A racial epithet can satisfy the elements of a hostile work environment claim and is sufficient under the motion-to-dismiss standard, even if it’s allegedly used as a colloquial greeting, a federal judge has ruled. In Young v. Columbia Farms, Inc., ...

Tagged with: Race Discrimination

Haynes v. Waste Connections, Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-177-17, 10 pp.) (Henry Herlong Jr., S.J.) 7:16-cv-01922; D.S.C. Holding: Although both men drove trucks for the defendant-employer, the white comparator chosen by the African-American plaintiff was not similarly situated; moreover, plaintiff’s ...

Tagged with: Race Discrimination

Thomas v. Dillon School District Four (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-173-15, 8 pp.) (Bruce Howe Hendricks, J.) 4:13-cv-00990; D.S.C. Holding: Plaintiff has proffered evidence that (1) she received a pay decrease; (2) she was informed that all secretaries would stay on ...

Tagged with: Race Discrimination

Frasier v. McGinley (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-207-14, 11 pp.) (Richard Gergel, J.) 2:13-cv-02986; D.S.C. Holding: Although plaintiff alleges that the teachers who received more favorable treatment were younger, she did not allege their races; furthermore, plaintiff failed to allege the ...

Tagged with: Race Discrimination Teacher

Williams v. Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-129-14, 13 pp.) (Mary Lewis, J.) 4:11-cv-00429; D.S.C. Holding: The plaintiff-instructor did not show that age or race discrimination was the reason for the defendant-college’s failure to promote her to coordinator of ...

Tagged with: Race Discrimination

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Inc. v. Molly Darcy, Inc. Although the defendant-restaurant was closed to everyone – not just African Americans – during Black Bike Week, plaintiffs allege that the restaurant’s decision to temporarily close to the public was “undertaken with racially discriminatory animus for the purpose of denying African Americans access to a place of public accommodation.” Plaintiffs have stated a claim of intentional racial discrimination.

Tagged with: Civil Practice Civil Rights Race Discrimination Standing

Le v. Hoover Motors Holding Co., Inc. A car dealership's motion for partial summary judgment on a mechanic's Title VII discriminatory discharge claim is denied since the record includes evidence that although the mechanic was performing satisfactorily, he was subjected to unfair and discriminatory treatment, which included frequent racist statements.

Tagged with: Race Discrimination Summary Judgment

Almost 60 years ago, African-American citizens encircled a federal courthouse in Charleston and held vigil throughout a trial destined to become a landmark in American civil rights history. It was May 28, 1951, the first day of trial in Briggs v. Elliot. Plaintiffs from Clarendon County were challenging state-imposed racial segregation of schools, and their supporters, hailing from around the state, had started arriving at sunrise.

Tagged with: Race Discrimination

Mosby-Grant v. City of Hagerstown. (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-182-10, 21 pp.) (Gregory, J.) No. 09-2161, Dec. 20, 2010; USDC at Baltimore (Legg, J.) 4th Cir. Click here for the full text of the opinion. Holding: The 4th Circuit reverses summary ...

Tagged with: Hostile Environment Labor & Employment Race Discrimination Sex Discrimination Sexual Harassment

Coleman v. Md. Court of Appeals. (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-170-10, 11 pp.) (Traxler, J.) No. 09-1582, Nov. 10, 2010; USDC at Baltimore (Legg, J.) 4th Cir. Click here for the full text of the opinion. Holding: An African-American male who ...

Tagged with: FMLA Labor & Employment Race Discrimination Title VII