THOMPSON WIGDOR & GILLY LLP

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represents a Former Editor of the Post in Claims of Discrimination and Retaliation

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currenty represents Emmy-award winning journalist and author Sandra Guzman in her employment discrimination and unlawful retaliation case against News Corp., the New York Post and Editor-in-Chief Col Allan, in connection with her wrongful termination after she complained about the hostile work environment that she and other women and employees of color were experiencing at the Post and its publication of a racist cartoon depicting President Barack Obama as a dead and crazed chimpanzee.

Complaint
Guzman v. News Corporation, NYP Holdings, Inc., The New York Post » Read pdf

Huffington Post
"NEW YORK POST LAWSUIT: Shocking Allegations Made By Fired Employee Sandra Guzman"
November 17, 2009 » Read pdf

Daily News
"Post Editor Files Law Suit Over Firing"
November 10, 2009 » Read pdf

New York Amsterdam News
"Sandra Guzman Sues NY Post for Discrimination"
November 12-18, 2009 » Read pdf

El Diario
"Racismo de 'muchos anos'"
November 12, 2009 » Read pdf

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MSNBC
November 2009 » View video of Ken Thompson being interviewed on MSNBC (Click on the arrow to play.)

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98.7 KISS FM
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Audio link to radio interview with Ken Thompson on 98.7 Kiss FM » Click here and the audio will appear below. (Have the sound on your computer turned on.)

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represents Two Women in Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Claims Against Titan Capital Group

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents Danielle Pecile and Cristina Culicea in their sexual harassment and retaliation claims against their former employer Titan Capital Group. The claims were filed with the EEOC and detail the harassing conduct of Marc and Russell Abrams which include Ms. Pecile and Ms. Culicea being subjected to nude photographs of Sandra Abrams – the wife of Russell Abrams as well as explicit threats made by Marc Abrams. TWG won sanctions and attorneys' fees in defeating a frivolous countersuit brought against Ms. Culicea and Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP in retaliation for filing the EEOC charges.

Justice Walter B. Tolub Decision Awarding Sanctions and Fees Against Epstein Becker and Green » Read pdf

Employment Law 360
"EpsteinBecker Sanctioned in Suit Over Topless Photos"
November 5, 2009 » Read pdf

New York Law Journal
"Court Sanctions Firm That Sued Adversary in Discrimination Suit"
November 5, 2009 » Read pdf

New York Post
"Frivolous Lawyer Fined"
November 5, 2009 » Read pdf

New York Post
"Sex Harass 'Shakedown'"
July 24, 2009 » Read pdf

New York Post
"On Edge At Hedge"
July 25, 2009 » Read pdf

Daily News
"Hedge Fund's Legal Mess Over Nude Pix"
July 24, 2009 » Read pdf

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Wins $1.8 Million Verdict Against Nassau County

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP successfully represented a former employee of Nassau County in her Due Process claim against the County and other individuals. After a two week jury trial in the Eastern District of New York, the jury returned a verdict in her favor in the sum of $1.8 million. The Court will soon be hearing further testimony on the substantial economic damages suffered by the former employee as well as attorneys' fees. If those requests are granted it would put the entire judgment against the County at over $5 million.

Long Island Press
"Update: Nassau Must Pay Morgenstern $1.8 M"
August 13, 2009 » Read online | Read pdf

New York Newsday
"Ex-Nassau worker awarded $1.8M in wrongful-firing suit"
August 8, 2009 » Read online | Read pdf

Long Island Press
"Skeletons In The Closet"
August 6, 2009 » Read online | Read pdf

New York Times
May 26 - June 1, 2005

Long Island Press
"The Whistleblower"
May 26, 2005 » Read online | Read pdf

TWG Represents AIG Employees

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents a large group of employees from AIG Financial Products Corp. in connection with the payments that they received pursuant to their legally binding retention agreements with the company, which has led to a public outcry. Ken Thompson and Andrew Goodstadt are leading a team that is advising and protecting these employees from the enormous amount of pressure by the federal and local governments, the media, the public, as well as AIG, to convince them to voluntarily return the money they earned under their contracts. TWG has been able to protect our clients’ interests in the face of threats and intimidation by elected officials and the public. This matter and our firm has received national media attention.

