Respondent Shin Gallery agreed to create a policy in accordance with its obligations under the New York City Human Rights Law to provide reasonable accommodations and to attend training on the Law. Respondent Agrees To Settle Discriminatory Harassment Claim Brought by Neighbor for $1,000 in Civil Penalties, Training and Withdrawal of a State Court ActionIn a discriminatory harassment case involving two neighbors, Complainant alleged that Respondent continued to harass Complainant and his minor son due to the sons disability. The hospital, which had already agreed to implement extensive affirmative relief measures in another similar Commission case filed around the same time, agreed to pay the Complainant in this case $10,000 in emotional distress damages. Settlements 2020/2021 | Iowa Civil Rights Commission At the time, Complainant was a homeless mother. Respondents denied these allegations, and the Complainant and Respondents entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondents to pay $17,500 in emotional distress damages to Complainant. The parties agreed to a settlement in which Bloomsbury paid $5,000 as a civil penalty to the City; revised its policies to prohibit discrimination based on salary history, credit, and criminal history; and revised its job application template to comply with the revised policies. The Complainants were paid $3,000 dollars in emotional distress damages, and the landlord agreed to post the Commission's Notice of Rights and "Fair Housing, It's the Law" poster, and attend the Commission's "Know Your Obligations" training. He was dissuaded from applying for the job due to his credit history, and filed a complaint with the Law Enforcement Bureau. The parties agreed to settle the matter using the Commissions pre-complaint intervention process. Respondents cooperated fully with the Commissions investigation. Lawsuits & Settlements | State of California - Department of Justice Recent jury awards and out-of-court settlements illustrate the potential risk in retaliation lawsuits. PSH signed a stipulation and order agreeing to revise its admission policies to apply equally to people of all genders and sexual orientations. Additionally, Chipotle agreed to monitor reasonable accommodation requests for one (1) year at fifteen (15) New York City based locations and submit its log to the Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau at the end of the year. 3-17786 (January 17, 2017), In the Matter of NeuStar, Inc., File No. No matter what type of case you are involved with, it is imperative to retain an attorney that is well-versed in the area of discrimination and retaliation. Retaliation Complaint Investigation Unit (RCI) The online application contained language authorizing Yodle to contact law enforcement and credit agencies. Retaliation lawsuits are filed by people who believe they have been the victim of discrimination in the workplace. Enforcement Actions Based on Retaliatory Conduct, SEC v. GPB Capital Holdings, LLC, et al.,21-cv-00583 (E.D.N.Y., filed February 4, 2021), In the Matter of SandRidge Energy, Inc., File No. HSBC and Geneva Consulting Firm Agree to Pay $99,500 in Damages and Penalties in Race Discrimination and Retaliation CaseComplainant, a white man married to a Black woman, alleged that Respondents subjected him to a hostile work environment when Respondents failed to address his complaint about his co-workers racist comments against Black people, and retaliated against him by terminating his employment the day following his complaint. Read Gay City News coverage of the case here. The Respondents were cooperative with the Commissions process and were required to pay $7,500 in civil penalties, make changes to ensure their policies were compliant with the source of income provisions of the NYC Human Rights Law, attend training on the NYC Human Rights Law, send notices about the source of income protections under the NYC Human Rights Law to Respondents brokers and agents, and post notices of rights in their building. Stop and Shop Supermarket Pays $10,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Agrees To Affirmative Relief in Religious Discrimination CaseComplainant, a Muslim, filed a complaint against Stop and Shop Supermarket Company alleging that an employee made an Islamophobic comment to him during a visit to one of companys stores in Queens. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau investigation revealed that Respondents intentionally failed to process the legally required paperwork for Complainants Section 8 voucher. Learn more about what constitutes retaliation, why it happens, and how to prevent it. You can find information about your rights and protections under SOX on the Department of Labors whistleblower website. Pax Assist, LLC Pays $17,500 in Civil Penalties and Emotional Distress Damages to Settle Claims of Religious Discrimination; Agrees to Train All Employees, Revise Policies, and Agrees to Two Years of Monitoring By the CommissionThe Commission filed both a Commission-initiated complaint and a public complaint against Pax Assist after it discovered that managers had discriminated against the companys Muslim employees when they asked that