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2024 Settlement Highlights
The Commission has the authority to assess fines and obtain monetary damages for those aggrieved by violations of the New York City Human Rights Law. Additionally, the Commission may negotiate additional remedies including rehiring, policy change, training, and modifications for accessibility.
July - December 2024
NY Dialysis Services Inc. Settled Sexual Harassment Case for $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Civil Penalties
Complainant filed a sexual harassment claim against NY Dialysis Services Inc. after a supervisor routinely commented on her appearance and indicated that she was hired because she was attractive. Complainant was then terminated because she complained about ongoing harassment. Respondent agreed to pay Complainant $15,000 in emotional distress damages and $15,000 in civil penalties. Settlement also mandates Respondent attend anti-discrimination training, display anti-sexual harassment and "Know Your Rights" posters, and develop an anti-discrimination policy.
Douglas Elliman Settled Source of Income Discrimination Case for $35,000 in Civil Penalties and Created a $15,000 Rental Application Fee Fund for Prospective Voucher Applicants
The Commission initiated a complaint against Douglas Elliman after Housing Rights Initiative testers were informed that vouchers were not accepted or wouldn't work for the building. Douglas Elliman agreed to pay $35,000 in civil penalties, create a $15,000 rental application fee fund and implement a broker incentive program for agents working with voucher holders. Settlement also mandates additional testing, internal auditing, anti-discrimination training, revised policies, and that Douglas Elliman display posters reflective of rights and responsibilities under the NYC Human Rights Law.
Landlord Settled Disability Discrimination Case for $145,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Civil Penalties
Complainant filed a disability discrimination claim against landlord for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation. Landlord agreed to pay the complainant $60,000 in emotional distress damages and $85,000 in civil penalties. Landlord also agrees to additional monitoring, updated policy creation, training, and to display anti-discrimination posters consistent with the NYC Human Rights Law.
Employer Settled Pregnancy Discrimination Case for $63,500 in Emotional Distress Damages, Attorney fees, and Civil Penalties
Complainant filed a discrimination claim against her employer for failure to accommodate her pregnancy after her employer required a doctor's note prior to modifying job duties. Respondent agreed to pay the Complainant $50,000 in emotional distress damages, $6,000 in attorneys' fees, and $7,500 in civil penalties.
Alpha Wave Global LP Settled Wrongful Termination Case for $85,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Backpay
Complainant filed a wrongful termination complaint against Alpha Wave Global LP, alleging discrimination against based on race and sexual orientation ultimately resulting in unlawful termination after complaining about that discrimination. As part of a conciliation agreement, Alpha Wave Global LP agreed to pay Complainant $60,000 in emotional distress damages and $25,000 in backpay. The Chief Operating Officer of Alpha Wave Global LP along with select employees will attend training on the NYC Human Rights Law and provide a positive reference letter to the Complainant.
Co-Op Board Settled Source of Income Discrimination Case for $10,000 in Emotional Distress Damages
Two complainants filed a source of income discrimination case against a co-op board after a voucher holder's rental application was denied by the co-op board despite the individual shareholder agreeing to rent to him. The co-op board agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional distress damages to the voucher holder and $5,000 in lost income to the individual shareholder. Settlement also mandates anti-discrimination training, updated policies, visible postings, and notices sent to all shareholders in the building regarding their obligations under the NYC Human Rights Law.
January - June 2024
Compass Real Estate Settled Two Family Status Discrimination Cases for $70,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Civil Penalties
Two separate Complaints alleged discrimination in housing based on family status against Respondent, Compass Real Estate. In both matters, a Compass real estate broker conveyed a landlord's discriminatory preference for no children. The Respondent agreed to pay $20,000 in emotional distress damages and $15,000 in civil penalties for each matter. Affirmative relief also includes trainings, policies, and postings compliant with the NYC Human Rights Law.
Respondent Agrees to Stipulation and Order Training its Employees on Working with Transgender and Non-Gendered Persons
Complainant filed an employment discrimination claim with the Commission, alleging the Respondent's work placement practices discriminated against transgender and non-gendered persons. After the Commission opened an investigation into Respondent's employment practices, the Respondent agreed to a Stipulation and Order to train its employees on working with transgender and non-gendered persons, and to display the Commission's "Notice of Rights" poster.
Central Astoria LLC Settled Disability Discrimination Case for $35,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Civil Penalties
Complainant filed a disability discrimination claim against Central Astoria LLC for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation. After the Commission intervened, Respondent agreed to pay Complainant $16,649.04 in emotional distress damages, $8,350.96 in attorneys' fees, and $10,000 in civil penalties. Affirmative action also includes mandatory training, updated reasonable accommodation policies, and Respondent must display the Commission's "Notice of Rights" poster as well as the company procedure for requesting a reasonable accommodation.
Broker Settled Source of Income Discrimination Case for $7,500 in Emotional Distress Damages and $5,000 in Civil Penalties
Complainant filed a source of income discrimination claim against Respondent after she was unable to view an apartment due to her HASA voucher status. Commission testers inquired about the same apartment and received an immediate, positive response. Respondent agreed to pay $7,500 in emotional distress damages and $5,000 in civil penalties. Affirmative action also includes mandatory training, a broker incentive program, and 2 years of monitoring.
Restaurant settled hair discrimination claim for $7,500 in emotional distress damages and $5,000 in civil penalties.
Complainant filed a complaint against restaurant, Russo's on the Bay, alleging that a co-worker made a discriminatory comment relating to her hair and ethnicity. When the Complainant reported the behavior to management, they failed to take action. Respondent agreed to pay Complainant $7,500 in emotional distress damages. Respondent also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $5,000, to provide training on the city's Human Rights Law, unconscious bias, and cultural sensitivity with a focus on racial justice for all supervisory employees, to create and revise policies that will be reviewed by the Commission, and to display the Commission's "Notice of Rights."
Employer settled Commission-initiated Fair Chance Act case for $75,000 and policy changes.
The Commission initiated an investigation into a pharmaceutical company for using employment applications that informed applicants that they would be subject to a criminal background check—a violation of New York City's Fair Chance Act. Respondent agreed to pay $75,000 in civil penalties and to revise its applications and policies for consistency with the New York City Human Rights Law. The Employer will also display the Commission's "Notice of Rights."
Fast food franchise settled pregnancy discrimination case for $60,000 in damages and agreed to affirmative relief.
Respondents paid $30,000 in emotional distress damages and $30,000 in backpay to the Complainant for failing to accommodate her pregnancy and for creating a hostile work environment, which forced her to quit. Respondent also agreed to partner with a community-based organization to conduct hiring outreach to unhoused women; to create a written policy detailing its New York City Human Rights Law obligations; to attend trainings on the Law and sexual harassment; and to display New York City Human Rights Law's and specific workplace posters.
7101 Building Company, a landlord, settled a disability discrimination claim for $10,000 in civil penalties and $17,500 in emotional distress damages.
Complainant alleged that her landlord discriminated against her based on the presence of a service animal, including by bringing eviction proceedings against her. Respondent agreed to settle the claims for $10,000 in civil penalties, $17,500 in emotional distress damages, as well as to attending trainings, change to the company's service animal policy, and post the Commission's "Notice of Rights."
Employer settled case involving a hostile work environment based on gender-based harassment for $4,000 and affirmative relief.
Complainant alleged that a supervisor employed by Respondent, Lorin Marsh Ltd., made explicit sexual remarks about women to Complainant and to male coworkers. Respondent settled the claims, agreeing to train employees on the New York City Human Right's Law, post information with employees' obligations under the Law, and to pay Complainant $4,000 in emotional distress damages.
Landlord settled source of income discrimination case for $3,500 and affirmative relief.
An applicant with a housing voucher filed a complaint against 160 Beach 117 Owners Corporation and two individual owners, alleging source of income discrimination. Respondents agreed to pay $3,500 in civil penalties. Respondents agreed to also post the Commission's "Fair Housing, It's the Law" poster in the building and attend training on their obligations under the New York City Human Rights Law.
Pizzarotti LLC settled claims of gender and disability discrimination for $5,000 and affirmative relief.
Complainant filed claims against her former employer, Pizzarotti LLC, and a former manager alleging discrimination and wrongful termination based on gender and disability. Respondents agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant. In addition, Pizzarotti agreed to update its policies to comply with the New York City Human Rights Law and display those policies in the workplace along with legally required postings.
Media company paid $5,000 in emotional distress damages, agreed to create reasonable accommodation policy, and will undergo training to settle public accommodation disability discrimination claim.
Complainant, who is Deaf, alleged Respondent Schneps Media discriminated against her based on her disability after she repeatedly requested captioning as an accommodation to attend Respondent's online presentations and did not receive a meaningful response. Respondent agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional distress damages, to create a compliant reasonable accommodation policy for virtual and in-person events and attend training on the New York City Human Rights Law.
Victory Foodservice Corporation paid $7,500 in damages to settle claims of religion, gender, and national origin discrimination.
Complainant, a Jewish-American male, filed a complaint after allegedly receiving multiple comments against his religion and his status as an American by employees of the Respondents. The Complainant also allegedly experienced inappropriate comments of a sexual nature relating to his decision to hire a woman to his team, was subjected to a hostile work environment, and was ultimately fired inappropriately. The Respondents agreed to pay $7,500 in emotional distress damages.
Keepers Self Storage agreed to pay $20,000 in damages and penalties to settle gender identity discrimination case.
Complainant, a transgender woman, filed a complaint after an employee and a customer repeatedly misgendered and harassed her as she tried to access her storage unit. During the investigation, Respondent sold the storage facility and ceased operations in New York City. Respondent agreed to pay $10,000 in emotional distress damages and $10,000 in civil penalties to settle the matter.
Landlord settled two source of income discrimination cases with same Complainant for $10,216 in emotional distress damages and $27,500 in civil penalties.
Landlord refused to rent to Complainant, a Section 8 voucher holder, because of her source of income. After the Commission intervened on her behalf, the landlord initially agreed to rent her a unit but then failed to cooperate with NYCHA during the leasing process. The Respondent withdrew the offer of the apartment, but eventually offered the Complainant another unit. Due to the failure to cooperate with NYCHA, it took a full year for the Complainant to move into her new apartment. Once in the new apartment, Complainant was overcharged. The Commission settled both cases for a total of $37,700 in damages and civil penalties. Affirmative relief including training, postings, and the creation of a policy detailing Respondent's responsibilities under the City's Human Rights Law were also part of the agreement.
Landlord agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional distress damages and $27,500 in civil penalties for refusing to rent to a survivor of domestic violence and because of her housing voucher.
Respondent refused to rent to Complainant, a survivor of domestic violence and a voucher holder, due to her source of income. Due to their denial, her and her children were forced to remain in a shelter for several months. Respondent agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional damages to the Complainant and $27,500 in civil penalties. Additionally, Respondent agreed to affirmative relief including training, postings, and the creation of a policy consistent with their obligations under the City's Human Rights Law.
Respondent 1260 Broadway LLC settled case involving source of income discrimination for $5,000 in damages and $27,500 in civil penalties.
Respondents agreed to pay $5,000 in emotional damages to the Complainant, a Section 8 voucher holder, and $27,500 in civil penalties. Respondent also agreed to affirmative relief including training, postings, and the creation of a policy consistent with their obligations under the City's Human Rights Law.