In Newton v. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc., No. 154178/2019, 2020 WL 3961988, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 32290(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County July 10, 2020), a sexual harassment case, the court – citing CPLR 7515 – held that plaintiff was not bound by an arbitration agreement, and thus could proceed with her…
Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff May Proceed in Court; Arbitration Not RequiredIn Lively v. WAFRA Investment Advisory Group, Inc. et al, 2020 WL 4038350 (S.D.N.Y. July 17, 2020), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings (under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c)) on plaintiff’s claim of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). From the decision: The complaint…
Read More Age Discrimination Claim Dismissed; Court Finds That Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Plaintiff Was a More Likely Cause of Termination Than “Remote” Age-Related CommentIn Tirschwell v. TCW Group Inc., No. 150777/2018, 2020 WL 3104364, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 31816(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 11, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s gender discrimination / sexual harassment claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. From the decision: [P]laintiff…
Read More Sexual Harassment Claim May Proceed to Jury; Alleged Harasser’s Denial of Sexual Conduct Presented Fact IssueA recently-issued Consent Decree in the matter of EEOC v. GRK Pas LLC d/b/a GRK Fresh Greek, 2020 WL 3073786 (S.D.N.Y. June 10, 2020) reflects the resolution of plaintiffs’ hostile work environment sexual harassment claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the Decree: Considering Defendants’ ongoing financial difficulties. the…
Read More EEOC Consent Decree Reached with GRK Fresh Holdings in Sexual Harassment CaseIn Mejia v. City of New York, 2020 WL 2837008, at *14 (E.D.N.Y. May 30, 2020), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s quid pro quo sexual harassment claim. From the decision: Plaintiff asserts claims for quid pro quo sexual harassment under NYSHRL and NYCHRL. Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when…
Read More Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Court Cites Absence of Action Following Rejection of Sexual OvertureIn Erno v. New York State Office of Information Technology Services, 19-CV-1457, 2020 WL 2736563 (N.D.N.Y. May 26, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim. From the decision: Considered in totality, the Court finds that the facts alleged by Plaintiff are sufficient to state a hostile…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Claim Sufficiently Alleged; Allegations Included Sexist JokesIn Small v. Cuer, 2020 WL 2215585 (2d Cir. May 7, 2020) (Summary Order), a sexual harassment case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling that, inter alia, largely upheld a substantial jury award in plaintiff’s favor for emotional distress and punitive damages. The jury had awarded $1.55…
Read More 2d Circuit Upholds Substantial Emotional Distress and Punitive Damages Awards in Sexual Harassment CaseIn Soto v. CDL (New York) L.L.C., 2020 WL 2133370 (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2020) (J. Failla), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s constructive discharge claim. The court summarized the law as follows (internal quotation marks and citations omitted): An employee is constructively discharged when his employer, rather than discharging…
Read More Constructive Discharge Claims Survive Summary JudgmentIn Soto v. CDL (New York) L.L.C., 2020 WL 2133370 (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2020) (J. Failla), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim. In a prior blog post, I addressed the court’s conclusion that plaintiff raised a triable issue issue of fact as to…
Read More Sexual Harassment (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Court Differentiates Between Verbal and Physical Harassment: Part IIIn Soto v. CDL (New York) L.L.C., 2020 WL 2133370 (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2020) (J. Failla), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim. Here, plaintiff’s claim included physical and non-physical harassment. In evaluating defendant’s motion, the court noted that the Second Circuit has drawn…
Read More Sexual Harassment (Hostile Work Environment) Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Court Differentiates Between Verbal and Physical Harassment: Part I