Recent Decisions in Employment Discrimination

Gebrial Ramsy v. Marriott International, Inc.

Nobody should have to put up with discrimination in the workplace or the hostile work environment that often accompanies discrimination. There are federal and state laws in place to prevent discriminatory behavior, but one recent and ongoing case highlights the complexities involved with these situations. At the Law Office of Rachel Ambats, PLLC, our New York City employment discrimination attorneys want to discuss Gebrial Ramsy v. Marriott International, Inc.

Understanding this employment discrimination case

The case of Gebrial Ramsy v. Marriott International, Inc. is compelling because it is still ongoing, with the most recent development being an overturning by a federal appeals court of a lower court ruling.

Gebrial Ramsy has worked as a banquet server at the JW Essex House New York, which is currently managed by Marriott International, Inc, since 1991. In 2012, Ramsy began to complain that certain employees were engaging in wage theft and overcharging activities. According to court documents, Ramsy soon became the subject of retaliation by other employees who proceeded to disparage his religion and nationality. Mr. Ramsy, also known as Kamal, was born in Egypt and is a Coptic Christian. Amongst other insults, Ramsy claims that other employees referred to him as a rat, a camel, and a mummy.

Ramsy was fired by Marriott in May 2016, and soon after filed a lawsuit against the company and several employees in US District Court in New York on charges of a hostile work environment and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

At that time, the court granted the defendants (Marriott) a summary judgment dismissing the case. A three-judge appeals court reinstated the case in a unanimous decision on March 6, 2020. Specifically, the appeals court states that there need not be any alleged violence or threats of violence for a hostile work environment claim to be valid. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed an amicus brief in support of Ramsy in favor of reversing the lower court decision.

The case will now move forward, which could result in a jury trial for Mr. Ramsy in his case against Marriott International and the employees involved.

At the Law Office of Rachel Ambats, PLLC, we want you to know that both federal and state laws protect workers from discrimination in the workplace. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against a person based on their:

·       Race

·       Gender

·       Age

·       Disability

·       Religion

·       National origin

·       Political

·       Affiliation or belief

·       Genetics

·       Arrest and conviction record

·       Marital status

·       Genetic, predisposition, and carrier status

·       Veteran status

·       Sexual orientation

We are here to help you today           

If you or somebody you care about has been discriminated against in the workplace, seek legal assistance immediately. At the Law Office of Rachel Ambats, PLLC, we are ready to get to work investigating your case in order to ensure you are treated fairly and that you secure the compensation you are entitled to. This could include:

·       back and front pay

·       reinstatement (if you have been terminated)

·       possible promotion

·       legal fees and court costs

·       pain and suffering damages

·       punitive damages

When you need a New York City employment discrimination attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation.