Case: Discrimination/Familial Status (S.D.N.Y.)

Disney Streaming Service is entitled to dismissal of a male product designer’s Title VII lawsuit alleging that he was discriminated against on the basis of his wife’s pregnancy. His claim isn’t viable because familial status — such as being an expecting or new parent — isn’t a protected class under Title VII, the court said. His generic allegation that expecting female employees were treated better than he was is insufficient to support a “sex-plus” claim—one based on his male gender and his wife’s pregnancy—because he failed to identify the proposed female comparators by name, role, and duties, the court stated. ...