The Plaintiff asserted claims of hostile work environment based on gender and retaliation based on internal and formal harassment complaints in violation of Title VII of the Civil Right Act and the New York State Human Rights law section 296. Initially, the Court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss the Complaint, dismissing all of Plaintiff’s claims except for her retaliation claims. Later in 2020, the Court dismissed one of the retaliation claims leaving only one claim remaining.
After discovery, defendants moved for summary judgment on the remaining claim. Plaintiff alleged she was harassed and sexually harassed for over a four-year period at her school. She claimed she repeatedly complained about the harassment to various school officials. She filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights and was soon thereafter transferred to another school within the district. She claimed the transfer was an adverse employment action. The Court determined Plaintiff’s claims were unfounded. In a 40-page decision, Federal Court Judge Margo Brodie provides an in-depth analysis of the McDonnel Douglas shifting burden and found in favor of Defendants dismissing all claims.