Recessionary Discrimination at Citigroup

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents five former female employees from the Municipal Securities Division of Citigroup that allege, on a class-wide basis, that Citigroup's recent layoffs have had a disparate impact on women and that each of them were laid off while less qualified male employees were retained. Douglas H. Wigdor, who was lead counsel in connection with a group of individual women in an alleged gender discrimination class action complaint against Dresdner Kleinwort, is representing the women in this matter and has coined the phrase "Recessionary Discrimination" which is a growing trend by companies of using mass lay-offs to cover-up the discriminatory treatment and/or impact on groups of women, people of color and those over 40.  The former Citigroup employees are featured in a Forbes magazine cover story investigating the impact that the economic downturn has had on women in the financial services industry. 

CNN American Morning
March 24, 2009 » View clip of broadcast from CNN American Morning

The Law Business Insider
"America's Premier Lawyers Series – Top Verdicts" Featuring Douglas H. Wigdor.
In this interview, Douglas Wigdor gives a compelling overview of his representation of a group of women in a gender discrimination class action against Citigroup.
» Listen In @ lbishow.com.

Lawyers and Settlements Online
"Citigroup Engaged in Recessionary Discrimination says Attorney Wigdor"
March 13, 2009 » Read online | Read pdf

Forbes Magazine
"Terminated: Why the Women of Wall Street Are Disappearing"
Forbes Magazine dated March 16, 2009 » Read pdf

Forbes.com
"Terminated: Why the Women of Wall Street Are Disappearing"
Forbes Magazine dated March 16, 2009 » Read online

Public Broadcasting Station ("PBS")
To the Contrary, Hosted by Bonnie Erbe
Remembering Women – Discussing Recessionary Discrimination and TWG's case against Citi
March 1, 2009 » Read online

The Independent (UK edition)
"Citi faces $1bn class claim on discrimination"
February 26, 2009 » Read online | Read pdf

TWG Press Release:
"Class Action Gender Discrimination Charges Filed by Five Female Former Employees of Citigroup"
February 25, 2009 » Read press release.

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represent Victims of the Massive Steam Pipe Explosion in Their Lawsuit Against Con Ed

Daily News
July 13, 2008
New York Times
July 30, 2007
New York Times
New York Post
Newsday
July 31, 2007

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represents the family of Gregory McCullough, the 21-year-old young man who was driving the tow truck at the center of the Con Edison steampipe explosion in midtown Manhattan and was left critically injured with third degree burns over 80 percent of his body. Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP also represents Judith Bailey, the passenger who sustained severe burns over 30 percent of her body.

Daily News article (pdf)

New York Times article (pdf)

New York Times article (pdf)

New York Post article (pdf)

Newsday article (pdf)

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NBC TODAY Show, November 2, 2007 (wmv)

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NBC TODAY Show (wmv)

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represents Victim in Discrimination Lawsuit

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents Godfrey Williams, a Black former Site Supervisor and Deputy Fire Safety Director, in a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Monday Properties, a Manhattan-based real estate investment firm, and Mulligan Security. In his Complaint, Mr. Williams charges Wayne Kohlbrecher, the Building Manager at Monday Properties, Kevin Mulligan, Executive Vice President of Mulligan Security, and John Llano, the former Account Manager at Mulligan Security, all of whom are named as Defendants, with subjecting him to daily racist remarks and abruptly terminating his employment just one month after submitting a formal written complaint in which he detailed the abusive and racially hostile work environment in which he was forced to work. This case has received television and print media attention in the New York press.

New York Daily News
"Bias Suit Calls City Building A Heil-Rise"
November 10, 2008 » Read pdf. | Read online.

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CBS News Channel
December 2008 » View video of broadcast from CBS News

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represents Grammy-Award Winning Songwriter Against Filmmaker

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents Grammy-award winning songwriter and producer Teddy Vann in a copyright infringement lawsuit against film maker John Waters, the creator of the film Hairspray, and New Line Records in connection with the unauthorized use of a song that he wrote for his daughter when she was a child.

New York Daily News
"Brooklyn Songwriter Muddies John Waters"
November 24, 2008 » Read pdf. | Read online.

On December 20, 2007, Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP won a $1.2 million dollar verdict after a two-week jury trial in Manhattan Federal Court in Nurse v. Concepts in Staffing, Inc. At trial, Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented a Black Controller of a company who was repeatedly called a "Black Bitch" in the workplace and who was also groped, disrespected and degraded by the owner of the company.