their breaks coordinate with fasting times during the month of Ramadan. After receiving the Complaint, Respondent conducted an internal investigation and took appropriate disciplinary action against the involved employees. American Museum of Natural History Settles Gender and Pregnancy Discrimination Case for $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages, Agrees to Implement Affirmative ReliefComplainant filed a claim against her former employer, the American Museum of Natural History, alleging that her supervisor subjected her to a hostile work environment on the basis of her gender and pregnancy. After its investigation, the Law Enforcement Bureau credited Complainants allegation. Crunch Fitness Pays $60,000 in Damages and Penalties and Changes National Hiring Policy To Settle Two Fair Chance Act CasesCrunch LLC (Crunch), the company that runs the national gym chain Crunch Fitness, has agreed to settle two cases filed by personal trainers who were rejected because of their criminal histories. In addition to discrimination charges, in fiscal year 2020, the EEOC resolved 165 lawsuits and filed an additional 93 lawsuits. If you are successful in court, you may be entitled to reinstatement, double back pay, litigation costs, expert witness fees, and attorneys fees. Terminated.com Lawyers obtained a $400,000 settlement in a disability discrimination case without ever having to file a lawsuit. The YMCA of Greater New York Updates Health Care Plans to Include Gender-Affirming CareThe Commission launched an investigation into the YMCA of Greater New York (YNY) after receiving a tip that the organizations self-insured health care plans excluded gender-affirming care, possibly discriminating against transgender and gender non-conforming employees in violation of the NYC Human Right Law. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Pays $100,000 Damages and Penalties For Failing to Engage In a Cooperative Dialogue When a Reasonable Accommodation was RequestedAfter recovering from a stroke, Complainant was permitted to return to work part-time for six months as a reasonable accommodation, after which she would be required to return to work full- time. A member of RSHs management will also attend training at the Commission. Small Landlord Settles Complaint Alleging Harassment on the Basis of Sexual Orientation for $3,000 in DamagesComplainants alleged that a repairperson hired by their apartment building's property manager subjected them to harassment because of their sexual orientation during a scheduling phone call. The YNY engaged with the Commission to redesign their plans to include comprehensive coverage of transition-related procedures. 2020 Settlement Highlights Among the Commission's 2020 Settlements, fashion retailer Zara agreed to pay $30,000 in emotional distress damages and work to create employment opportunities for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary New Yorkers ( March ). Respondent agreed to settle the case, pay the complainant $2,500 and $15,000 in civil penalties to the City of New York, create new policies about accommodations -- religious or otherwise -- place NYC Human Rights Law postings in relevant areas, hold a company-wide training for all employees and agreed to be monitored for a period of two years by the Commission. Regardless of whether the Dodd-Frank anti-retaliation protections extend to you, you may remain eligible for an award under our whistleblower award program. Complainant, a transgender man, was traveling through Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport and attempted to use the mens bathroom when a janitor stopped Complainant and directed Complainant to the family bathroom. The Commission joined the action through a Commission-initiated complaint due to the presence of the illegal question on the application. In this instance, they may turn to civil litigation, which will not require a trial. Settlements 2019/2020 | Iowa Civil Rights Commission The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation and concluded that there was probable cause to credit the complainants allegations that Respondents unlawfully inquired into his criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment. Respondent LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), which manages the Terminal B area, agreed to pay $4,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant for this incident. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB) conducted an investigation, including a review of the allegations and Yodles employment applications. For example, if the defendant is willing to enter into mediation, this will not require them to go to court. During the first month of 2020, EEOC has settled nineteen discrimination lawsuits. InDinero, Inc. agreed to pay $11,666.67 in back pay, $18,333.33 in attorneys fees, $25,000 in emotional distress damages, and $10,000 in civil penalties, and to revise their hiring policies and practices. Respondents resolved the matter pre-complaint by creating a comprehensive plan to accommodate all residents with disabilities during the remaining elevator outages resulting from the modernization projects across their six buildings.