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On May 23, 2023, MML trial team lawyers R. Armen McOmber, Esq., Matthew A. Luber, Esq., Peter D. Valenzano, Esq. and Austin B. Tobin, Esq. secured a $500,000 Jury Verdict in Middlesex County Superior Court.  You can read more about the victory here.

The lawsuit was originally filed over six years ago on behalf of Plaintiffs, Hugh McCabe and his mother, Suzanne McCabe. Hugh, a former student in Monroe Township Public Schools, was subjected to homophobic slurs and anti-gay animus by another Monroe Township High School Student, which included a November 25, 2015 assault in the boy’s locker room that caused Hugh significant physical injuries. Hugh was also bullied based on the perception that he is gay and due to his membership in the school’s Gay Straight Alliance.

Following a two-week trial, the jury concluded that Hugh was subjected to years of discrimination on account of his perceived sexual orientation in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“NJLAD”). The jury further concluded that the school was aware of the harassment, and that it was negligent by failing to prevent, correct, or remediate the discrimination

The jury awarded Hugh $400,000 in emotional distress damages and an additional $100,000 in damages for his physical injuries stemming from the assault.

On November 30, 2023, the same Court awarded counsel fees of $804,018.42, which included a 33% enhancement amounting to $199,493.29. The total judgment against the Defendant School District amounts to $1,397,487.  The fee award recognizes the challenge and risk of bringing discrimination claims. The Honorable Alberto Rivas, J.S.C. noted MML’s commitment to the NJLAD’s mission: “Theory of liability in this case differed from a typical NJLAD employment matter, focusing on an issue related to perceived sexual orientation, thereby advancing and vindicating one of the NJLAD’s core objectives.”  Judge Rivas noted that the case was litigated for seven years, involved significant motion and deposition practice, and that district “maintained an inflexible settlement posture throughout in proceedings that culminated in a multi-week jury trial.”

The fee award can be viewed here. 

 

On July 13, 2023, Partners Charles J. Kocher and Matthew A. Luber  filed this wage and hour class action in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of their client and a proposed class of webcam performers to recover their proper wages under federal and state law.  

As alleged in the Class Action Complaint, Defendants ICF Technology, Inc. and/or Accretive Technology Group, Inc. misclassified their “Performers,” including Plaintiff, as “independent contractors” when they are, in fact, employees under federal and state law. Defendants own and operate Streamate, which according to its website, is “one of the most exclusive networks of live adult chat sites on the web today” with “over 500 million visitors each month from all over the world.” Among other things, Plaintiffs allege Defendants withheld wages for the time spent in free chats where performers enticed customers to join a paid chat. But by paying them only for paid chats and not in the free chat space, they were only paid for part of the show. In turn, due the misclassification, Defendants deprived their workers of the right to be paid the minimum wage and the protection against illegal deductions from their pay and/or unreimbursed business expenses. Notably, similar cases have previously held that exotic dancers were in fact employees and not independent contractors. This class action seeks to recover all wages owed and due. 

A copy of the as-filed Class Action Complaint may be found below.

“This important class action seeks to enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law requirements to pay workers for all their time worked. Post-pandemic, the webcam industry has gained popularity, resulting in many in-person performers going online to perform instead. Holding companies who improperly misclassify performers accountable is becoming increasingly necessary.” – Partner Charles J. Kocher

On May 23, 2023, a trial team of R. Armen McOmber, Esq., Matthew A. Luber, Esq., Peter D. Valenzano, Esq. and Austin B. Tobin, Esq. from the law firm of McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. secured a $500,000 Jury Verdict.

The lawsuit was originally filed over six years ago in Middlesex County Superior Court on behalf of Plaintiffs, Hugh McCabe and his mother, Suzanne McCabe.  Hugh, a former student in Monroe Township Public Schools, claimed he was subjected to homophobic slurs and anti-gay animus by another Monroe Township High School Student, which included a November 25, 2015 assault in the boy’s locker room that caused Hugh significant physical injuries.  Hugh was also bullied based on the perception that he is gay and due to his membership in the school’s Gay Straight Alliance.

Following a two-week trial, the jury concluded that Hugh was subjected to years of discrimination on account of his perceived sexual orientation in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“NJLAD”).  The jury further concluded that the school was aware of the harassment, and that it was negligent by failing to prevent, correct, or remediate the discrimination.   The jury awarded Hugh $400,000 in emotional distress damages and an additional $100,000 in damages for his physical injuries stemming from the assault.  Hugh’s lawyers now anticipate filing an application to recover all of his attorneys’ fees, costs, and delay damages, as is permitted by the NJLAD.

“After six years of litigation, it only took the jury an hour or so to figure out that the Monroe Board of Education completely failed to protect students from egregious discrimination, bullying, and anti-gay animus in its schools. We are so proud of our client for standing up for himself, for civil rights, and, in particular, for having the courage and fortitude to hold the district accountable.” R. Armen McOmber, Esq., McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.

“This is a great day for civil rights.  To secure such a significant verdict in a perceived sexual orientation case is a big step in the right direction.  The jury sent a clear message to schools and employers that anti-gay animus will not be tolerated.” Matthew A. Luber, Esq., McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.