On February 8, 2024, The Law Office of David H. Rosenberg, P.C. (“Firm”) filed a verified complaint of race discrimination and retaliation with The New York State Division of Human Rights (“NYSDHR”) on behalf of the Firm’s Hispanic client (“Complainant”), against M.R. Electrical Service LLC (“MR Electrical”), Movzesh Rutner (“Rutner”), and Moshe Fisch (“Fisch”).
According to the Verified Complaint, Complainant, a helper, used English in his communications at work and yet was told by a non-Hispanic journeyman, “Don’t speak Spanish, we only speak English in America.” Complainant protested, “I was speaking English, not Spanish” and then was retaliated for opposing the discriminatory treatment.
Complainant was told to go back to his country and was retaliated for saying words to the effect of, “Do not speak to me this way.” Complainant was called a “dumb ass” and was asked, “Where is the ladder” without receiving any instruction to retrieve one. Complainant complained to Fisch:
Reuben discriminates against me because I’m Spanish. He told me not to speak Spanish in America even though I spoke to him in English. Reuben said to go back to my country, even though I live in this one. Today he called me a dumb ass and I would like to be transferred away from him, please.
December 4, 2023 Complaint
Fisch replied, “I will figure it out.” Complainant repeated the December 4, 2023 complaint to foreman Singh and asked, “Please transfer me away from Reuben” to which Singh said, “I will figure it out.” Notwithstanding this complaint of discrimination, no investigation was conducted, no corrective action was taken, and no disciplinary action was given. Indeed, nothing was “figured out.” On the contrary, Complainant was forced to continue working in the same hostile work environment and was terminated by Rutner on account of race and in retaliation.
The information and allegations cited to herein comes directly from publicly filed documentation and are meant as a means of attorney advertising.