Landlord Agrees to Pre-Complaint Resolution by Accommodating Tenant with Disability, Policy Changes, Training, and PostingsA landlord provided a tenant with a reasonable accommodation for her disability by replacing Complainants bathtub with a walk-in shower, created a reasonable accommodations policy for all current and prospective tenants, agreed to attend the Commissions anti-discrimination training, and to display posters outlining its obligations under the NYC Human Rights Law. We encourage you to provide information about potential securities law violations to the SEC by submitting a tip. 3-17801 (January 19, 2017), In the Matter of Blackrock, Inc., File No. Regardless of whether the anti-retaliation protections extend to you, you may remain eligible for an award under our whistleblower award program. 3-21294 (Feb. 3, 2023), In the Matter of The Brink's Company, File No. Respondent then informed Complainant that Complainant not been chosen for the unit. Touro agreed to pay $45,000.00 in emotional distress damages, $20,000.00 in civil penalties, and $4,914.00 in back pay. An Iowa jury recently awarded $80.2 million in punitive damages and $527,872 in compensatory damages to a manager who claimed she was discriminated against because of her sex and retaliated against when she complained of the discrimination. The Commission found probable cause and referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, where the parties came to a settlement agreement. OMG also agreed to extensive affirmative relief, including revising its anti-discrimination policies; conducting anti-discrimination training; creating an internal means for employees to report harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; and submitting to Commission monitoring of complaints of gender-based harassment, discrimination, and retaliation for five years. In order to fight back against those who have perpetrated the wrong, it is essential that you have a strong defense. Many times, individuals who file such lawsuits simply do not have the financial means to pursue such cases. The parties were unable to resolve the matter through mediation. If you are successful in court, you may be entitled to reinstatement, double back pay, litigation costs, expert witness fees, and attorneys fees. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 3-16466 (April 1, 2015), Activision Blizzard to Pay $35 Million for Failing to Maintain Disclosure Controls Related to Complaints of Workplace Misconduct and Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule (2/3/23), SEC Charges the Brink's Company with Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule (6/22/22), SEC Charges Co-Founder of Technology Company for Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule (4/12/22), SEC Charges Broker-Dealer for Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule (6/23/21), SEC Charges Investment Adviser and Others With Defrauding Over 17,000 Retail Investors (2/4/2021), SEC Charges Issuer and CEO with Violating Whistleblower Protection Laws to Silence Investor Complaints (11/4/2019), Connecticut Broker and Investment Adviser Convicted On 21 Counts of Fraud and Money Laundering (6/10/2019), Financial Company Charged with Improper Accounting and Impeding Whistleblowers (1/19/17), Blackrock Charged with Removing Whistleblower Incentives in Separation Agreements (1/17/17), Company Settles Charges in Whistleblower Retaliation Case (12/20/16), Company Violated Rule Aimed at Protecting Potential Whistleblowers (12/19/16), Risk Alert: Examining Whistleblower Rule Compliance (10/24/2016), SEC: Casino-Gaming Company Retaliated Against Whistleblower (9/29/16), SEC Charges Anheuser-Busch InBev With Violating FCPA and Whistleblower Protection Laws (9/28/16), Company Punished for Severance Agreements That Removed Financial Incentives for Whistleblowing (8/16/16), Company Paying Penalty for Violating Key Whistleblower Protection Rule (8/10/16), Merrill Lynch to Pay $415 Million for Misusing Customer Cash and Putting Customer Securities at Risk (6/23/16), SEC Announces Award to Whistleblower in First Retaliation Case (4/28/15), SEC: Companies Cannot Stifle Whistleblowers in Confidentiality Agreements (4/1/15), SEC Charges Hedge Fund Adviser With Conducting Conflicted Transactions and Retaliating Against Whistleblower (6/16/14), Statement on Court Filing by SEC to Protect Whistleblowers From Retaliation (2/20/14), STAY CONNECTED Complainant and Respondents entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondents to pay $25,000 in emotional distress and lost housing opportunity damages to Complainant and $15,000 in civil penalties to the general fund of the City of New York. SPF signed a stipulation and order agreeing to revise its policies to apply equally to all genders and to allow people to use the sex-segregated facilities that accord with their gender identities. The landlord and management, Moshe Piller, 8750 Bay Parkway, LLC, and MP Management, LLC, then constructed internal and external ramps, compliant with the American National Standards Institute code. As part of a conciliation agreement, Gucci agreed to: provide NYC Human Rights Law training and diversity and equity training for employees located in New York City; continue consulting with community leaders and social change experts committed to the advancement of diversity, racial equity, and inclusivity, including experts knowledgeable about these issues as they relate to the fashion industry; continue working towards improving diversity at all levels of the organization; continue to work to increase cultural sensitivity, awareness, and education across the organization, including in design and marketing; and update the Commission on the progress of its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. An investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau confirmed that Respondent Crunch properly waited until making a conditional offer of employment to do background checks, but then failed to give Complainants individualized assessments of their criminal histories. 3-20820 (April 12, 2022), In the Matter of Guggenheim Securities, LLC, File No. We encourage you to submit a tip to the SEC if you believe you have been retaliated against for reporting potential securities law violations even if the retaliation occurred outside of the United States. Pinnacle Management entered into a conciliation agreement in which they agreed to pay $50,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant, undergo training on the source of income provisions of the NYC Human Rights Law, post CCHR's "Fair Housing, It's the Law" poster in all business offices and buildings under their control for at least one calendar year, and email all agents and licensed or unlicensed brokers information on the NYC Human Rights Law source of income provisions. Respondent Chipotle required the employee to provide medical documentation to be excused from heavy lifting, which violates the NYC Human Rights Law and refused to provide her with a reasonable accommodation. With the passage of Dodd-Frank, Congress amended the Exchange Act to add Section 21F, which established a series of new incentives and protections for individuals to report possible violations of the federal securities laws, including enhanced employment retaliation protections. NYC Fire Services and Guards LLC Pays $12,500 in Damages and Civil Penalties for Subjecting Applicants to Questions Which Violated the Fair Chance ActA job applicant filed a complaint against of discrimination against NYC Fire Services and Guards LLC alleging that Respondents unlawfully inquired into his criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment and improperly denied him employment on the basis of his criminal history. PSH signed a stipulation and order agreeing to revise its admission policies to apply equally to people of all genders and sexual orientations. Complainant then informed MSKCC that, due to her ongoing recovery, she would need to continue working part-time and was willing to work in other departments that had part-time positions available. Recent jury awards and out-of-court settlements illustrate the potential risk in retaliation lawsuits. A Primer on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Retaliation Claims. The Commission and parties entered into a conciliation agreement requiring C-Towns owner and managers to attend training on the NYC Human Rights Law; create and implement a written policy under the NYC Human Rights Law; display the Commissions Notice of Rights, Stop Sexual Harassment Act Notice, and Pregnancy Employment Notice; maintain records regarding complaints of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, job openings, and applications for employment; provide a written apology to Complainant; and revise its employment application. Some of the most prevalent EPLI-related claims seen in 2020 include: Retaliation Claims on the Rise - More than half of EEOC claims filed in recent years have involved claims of employer retaliation against an employee. Blog. Name Title Compensation Date of data; Mario Munoz: Vice President: $0: 2021-12-31: Leslie Mariscal: President: $0: 2021-04-22: Financials for Blue Ribbon Retaliation Intvn Cnter. New York Institute of Technology Pays $45,000 in Damages, Penalties, and Attorneys Fees in Fair Chance Act Case, Revises Policies, Conducts Training, and Puts Up PostingsComplaint filed a complaint alleging that she was unlawfully denied a position due to her criminal history after receiving a conditional offer of employment, and that Respondent's application contained a question about criminal history several months after the passage of the Fair Chance Act. It is important to note that lawsuits like the one above are not only common, but can happen without warning. The Respondent agreed to pay $6,000 to the Complainant in emotional distress damages and agreed to display the Commissions Notice of Rights poster and to training for the owner and manager on the NYC Human Rights Law. Race, Disability, Retaliation. To understand if the anti-retaliation protections may apply to you, we encourage you to consult with an attorney. 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. HFF Realty LLC and Manager Agree to Policy Changes, Training, and Postings After Refusing to Accommodate Emotional Support AnimalsTesting conducted by the Commission revealed that HFF Realty refused to reasonably accommodate emotional support animals for tenant applicants. In the Matter of Activision Blizzard, Inc. Colonial Road Associates LLC and Rosario Parlanti Agrees to Pay $10,000 in Civil Penalties and to Set Aside Units for Voucher HoldersIn a Commission-initiated case, Respondents, who are landlords, were found to have refused a Section 8 voucher holder in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law. 1 Twitter 2 Facebook 3RSS 4YouTube Hubbell later sued FedEx in court for terminating her employment in retaliation for filing those EEOC charges. Respondents will attend NYC Human Rights Law training, create employment policies in compliance with the NYC Human Rights Law, and post the Commissions Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act Notice, Notice of Rights poster, and Pregnancy Discrimination in Employment Notice. During her employment, Complainants supervisors questioned her gender, asked her invasive questions about her body, and assigned her impossible tasks. Following the investigation, the parties agreed to enter into a settlement agreement in which Respondent Services for the Underserved, Inc. agreed to pay Complainant $21,000 in emotional distress damages; $500 in backpay damages; and pay a $14,000 civil penalty. The patron ultimately decided not to pursue the matter. Co-op With a No Dog Policy Pays $27,000, Agrees To Create a Reasonable Accommodation Policy, Display Postings and TrainingsComplainant was denied her emotional support animal by her co-op board for more than a year despite presenting them with supporting medical documentation. