Applicant for Doorperson Position Claims Hiring Discrimination

A woman sued several building landlords and their managing agent for hiring discrimination, claiming that they refused to hire her for a doorperson position based on her gender. Landlords asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial. The court ruled against landlords. The woman was clearly a member of a class of people protected by employment discrimination laws, and she showed that she was qualified for the doorperson position and that male applicants were hired for jobs for which she'd applied. Landlords, on the other hand, never offered any reason why she wasn't chosen for any of the positions. A trial was needed so that landlords could explain why the woman wasn't hired and whether their reasons were legitimate or discriminatory.

Hill v. Douglas Elliman-Gibbons & Ives: NYLJ, p. 28, col. 3 (10/16/98) (Sup. Ct. NY; Goodman, J)