Jewish Employee's Discrimination Claim Against New York City Dismissed

In Brodt v. City of New York, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29229 (SD NY, March 6, 2014), a New York federal district court dismissed claims by a former employee of the New York City Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications that he was denied a permanent position and eventually fired under the pretext of budget limitations when in fact the actions were based on his being an observant Jew. The court held that the facts alleged do not plausibly show discriminatory animus or a hostile work environment. According to the court, the comments by his supervisor that plaintiff should pray for him and his comments about plaintiff's nine children were simple teasing or isolated incidents. His supervisor's constantly rubbing plaintiff's yarmulke was merely annoying conduct.