Filed Date: March 15, 2007
Closed Date: 2010
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On March 15, 2007, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, under Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964, against the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) . The DOJ sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII by discriminating against an employee on the basis of religion. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the DOCS discriminated on the basis of religion by failing to reasonably accommodate a Muslim correction officer's religious practice of wearing a kufi (skullcap). DOCS directed the correction officer in May 2005 to stop wearing his kufi while working as a correction officer, even though the officer had worn his kufi for years without incident.
Shortly after suit was filed, the case was settled. On January 18, 2008, the District Court (Judge Denny Chin) approved the parties' Stipulation and Order of Settlement. Under the settlement, DOCS agreed to continue to adhere to its amended religious accommodation policy, which it implemented on March 16, 2007. That policy created an administrative process under which employees could request religious accommodations to workplace policies (grooming and uniform requirements). Each religious accommodation request would be given an individualized assessment and granted unless the request created an undue hardship on the DOCS. By its terms, the Stipulation and Order was to remain in effect until July 1, 2010. The District Court agreed to retain jurisdiction over the case during that period in order to resolve any issues or disputes that arose.
Summary Authors
Hyun Jeong Yang (11/5/2007)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12451695/parties/united-states-v-new-york-department-of-correctional-services/
Chin, Denny (New York)
Garcia, Michael J. (New York)
Kim, Wan J. (District of Columbia)
Cuomo, Andrew M. (New York)
Schwartz, John Michael (New York)
Chin, Denny (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12451695/united-states-v-new-york-department-of-correctional-services/
Last updated March 21, 2024, 3:07 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 15, 2007
Closing Date: 2010
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States on behalf of employees of New York State Department of Corrections who have religious beliefs that do not permit them to follow the mandatory dress code
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 2008 - 2010
Issues
Discrimination-area:
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender:
National Origin/Ethnicity: