In Legg et al v. Ulster County et al, 2022 WL 909045 (N.D.N.Y. March 29, 2022), the court, inter alia, held that the jury’s award of $200,000 to one sexual harassment plaintiff was excessive, and that under the facts of the case, a new trial would be granted unless they agreed to accept $75,000. The…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff’s Emotional Distress Damages Remitted to $75,000In Paschall v. Tube Processing Corporation, 2022 WL 775413 (7th Cir. March 15, 2022), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among other things, plaintiff alleged that a male co-worker made sexual/obscene…
Read More Sexual Harassment (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Dismissal Affirmed; Co-Worker’s Harassment Not Imputable to EmployerIn Malone v. TDMW Management Inc., No. 5:21-cv-180, 2022 WL 507436 (N.D.Ala. Feb. 18, 2022), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff did not state a plausible sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and therefore denied plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment as to this…
Read More Title VII Sexual Harassment (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Not Plausibly Alleged; Three Instances of Harassment InsufficientIn Doe v. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, 1:20-CV-01416, 2022 WL 676970 (M.D.Pa. March 7, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s quid pro quo sexual harassment claim asserted under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681. In sum, plaintiff Doe was a graduate student at,…
Read More Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaThe New York Senate recently passed a host of new laws designed to strengthen New York laws protecting victims of sexual harassment. (NOTE: this legislation is currently winding its way through the New York legislative process, and is, as of this writing, not yet enacted.) These laws include: S738 (Let Survivors Speak Act): Amends NY…
Read More NY Senate Passes Sexual Harassment ProtectionsIn Barbini v. First Niagara Bank N.A. et al, 16-cv-7887, 2022 WL 623184 (S.D.N.Y. March 3, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim that she suffered retaliation for opposing sexual harassment. From the decision: After due consideration, the Court concludes that a material dispute of fact precludes summary…
Read More Retaliation Claim, Arising From Opposition to Sexual Harassment (Assisting With Complaint), Survives Summary JudgmentIn Diaz v. Champion Parking Corp., No. 151477/2021, 2022 WL 617009 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 02, 2022), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims for “quid pro quo” and hostile work environment sexual harassment under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. The court summarized the…
Read More Sexual Harassment Claims Stated Against Champion Parking Corp.In Pappas v. Moody’s Investor Service, No. 15360, 158504/19, 2021-01012, 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 01249, 2022 WL 548952 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Feb. 24, 2022), the court, inter alia, unanimously affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws (Executive Law § 296…
Read More First Department Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination & Retaliation Claims; Alleged Harasser’s Participation in Sexual Harassment Investigation Was Not “Protected Activity”In a resounding win for employees, Congress passed (with bipartisan support) the “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021“, which bars the use of forced arbitration to address sexual assault and harassment claims in the workplace. The legislation passed the House on February 7, 2022, and the Senate on February…
Read More Congress Passes Bill to End Forced Arbitration in Cases of Sexual Assault and Sexual HarassmentIn Lopez v. Mama’s Fried Chicken, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 01124 (NY App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 22, 2022) – involving claims of failure to pay wages, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation – the First Department unanimously affirmed a lower court’s Order denying defendant’s motion to vacate a default judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor.…
Read More Sexual Harassment Default Judgment Upheld; “Law Office Failure” Argument Rejected