“Stray Remarks” Doctrine in Employment Discrimination Law

by

In Testa v. CareFusion, 2018 WL 1611378 (E.D.N.Y. April 3, 2018), the court granted defendant’s summary judgment motion on plaintiff’s federal age discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). From the decision: The only evidence upon which plaintiff relies are alleged stray remarks made by Stuckert [the person to whom plaintiff directly…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Dismissed Against CareFusion; Comments Were “Stray Remarks”
Share This:
by

In Picault v. World Business Lenders, 16-cv-3682, 2018 WL 748975 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2018) (J. Oetken), the Southern District of New York dismissed plaintiff’s (a Haitian-American man) national origin discrimination lawsuit. The court explained that a discrimination plaintiff “must satisfy his initial burden by showing (1) that he belonged to a protected class; (2) that…

Read More Citing “Stray Remarks” Doctrine, Court Dismisses National Origin Discrimination Case Based on “Haitian Voodoo” Comment
Share This:
by

In Basso v. EarthLink, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 00030 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Jan. 2, 2018), the court affirmed summary judgment in defendants’ favor on plaintiff’s claims of gender and age discrimination under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: Plaintiff carried her “de minimis burden” of showing a prima…

Read More Age/Gender Discrimination Claims Properly Dismissed; Pretext Not Shown
Share This:
by

In Breitstein v. Michael C. Fina Co., 2017 NY Slip Op 08883 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 21, 2017), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s religious discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation causes of action under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. This decision teaches/confirms that, in a discrimination case, the question is not…

Read More Religious/Age Discrimination & Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed Against Michael C. Fina
Share This:
by

In Cherry v. NYC Housing Authority et al, 15-cv-6949, 2017 WL 4357344 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2017) (J. Brodie), the court held (inter alia) that plaintiff sufficiently alleged gender discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State Human Rights Law. Plaintiff – a black male – alleged, among…

Read More Male Worker’s Gender Discrimination Among Claims Surviving Dismissal
Share This:
by

In Carrington v. Mota & City of New York, 2017 WL 3835883 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 2017), the court recommended the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (but gave her an opportunity to amend her complaint). As to plaintiff’s race discrimination…

Read More Court Dismisses Race Discrimination Claim; Adverse Action, Inference of Discrimination Insufficiently Alleged
Share This:
by

Frequently, plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases will attempt to prove discrimination by reference to comments or remarks that allegedly demonstrate discriminatory intent. For the purpose of evaluating such evidence, courts have developed the “stray remarks” doctrine. The court in Luka v. Bard College, 2017 WL 2839641 (SDNY June 29, 2017) (J. Carter) recently explained: As a…

Read More The “Stray Remarks” Doctrine in Employment Discrimination Law
Share This:
by

In Luka v. Bard College et al, No. 15-cv-4598, 2017 WL 2839641 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 2017), the court held, inter alia, that plaintiff sufficiently alleged gender discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). This decision is instructive on how courts apply pleading standards to such claims. The court summarized the law: To…

Read More Lesbian Professor, Denied Tenure, Plausibly Alleges Discrimination Under the NYS Human Rights Law Against Bard College
Share This:
by

In Tubo v. Orange Reg’l Med. Ctr., No. 16-632-CV, 2017 WL 2180952 (2d Cir. May 17, 2017) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination, retaliation, and vacation pay/contract claims. As to her race discrimination claim, the court explained: We agree with the district court that Tubo failed to establish a prima…

Read More 2d Circuit: Race Discrimination, Retaliation, & Vacation Pay Claims Properly Dismissed
Share This:
by

In Rao v. Rodriguez, No. 14-cv-1936, 2017 WL 1214437 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court denied defendants’ motions for summary judgment on plaintiff’s age discrimination claims – including under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and its “heightened burden of but-for causation.” Plaintiff alleged, among other things, that the defendant-hospital’s CEO said to plaintiff “You’re…

Read More Age Discrimination Claims Survive Summary Judgment; Age-Related Comments Were Not “Stray Remarks”
Share This: