Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

by

Sexual harassment cases are fact- and context-specific. There is no “bright line rule” as to when a comment or a touch “cross the line” from non-actionable to actionable. Such claims can be based on comments, physical touching, or some combination of the two. A recent decision, Batten v. Global Contact Services, LLC, 15-cv-2382, 2018 WL…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Based on “Hug” Was Actionable, Court Holds
Share This:
by

Today is the 2018 NYC Pride March, which celebrates the LGBT community and commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Since last year’s March, there have been several interesting developments in the area of LGBT rights. For example, earlier this year the Second Circuit held (en banc) in Zarda v. Altitude Express that Title VII of the…

Read More NYC Pride Parade 2018
Share This:
by

In Napoleoni v. NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation et al, 18-cv-2578, 2018 WL 3038502 (E.D.N.Y. June 18, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s claims of race discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Here is an excerpt from the decision, reflecting the court’s reasoning as to plaintiff’s discrimination claims: The Complaint fails to allege a race or…

Read More Court Dismisses Age/Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation, DC 37 Union
Share This:
by

In Collymore v. City of New York et al, 16-cv-8270, 2018 WL 3014093 (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim. “Title VII recognizes two forms of sexual harassment: direct discrimination (or ‘quid pro quo’) and ‘hostile workplace environment.’ … In addition to pleading abusive or offensive conduct, it is…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Touching Was Not “Because Of” Sex
Share This:
by

In Kimball v. Village of Painted Post, 2018 WL 2944337 (2d Cir. June 11, 2018) (Summary Order), the court, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. In discussing plaintiff’s allegation of a hostile work environment based on pornography in the office, the court explained: [Plaintiff] has failed to establish that any…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Properly Dismissed; Allegations re Pornography Insufficient
Share This:
by

In Kobos v. Target Corporation et al, 15–cv-5573, 2018 WL 2943575 (E.D.N.Y. June 12, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. The court explained the legal standard: To establish a claim for a hostile work environment, a plaintiff must show “that the complained of conduct: (1) is objectively severe or pervasive—that…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; “Unprofessional” and “Upsetting” Conduct Insufficient
Share This:
by

In Mayo-Coleman v. American Sugar Holdings, Inc., 14-cv-79, 2018 WL 2684100 (S.D.N.Y. June 5, 2018), the court, inter alia, held that a $1.7 million jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor on her sexual harassment/hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State Human Rights Law should…

Read More Court Remits Jury Award of $1.7M to $500,000 for Emotional Damages in Sexual Harassment Case
Share This:
by

In Canady v. Univ. of Rochester, et al (2d Cir. 17-1952 May 30, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim against Rochester University. Here is the relevant law, as summarized by the court: To state a prima facie case for Title VII retaliation a plaintiff must show: “(1) participation in…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim Against Rochester University
Share This:
by

In Krause v. Kelehan, 17-CV-1045, 2018 WL 2021484 (N.D.N.Y. April 26, 2018), the court – applying the “continuing violation doctrine” – held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a timely hostile work environment claim against the defendants.[1]The court also held, inter alia, that plaintiff’s discrimination claims survive dismissal. From the decision: Like Plaintiff’s discrimination claim, her hostile…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Dismissal; Court Applies the “Continuing Violations Doctrine”
Share This:
by

In a recent (May 29, 2018) Petition for Writ of Certiorari, filed in Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, the petitioner seeks to overturn the Second Circuit’s en banc decision holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition on discrimination based on “sex” also prohibits discrimination based on “sexual orientation.”

Read More Petition for Writ of Certiorari Asks SCOTUS to Overturn 2d Circuit En Banc Zarda Decision That Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Share This: