Jury Vindicates Concierge of Posh Residential Building Alleging Discrimination in Workplace

On March 10, 2020, the New York Law Journal reported that a New York County jury awarded the estate of a former residential building concierge $1.5 Million in combined compensatory and punitive damages. The building’s managing agent hired plaintiff and soon after she began reporting to a supervisor at the building, the supervisor expressed to her that the concierge’s job was not intended for a woman and soon engaged in harassing conduct intended to force her from her position. The supervisor was further alleged to have encouraged others to join in on targeting the plaintiff, including incidents that involved physical touching plaintiff in a sexually explicit and unwelcome manner and other acts of sexual harassment. The jury concluded that the plaintiff was subjected to discriminatory, harassing behavior that was based on her gender and a disability discrimination, and retaliation, all of which is unlawful under the New York City Human Rights Law.

If you or someone you know has been victimized in the workplace on the basis of gender or disability, please reach out to the experienced employment counsel at Schwartz Perry & Heller, LLP.