Brightman v. Prison Health Services, Inc.
The plaintiff alleged retaliation after filing a sexual harassment complaint against one of the defendants. The alleged retaliatory acts included an increased workload, denied overtime opportunities, unpaid overtime, denial of vacation and holiday pay, transfer to a different location where the harasser worked, and being forced to work as a 'floater.' The Supreme Court, Bronx County, denied the defendants' motion to dismiss the action. This decision was unanimously affirmed, with the court finding that the plaintiff's allegations stated a valid claim for retaliation under both the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. The court concluded that the defendants' alleged acts were 'materially adverse' and reasonably likely to deter a person from engaging in protected activity.