Judge allows Southampton sex harassment suit to go forward
A New York federal judge has given the go-ahead to a lawsuit filed on behalf of immigrant women who say that they were subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment at the Southampton laundry company where they were employed, court records show.
U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie, in a memorandum and order issued Tuesday, denied a request from Suffolk Laundry Services, and its owners Walter Sullivan II and Cathy Sullivan, to throw out claims of six of the seven women in the discrimination suit.
The workers, all residents of Long Island, claim that Rajindra Singh, a male manager, "regularly touched women on their buttocks, hips, backs, forcibly kissed them, and made comments about their appearance and body parts."
The Sullivans also were contending that they could not be held personally liable. The judge disagreed, keeping them in the case.
Singh is not named as a defendant in the suit.
A separate ruling on a request to dismiss the seven women's claims of retaliation is pending.
The New York District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued in January 2012 on behalf of the women, seeking undisclosed compensatory damages and a court order against offending practices.
The legal memorandum allowing the claims said that, after reviewing the allegations, "the Court finds that there is sufficient evidence in record to permit a reasonable jury to find severe or pervasive conduct, and to find that Suffolk Laundry can be held liable for Singh's conduct."
The Sullivans did not comment, but their attorney vowed to fight back.
"We are disappointed by the decision, but we are looking forward to the opportunity to prove our case to a jury that we didn't violate the law in any way, and we are confident we can prevail," said lawyer Martin Gringer of Garden City.
Singh could not be reached for comment.
LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a New York City advocacy organization representing the immigrant women, said it considers the decision a significant step for their clients as well as for low-wage, immigrant workers who often don't speak English to defend themselves and "are entitled to a workplace free from gender discrimination," said Elizabeth Joynes, an attorney with the group.
"It really is the responsibility of the employer and the company and its owners to have procedures and policies in place to prevent discrimination," Joynes said Friday.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
