Failing to Comply with Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training Law - Lawsuits Are Happening

Labor Law 201-g went into effect on October 9, 2018.

Did you know that Plaintiffs (sexual harassment victims) are suing companies for failing to comply with this mandatory training and disclosure law?

In December of 2018, New York County saw its first lawsuit alleging that a "Plaintiff was injured, in whole or in part, as a result of CIRE's failure to comply with NYC Admin Code § 8-107(29) and Labor Law § 201-g."

The case was about a "hostile, offensive, abusive and otherwise inappropriate work environment." 

Allegedly, this harassment included:

• Asking Plaintiff if he was single;
• Asking Plaintiff to go out with her for drinks and dinner, unrelated to business;
• Telling Plaintiff how handsome he and flirting with Plaintiff;
• Complimenting Plaintiff's choice of clothes;
• Telling Plaintiff he should have a girlfriend;
• Telling Plaintiff that having a girlfriend would afford him a health insurance entitlement, which "by the way I, Sarine have health insurance";
• Telling Plaintiff what color clothing he should be warning;
• Moving her desk next to Plaintiff's desk;
• Staring at Plaintiff at all hours of the day and commenting on his face or hair;
• Standing unnecessarily close to Plaintiff when speaking;
• Inappropriately attempting to give Plaintiff hugs and kisses;
• Demanding that Plaintiff "pinky swear" so that he not disclose something that occurred between Ms. Atamian and another employee, just so she could touch Plaintiff's hand;
• Unnecessarily interrupting Plaintiff's conversations with others;
• Demanding that Plaintiff open personal packages and mail in front of her;
• Requiring that Plaintiff make all requests for basic company information, documentation, etc., through her, where other brokers were permitted to engage in such activities on their own.
• Making inappropriate inquiries concerning what Plaintiff was doing, who he was with, etc. when he was not at the Office;" 

In fact, the Plaintiff argued that this violation of Labor Law  § 201-g  should result in Christie's International Real Estate Group, Inc. and two individual parties, paying "compensatory damages, punitive damages, statutory damages and special damages, as well as his costs, fees (including attorneys' fees) and disbursements, plus pre and post judgment interest, in amounts to be determined at trial, which amounts exceed the jurisdictional minimums of this Court"

Have you scheduled your annual training yet?

Lieb at Law Advocates for Justice in Case of Discrimination Against Autistic Child

In a recent development that has resonated with families and advocates across Connecticut, Lieb at Law is representing a mother who has filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) charging discrimination against a residential program provider designed to treat the very victim of the discrimination. 

The case involves a serious accusation against Adelbrook Behavioral & Developmental Services, where staff members are alleged to have forcibly cut the hair of a 14-year-old autistic girl, ava, as a disciplinary measure.

Andrew Lieb, the attorney for Ava's family, encapsulates the gravity of the situation: "First and foremost, we want to get Ava the compensation she deserves from the trauma from torture to be able to get the services she needs," highlighting the pursuit of justice and Ava's right to respectful and appropriate care.

This complaint comes amidst other allegations against Adelbrook, suggesting a potentially worrying pattern of behavior by the organization. As the legal process unfolds, Lieb at Law is dedicated to bringing the facts to light and ensuring that Ava receives the justice she deserves.

This case is particularly concerning given the backdrop of previous allegations of abuse within Adelbrook, as reported by the Connecticut Inside Investigator journal. The coverage of this story can be found here, offering a comprehensive look into the unfolding events.

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NY's Bold Move: A Bill to End AI Discrimination in Housing

The New York State Legislature, in a groundbreaking move, has introduced a bill aimed at eliminating discrimination in housing-related AI systems. This initiative represents a significant step toward equitable technological progress and shines a light on a pervasive issue that affects countless individuals.


In a landmark move to safeguard equity and fairness in housing, New York State Senator Cleare has introduced Bill S7735, which aims to address potential discrimination through the use of automated decision-making tools in housing. The bill was read twice and is now committed to the Committee on Rules for further deliberation.


Background:
Automated decision tools, based on algorithms and artificial intelligence, are increasingly used by landlords and housing agencies to make decisions about who gets housing. While these tools can streamline processes, there is a growing concern that they may inadvertently discriminate against protected classes. Bill S7735 is set to provide a regulatory framework ensuring these tools are used responsibly and without discrimination.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

• Definition and scope of automated decision tools.
• Requirement for annual disparate impact analyses to assess potential discrimination.
• Mandate for transparency and public reporting of the analyses.
• Obligation for landlords to notify applicants when such tools are used.
• Empowerment of the Attorney General and Commissioner to investigate and act upon violations.

Potential Impact:
This bill is a step forward in the use of technology in housing decisions, ensuring that while innovation continues to evolve, it does not come at the cost of fairness and discrimination-free practices.

Newsmax: Attorney Andrew Lieb Breaks Down Michael Cohen's Testimony Against Trump

Legal analyst Andrew Lieb joins Newsmax to discuss Michael Cohen's involvement in the civil fraud case against Donald Trump. Lieb provides context on Cohen's role as Trump's former fixer and explains how Cohen clarified his statements about Trump's direction during cross examination and redirect on the witness stand.

Mortgage Lending Discrimination: NY AG's Report & Proposed Solutions

On October 31, 2023, the NY AG Letitia James released a report detailing racial disparities in homeownership and financing throughout NY while calling to enhance the state's anti-discrimination law, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). 

The Report highlights that mortgage applicants of color are denied mortgages at nearly double the rate of white applicants, regardless of credit score, income, size of the loan, and other factors. Plus, they are more likely to be charged higher interest rates on their loans and less likely to be approved to refinance to lower rates. These higher costs total over $200 million extra to minorities. 

The Report calls for the strengthening the NYSHRL to explicitly cover disparate impact discrimination based on race, including increased enforcement against lenders. In fact, it has a 3 step plan:  

1. Obtain increased $$ for government agencies to conduct fair lending work.
2. Strengthen NYSHRL to prohibit lenders from engaging in discrimination any practice by requiring lenders to have a legitimate and nondiscriminatory justification for their actions. 
3. Passing Senate Bill 795 to prohibit unfair business practices. 

If you'd like to read more about the report click here.