police Officer’s 9/11 PTSD Psychological Disability Discrimination Claim Adequately Alleged
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In Kennedy v. NYS, 14-CV-990S, NYLJ 1202751641711 (WDNY Mar. 3, 2016), the Western District of New York held that plaintiff – a member of NYS Assembly Member Dennis Gabryszak’s staff – plausibly alleged hostile work environment sexual harassment against Mr. Gabryszak under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and therefore denied defendants’ motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ.…

Read More Assembly Staff Member Sufficiently Alleges § 1983 Sexual Harassment Claim Against Dennis Gabryszak
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The New York State Division of Human Rights has released its “Guidance on Sexual Harassment For All Employers in New York State.” It provides, among other things: The provisions of the [New York State] Human Rights Law generally apply to employers with four or more employees. However, with regard specifically to sexual harassment, the Human…

Read More NYS Division of Human Rights Issues Guidance on Sexual Harassment to New York State Employers
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In a lawsuit captioned Batista v. Best Buy Stores, NY Sup Ct Index 151565-2016 (filed 2/25/16), plaintiff – a member of Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” – alleges that she was subjected to discrimination based on her gender and race. She asserts claims of gender discrimination, hostile work environment, constructive discharge, and retaliation. She alleges, among other things,…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Best Buy
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In a recent complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, Moore v. Despont Studios LLC et al, 15-cv-00619, plaintiff – an architect and former employee of Despont Studios LLC d/b/a The Office of Thierry W. Despont, Ltd. – asserts claims of gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and retaliation. From her complaint: In stark contrast to its progressive…

Read More Lawsuit: Pregnancy/Gender Discrimination, FMLA Retaliation Allegations Against Despont Studios LLC d/b/a The Office of Thierry W. Despont, Ltd.
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In Santiago-Mendez v. City of New York, 2016 WL 416877 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 4, 2016), the court held that plaintiff’s non-time-barred claims for race, national origin, and gender discrimination as against the City of New York and two individual defendants should not have been dismissed. Here is the Order appealed from; here is plaintiff’s complaint. From the…

Read More Decision: NYPD Detective’s Race, National Origin, and Gender Discrimination Claims Proceed
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In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on January 19, 2016, Mikolaenko v. NYU School of Medicine et al (16-cv-00413), plaintiff – a doctor – asserts (among other things) that her supervisor threatened to give her poor reviews and terminate her unless she had sex with him, propositioned plaintiff for sex, and made inappropriate…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against NYU School of Medicine and Others
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In a lawsuit filed on January 11, 2016 in New York Supreme Court, Sclafani v. Marie (NY Sup. Ct., Index No. 150205/2016), plaintiff alleges that while she was employed as a dental hygienist by defendant dentist Glenn Marie, he sexually harassed her and subjected her to a hostile work environment (by, e.g., asking her to give…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Against Dentist Who Allegedly Wanted Plaintiff Hygienist to Give His Penis a “Cleaning”
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