Sexual Harassment

While I typically write about new developments in the law, every so often I come across a court decision that, while older, is interesting enough to warrant discussion here. One such case is Iannone v. Frederic R. Harris, Inc., 941 F.Supp. 403 (S.D.N.Y. 1996). In sum, the plaintiff here was terminated, she alleges, in retaliation…

Read More Retaliation Claim, Arising From Expressed Concerns About “Racy” Photo, Survives Dismissal
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A recent decision, Boyce v. Bruce Weber and Little Bear, Inc., 19-cv-3825, 2021 WL 2821154 (S.D.N.Y. July 7, 2021), is instructive as to how courts resolve evidentiary issues arising in the context of sexual harassment claims. In this case, plaintiff (a fashion model) asserts claims for sexual harassment against defendant Weber (a fashion photographer) under…

Read More Court Rules on “Modus Operandi” Witnesses in Bruce Weber Sexual Harassment Case
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In Allen v. Wework Companies, Inc., No. 155130/2020, 2021 WL 2432204 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 10, 2021), a sexual harassment case, the court granted the defendant’s motion to stay this action and compel arbitration. The court summarized defendant’s position as follows: In support of the motion, defendant notes that, contemporaneously with the…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claims Against WeWork Must Be Arbitrated, Court Holds
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In Kane v. Club Helsinki, 18-cv-01355, 2021 WL 2457150 (N.D.N.Y. June 16, 2021), the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s quid pro quo sexual harassment claim. In sum, plaintiff, a bartender, alleges that after he rebuffing sexual advances from defendant’s director of operations (Sullivan), his hours were cut and he was terminated. The court…

Read More Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claim Against Club Helsinki Survives Summary Judgment; Inconsistent Reasons For Termination Created Triable Issues of Fact as to Pretext
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In Wright v. Compass Group USA, No. 516793/2018, 2021 WL 2354877 (N.Y. Sup Ct, Kings County June 08, 2021), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claims asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws (NYSHRL and NYCHRL, respectively). The court summarized…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against Compass Group USA
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In EEOC v. Konos, Inc., Case No. 1:20-CV-973 (W.D. Mich. June 3, 2021), the court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s sexual harassment lawsuit brought on behalf of a worker, an egg inspector, who alleged that she suffered sexual harassment. The court summarized the facts as follows (as…

Read More Michigan Federal Court Denies Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss EEOC’s Title VII Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim
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In Tirschwell v TCW Group Inc., No. 13923, 150777/18, 2020-03192, M-1286, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 03397, 2021 WL 2144858 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., May 27, 2021), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim survived summary judgment. From the decision: The City HRL gender discrimination claim (claim 2) was properly sustained as against Ravich…

Read More Gender Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment Against TCW Group et al
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In Kraiem v. Jonestrading Institutional Services LLC, No. 19-5160, 2021 WL 2134818 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 2021), the court, inter alia, granted plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend her First Amended Complaint to include an “aiding and abetting” theory of liability against one individual defendant (Mazzullo). From the decision: Plaintiff sufficiently alleges that Mazzullo aided and…

Read More Aiding-and-Abetting Claim Against Individual Defendant Sufficiently Alleged in Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Case
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In Bilitch v. NYC Health & Hospitals Corp. et al, No. 17238/11, 2018-14913, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 03300, 2021 WL 2125826 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept. May 26, 2021), the court, inter alia, held that the employer was not entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual harassment hostile work environment claims asserted under the New York State…

Read More Sexual Harassment Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Summary Judgment Against NYC Health & Hospitals Corp.
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In response to the sexual harassment allegations levied against him – including that he engaged in “creepy behavior” toward female reporters – Governor Andrew Cuomo is reported to have (dismissively) stated that “[h]arassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable” and that he “never said anything [he] believed was inappropriate.” In 2019, the New York State…

Read More Governor Cuomo’s Response to Sexual Harassment Allegations at Odds With Law He Signed
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