On February 28, 2011, New Jersey’s Appellate Division issued an unpublished opinion ruling that a jury should decide whether the New Jersey Department of Corrections (“DOC”) retaliated against one of its employees, Bienvenido Montalvo. Mr. Montalvo Filed a National Origin Discrimination Complaint With the EEOC Mr. Montalvo worked for DOC…
Articles Posted in Discrimination
U.S. Supreme Court Adopts “Cat’s Paw” Discrimination Theory
Yesterday, the United Supreme Court decided an important employment law case. Specifically, in Staub v. Proctor Hospital, the Supreme Court ruled that companies can be held liable for an adverse employment decision, even if the employee who actually made the decision did not discriminate, when another supervisor’s discriminatory actions or…
New Jersey Court Reinstates Employee’s Failure to Accommodate Religious Belief Claim
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to observe their sincerely held religious practices and observances, unless the company cannot accommodate the employee without causing an undue hardship to its business. Last month, New Jersey’s Appellate Division reversed a trial court’s decision…
“Discovery Rule” Can Extend Statute of Limitations Under New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
The statute of limitations under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) is two years. Ordinarily, that means you must file your lawsuit within two years after (1) a “discrete act” of discrimination such as being fired, demoted, or suspended, or (2) the last act of a pattern of harassment.…
Each Discriminatory Paycheck is Separate Violation of New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
Last week, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that each day an employee is paid a lower salary based on a past unlawful discriminatory decision is a separate violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). As a result, three tenured Seton Hall University professors can proceed with their…
EEOC Sues Port Authority of NY & NJ for Sex and Age Discrimination
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently sued the Port Authority of NY & NJ, claiming the Port Authority violated the Equal Pay Act (“EPA”) by paying non-supervisory female lawyers less than their male counterparts. The EPA is a federal law that prohibits employers from considering gender as…
New York Employers Must Provide Same Bereavement Leave to Same-Sex Committed Couples
New York State law does not require employers to allow employees to take time off for bereavement leave. However, under New York’s new funeral and bereavement leave law, when a company does allow employees to take time off for the death of a spouse, or for the child, parent or…
New Jersey Supreme Court Agree It’s Illegal Not to Renew Contract Because Employee Is Over 70 Years Old
In June 2009, I discussed the New Jersey Appellate Division’s age discrimination ruling that it is illegal for an employer not to renew an employment contract because the employee is over 70 years old. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently agreed, and affirmed the Appellate Division’s decision. Specifically, in Nini…
Court Clarifies When Non-Residents Are Protected Under New York’s Anti-Discrimination Laws
In an article I wrote last May, Employees Working in Other States Can Sue Under New York’s Anti-Discrimination Laws, I discussed Hoffman v. Parade Publications. In that age discrimination case, New York’s mid-level appellate court ruled that the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) applies to non-residents of NYC…
Even More Ways to Prove Workplace Discrimination
The Timing of the Employer’s Decision In some instances, the timing of an employment decision can help prove it was discriminatory. While this most frequently comes up in retaliation cases, it also arises in some types of employment discrimination cases. For example, if your boss starts treating you worse soon…