GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES STATE INVESTIGATIONS SECURE $5 MILLION FOR VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that the State Division of Human Rights last year secured more than $5 million in compensation for victims of discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation. As the result of DHR investigations, 923 victims were awarded a total of $5.2 million. In addition, DHR assessed $273,000 in penalties against employers.  
 
"New York's diversity is its strength and this administration has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, period," Governor Cuomo said. "We will take every necessary step to ensure New Yorkers are being treated fairly under the law, that landlords, employers and businesses know their obligations, and that those who disregard them will be held accountable."

The largest compensation outcomes were seen in employment cases, including:
· Following a public hearing, an electrical technician for a utility company was found to have been discriminated against and terminated due to his disability, despite being able to effectively perform his job. DHR ordered the technician to be reinstated, awarded him $375,000 in lost wages and emotional suffering damages, and fined the respondent $50,000 as a civil penalty payable to the State of New York.
· An elementary school teacher in New York City alleged she was denied a reasonable accommodation and prohibited from returning to work after suffering an on-the-job injury. The complaint was settled for $164,000 in back wages.
· A woman working as a sales manager at a direct-mail company alleged she faced gender discrimination in the form of unequal pay. The complaint was settled for $160,000.
· Following a public hearing, a female administrative assistant at a collection agency in Amherst was found to have faced sexual harassment and verbal abuse on a daily basis. She was awarded $70,000. DHR fined the respondent $15,000, payable to the State of New York, as a civil penalty. A breakdown of all DHR cases resolved in 2016 by region and compensation: 

Region	Number of Victims	Compensation
Capital Region	39	$210,165
Central NY	77	$588,113
Finger Lakes	107	$615,433
Hudson Valley	78	$367,506
Long Island	167	$780,400
Mohawk Valley	24	$85,281
New York City	276	$1,800,291
North Country	10	$44,033
Southern Tier	26	$89,250
Western NY	119	$587,178

In addition, DHR assessed $273,000 in penalties against employers, including: A $60,000 fine against an Oneonta car dealership in a case based on disability discrimination in employment; a $55,000 fine against a Staten Island restaurant for sex/age discrimination in employment; and a $50,000 fine against Con Ed in a disability/employment case.

The Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, credit, and places of public accommodation, among other areas of jurisdiction, based upon age, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, domestic violence victim status, familial status, or other characteristic of any individual.