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau issued a probable cause determination, and Respondents agreed to pay $55,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant. 11 - 20: Visit: Top 20 Civil Rights Violation Settlements in the United States in 2020: 21: Amount: Attorneys: K. Chike Odiwe, John L. Burris, Ben Nisenbaum of Law Offices of John L. Burris; Mark E. Merin of Law Offices of Mark E. Merin Following the Law Enforcement Bureaus investigation, the Commission, Complainant, and Prada entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Prada to ensure that its New York City employees and certain Milan-based executives receive racial equity training and training on the New York City Human Rights Law; develop a scholarship program for people historically underrepresented in fashion; appoint a senior, director-level diversity and inclusion officer who will review Pradas advertising and products sold in the United States, as well as review and monitor Pradas anti-discrimination policies; maintain Pradas Diversity and Inclusion Council, launched by Prada in February of 2019, with a minimum of three to five members for a period of at least six years, with regular reporting by Prada on the councils progress to the Commission; and commit to increasing the diversity of its staff; and submit to two years of monitoring by the Commission. The Retaliation Complaint Investigation Unit (RCI) investigates workplace retaliation complaints. The department also announced the April 28, 2020 settlement of the Title VII claims brought in its lawsuit on behalf of Houston firefighter Paula Keyes. 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. Hubbell won her trial in district court, and a jury awarded $85,600 in front and back . Respondent NYC Parks agreed to pay $25,000 in emotional distress damages and to pre-certify her to be hired for the next available NYC Parks job for which she qualifies in one of two boroughs. 02/19/2021 - OSHA National News Release - US Department of Labor announces OSHA will investigate complaints of whistleblower retaliation under new antitrust, money laundering laws October 2020 Through the parties conciliation, Respondents agreed to pay Complainant $80,000 in back pay and $20,000 in emotional distress damages; conduct anti-discrimination training, including a focus on NYC Human Rights Law protections for religious accommodations; and post the Commission's Notice of Rights poster. This means that if you are a whistleblower who has reported a possible securities law violation to the Commission in writing and believe you have been retaliated against because of your report, you may be able to sue your employer in federal court and seek double back pay (with interest), reinstatement, reasonable attorneys fees, and reimbursement for certain costs in connection with the litigation. While Complainant was working, he was classified as an independent contractor in both Respondents HR systems. Broker Pays $5,000 in Damages in Source of Income Discrimination CaseComplainant who alleged source of income discrimination based on her attempt to use a voucher brought a complaint against a broker and his employer. Respondent Dalton also agreed to ensure its policies regarding tenant screening and reasonable accommodations are in compliance with the NYC Human Rights Law, to provide training to its employees, and to display postings outlining its obligations under the NYC Human Rights Law. Colony East 5th Realty LLC Pays $39,000, and Installs Ramp To Settle Disability Discrimination ComplaintComplainant alleged that her landlord, Colony East 5th Realty LLC, failed to accommodate her disability by failing to construct a ramp at her apartment buildings main entrance. The Commission and the parties entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent to pay Complainant $21,500 in emotional distress damages, pay $10,000 in civil penalties, provide all of the funds employees with anti-sexual harassment training, ensure that it has meaningful policies in place to address complaints of discrimination, post the Commissions Stop Sexual Harassment Act Notice, and distribute the Commissions Stop Sexual Harassment Act Fact Sheet. She also stated that she was fired after she reported her supervisor to management. For example, if an employer discovered that an employee was making jokes about another person in front of their peers, this would often mean that the employer would be liable for firing the employee. Services for the Underserved, Inc. Settles Complaint Alleging Discrimination on the Basis of Criminal Conviction History for $35,500 in Damages and PenaltiesComplainant, a prospective employee, filed a complaint against Services for the Underserved, Inc., a nonprofit agency providing services to individuals with disabilities, alleging that her job offer had been unlawfully rescinded after a required background check. Swatch Pays Damages, Civil Penalties, and Undertakes Affirmative Relief in Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act Case Complainant alleged that he visited a Swatch Group (US) Inc. store location to apply for a retail position, where he was presented with a paper application requesting that he authorize the employer to check his credit report, in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law's Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act protections. O.M.G., Inc. Agrees To Pay $30,000 in Damages and Extensive Affirmative Relief After Terminating a Transgender EmployeeComplainant, who is transgender, worked for O.M.G., Inc. (OMG) as a sales associate. You may also send us a copy of your agreement, if you so choose, by submitting it as a tip either through our online portal or by mail or fax. The first step to getting the right advice is knowing what type of lawsuit you should be pursuing. Complainant alleged that another job could have been found for her as a reasonable accommodation. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau investigation revealed that Respondents intentionally failed to process the legally required paperwork for Complainants Section 8 voucher.