NYS Human Rights Law

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As reported by the Daily News, a Brooklyn federal court jury on Friday awarded Osama Saleh $4.7 million in an employment discrimination lawsuit. Mr. Saleh – who was raised in Yemen and is Muslim – alleged in his complaint, Saleh v. Pretty Girl, Inc. et al., CV-09-1769 (copy below), that defendants discriminated against him based on…

Read More $4.7 Million Jury Verdict for “Terrorist”, “Bin Laden” Discrimination Victim
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In 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”
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In Herling v. New York City Department of Education, decided April 23, 2014, the Eastern District of New York held that plaintiff stated a claim for discrimination based on race and religion, but not retaliation. Plaintiff, who is Jewish, alleged that he was subjected to discrimination by the school’s African-American principal, defendant Gray. He claimed,…

Read More Physical Education Teacher States Claim for Religious Discrimination Against Department of Education
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On May 28, 2014, an Eastern District federal jury awarded $1.35 million to white Freeport police lieutenant Christopher Barella. Here is the Judgment, memorializing the following awards: $150,000 for loss of back pay, $1,000,000 for loss of front pay, $200,000 for punitive damages. In his Amended Complaint, plaintiff asserted that the Village of Freeport and…

Read More White Police Lieutenant Wins $1.35 Million Award in “Reverse” Discrimination Suit
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The Eastern District of New York recently held, in Baron v. Advanced Asset and Property Management Solutions LLC, that plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on his disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. Plaintiff, who worked for defendant as an Assistant Controller,…

Read More Disability Discrimination Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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The Second Department’s recent decision in Croci v. Town of Haverstraw et al. is instructive as to how to plead causes of action, under the New York State Human Rights Law, against co-workers engaging in allegedly discriminatory conduct. In this case plaintiff sued one of her co-employees and their employer, alleging “ that she was subjected…

Read More Co-Worker Harassment Suit Dismissed Due to Failure to Allege Aiding and Abetting Theory Against Individual Defendant
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In Lewis v Health and Hospitals Corp, 11-cv-0099, 2013 WL 2351798 (SDNY May 30, 2013), the court held that pursuing, and losing, discrimination claims at the state administrative level barred a subsequent federal action. There, plaintiff initially filed a verified complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights (SDHR) charging defendants with disability discrimination…

Read More Election of Remedies Results in Dismissal of Federal Complaint
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In 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”?
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