In Bower v. Sewanhaka Central High School et al, 2020 WL 6161256 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 21, 2020) – a sexual harassment case – the court denied plaintiff’s motion to seal the case file. This opinion is instructive regarding how courts evaluate and reconcile the competing interests – the public’s right to access vs. plaintiffs’ privacy –…
Read More Sexual Harassment Case Sealing Request DeniedIn Antoine v. Brooklyn Maids 26, Inc. et al, 19-cv-5676, 2020 WL 5752186 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2020), the court, inter alia, awarded a sexual harassment plaintiff $375,000 in punitive damages (on default). This case involves shocking allegations of sexual harassment (which included, in the court’s description, conduct that was “tantamout to rape”). The reader is…
Read More $375,000 Punitive Damages Award to Sexual Harassment PlaintiffIn Antoine v. Brooklyn Maids 26, Inc. et al, 19-cv-5676, 2020 WL 5752186 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2020), the court, inter alia, awarded a sexual harassment plaintiff $200,000 in emotional distress damages (on default). This case involves shocking allegations of harassment, including on one occasion conduct that the court described as “tantamount to rape.” As to…
Read More $200,000 Emotional Distress Award in Sexual Harassment Case Against Brooklyn Maids 26, Inc. and Individual DefendantIn Antoine v. Brooklyn Maids 26, Inc. et al, 19-cv-5676, 2020 WL 5752186 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2020), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged hostile work environment sexual harassment against defendants, and therefore granted plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment. From the decision: Plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim hinges primarily on two incidents.…
Read More Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Claim Sufficiently Alleged Against Brooklyn Maids 26, Inc. and Individual DefendantIn Padilla v. Sacks and Sacks, LLP, 2020 WL 5370799 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 8, 2020), the court dismissed plaintiff’s claims of sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, wrongful discharge, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiff, a gay Hispanic woman, was employed by defendant as a paralegal. After dismissing plaintiff’s…
Read More Discrimination, Sexual Harassment Allegations Did Not Make Out Claim For Intentional Infliction of Emotional DistressIn Angulo v. 36th Street Hospitality LLC, 2020 WL 4936961 (S.D.N.Y. August 24, 2020), a sexual harassment/hostile work environment case, the court adopted the Magistrate Judge’s Report & Recommendation (R&R) of damages to be awarded following the defendant’s default. Plaintiff’s allegations, as summarized by the court, are as follows: Plaintiff previously worked as a waitress…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff’s Damage Award Adopted by CourtIn Guillebeaux v. H.E.L.P. Homeless Services Corporation et al, 2020 WL 4731420 (S.D.N.Y. August 14, 2020) – a sexual harassment/hostile work environment case – the court denied plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of the court’s earlier ruling declining to prevent a representative of defendant from attending the (remote) deposition of plaintiff. The court provides the following…
Read More Sexual Harassment Deposition May be Attended by Defendant Representative, Court RulesIn a recent decision, Simmons v. Safeway, Inc. d/b/a Haggen Food and Pharmacy et al., 19-35715 (9th Circuit Aug. 5, 2020) (deemed “not for publication”),[1]General information about this practice here the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a summary judgment granted to defendant in plaintiff’s sexual harassment case asserted under Title VII…
Read More Ninth Circuit Reinstates Sexual Harassment Case Against SafewayIn a recent case, Jane Doe[s] v. JetBlue Airways Corporation et al, 2020 WL 4605216 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2020), the court discussed and applied Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s venue provision. The alleged facts of this case, involving the rape of female flight attendants, are horrific. However, the court did not address…
Read More Sexual Harassment Case Dismissed; Eastern District of New York Venue ImproperIn Mancilla v. ABM Industries, Inc., 2020 WL 4432122(S.D.N.Y. July 29, 2020), a sexual harassment/assault case, the court granted defendants’ motion to compel arbitration. The facts of this case, as alleged, are horrific: Plaintiff reported to work on the night of September 17, 2018, and was informed that her ABM supervisor that night would be…
Read More Arbitration Compelled in Sexual Harassment/Assault Case Against ABM