Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Hostile Environment As Form of Retaliation

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
October 31, 2003

The stereotypical retaliation case involves the termination of an employee following the performance of some protected act such as filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment or testifying in an EEO proceeding. But can the creation of a hostile environment suffice as an adverse employment action in a retaliation claim under Title VII and in similar state and city actions?

Judge Buckwald of the Southern District of New York recently ruled that it could. Ironically, the court found that plaintiff in that case did not state a separate sex-based, hostile environment claim. Nonetheless, the court sent to the jury plaintiff's retaliation claim relying on plaintiff's evidence that the hostile environment she suffered was in response to her earlier complaint of sex discrimination. In doing so, the court concluded an “adverse employment action can take the form of a hostile work environment.” Salerno v. City University of New York, 2003 WL 22170609 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)


The stereotypical retaliation case involves the termination of an employee following the performance of some protected act such as filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment or testifying in an EEO proceeding. But can the creation of a hostile environment suffice as an adverse employment action in a retaliation claim under Title VII and in similar state and city actions?

Judge Buckwald of the Southern District of New York recently ruled that it could. Ironically, the court found that plaintiff in that case did not state a separate sex-based, hostile environment claim. Nonetheless, the court sent to the jury plaintiff's retaliation claim relying on plaintiff's evidence that the hostile environment she suffered was in response to her earlier complaint of sex discrimination. In doing so, the court concluded an “adverse employment action can take the form of a hostile work environment.” Salerno v. City University of New York, 2003 WL 22170609 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)


This premium content is locked for LJN Newsletters subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.