Obtained summary judgment for global retailer and distributor of automotive and replacement parts and accessories in an employment discrimination cased filed by a former supervisor employed in Massachusetts who claimed he was the victim of discrimination and harassment based upon his perceived sexual orientation in violation of Title VII and Massachusetts law. The U.S. District Court Judge dismissed all counts, finding that because the alleged conduct only occurred on one occasion it was not sufficiently severe or pervasive to affect the terms and conditions of his employment. Further, other employees testified that the Plaintiff himself often participated in and even encouraged gender-normative jokes, which the Court determined weighed against his claims that he or a reasonable person in his shoes would have found the conduct to be hostile or offensive.
Defense of Global Retailer in Discrimination and Harassment Case
Defense of Global Retailer in Discrimination and Harassment Case
Obtained summary judgment for global retailer and distributor of automotive and replacement parts and accessories in an employment discrimination cased filed by a former supervisor employed in Massachusetts who claimed he was the victim of discrimination and harassment based upon his perceived sexual orientation in violation of Title VII and Massachusetts law. The U.S. District Court Judge dismissed all counts, finding that because the alleged conduct only occurred on one occasion it was not sufficiently severe or pervasive to affect the terms and conditions of his employment. Further, other employees testified that the Plaintiff himself often participated in and even encouraged gender-normative jokes, which the Court determined weighed against his claims that he or a reasonable person in his shoes would have found the conduct to be hostile or offensive.