Employment Law 360º
January 2, 2008 » Read pdf.

New York Post
January 2, 2008 » Read pdf.

Daily News
December 22, 2007 » Read pdf. | Read online.

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Wins Multi-Million Dollar Verdict on Behalf of Former Editor-in-Chief of The Source Magazine

Daily News
New York Post
October 24, 2006

Daily News article (pdf)

New York Post article (pdf)

After a two week trial, a jury in Manhattan Federal Court returned a multi-million dollar verdict on behalf of Kim Osorio. The jury found that Ms. Osorio was retaliated against when she filed a complaint of discrimination and was defamed when the co-owner of the Source, Raymond Scott (aka "Benzino"), claimed that she attempted to extort the Source. Individual defendant and co-owner David Mays was also found liable.

The Village Voice
November 23, 2005
The New York Post
April 12, 2005

November 23, 2005 The Village Voice article (pdf)

April 12, 2005 New York Post article (pdf)

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Jury Returns Verdict for $7.5 Million in Disability Discrimination Case Against Wal-Mart

The New York Times
Newsday
February 24, 2005

After an eight day trial in the Eastern District of New York, a federal jury returned a verdict of $7.5 million against Wal-Mart and an individual manager for discriminating against a disabled man with cerebal palsy. This jury verdict is one of the largest ever rendered under the ADA and has received worldwide media attention.

February 24, 2005 Press Release (pdf)

February 24, 2005 NY Times article (pdf)

February 24, 2005 Newsday article (pdf)

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represents Student in Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit Against Hofstra University

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represents graduate student Lauren Summa in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Hofstra University. As detailed in the Complaint, while employed as a student athletic manager on the football team, Ms. Summa was subjected to unrelenting acts of harassment at the hands of male student football players who locked her in a bathroom and demeaned her with sexually offensive comments. Ms. Summa reported the conduct to team coaches who ignored her complaints and fired her. This case has received national media attention.

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly also represents Ms. Summa in separate litigation against Hofstra University for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. While employed by Hofstra University as a Student Athletic Manger, Ms. Summa was not paid the minimum wage or overtime compensation. Ms. Summa filed a motion seeking to certify a class action on behalf of all Hofstra student employees who were unlawfully denied overtime and minimum wage compensation. On August 14, 2008, United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay preliminarily certified the class.

Newsday
January 31, 2008 » Read article.

New York Post
January 30, 2008 » Read article.

Daily News
January 30, 2008 » Read article.

Sports Illustrated
January 30, 2008 » Link to article

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Long Island Newsday
March 22, 27, 28, 29, 2007
New York Post
March 28, 2007
New York Daily News
March 28, 2007
The New York Times
March 28, 2007
 
Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents a group of five former police officers from the Incorporated Village of Ocean Beach, a seaside resort located on Fire Island, who allege that Ocean Beach, the Ocean Beach Police Department, Acting Chief George Hesse and others unlawfully terminated their employment in response to their opposition to, and refusal to participate in, a regime marred by corruption, scandal and police brutality.

The five officers, who comprise approximately 35 years of dedicated police service to the Village of Ocean Beach, claim that they were summarily terminated after they breached the "Blue Wall of Silence" by, among other things, refusing to amend official documents and cooperate in the cover-up of a violent incident of police brutality against three civilians, as well as for complaining about Acting Chief Hesse's selective enforcement of the laws.

This case has received significant television and print media attention and has led to indictments by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

View Videos.

WNBC, March 22, 2007

WCBS, March 22, 2007

News 12 - Long Island, March 23, 2007

WNBC, NewsChannel 4, March 27, 2007

WABC, Eyewitness News, March 27, 2007

In March 2007, Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP successfully represented a client who was charged by Federal Prosecutors in Brooklyn with smuggling almost a kilogram of heroin into the country through John F. Kennedy International Airport. At trial, TWG obtained a not guilty verdict for the client. It took over the defense of the client after a previous jury deadlocked 11 to 1 to convict him.

Read United States v. Jorge Guzman Indictment (pdf)

Landmark Discrimination Case on Behalf of American Executives and Employees at Marubeni

The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
January 20, 2005

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented a group of executives and employees at a New York based Japanese Company, Marubeni, who alleged that they and other non-Asian and non-Japanese employees were subjected to rampant unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, gender, and/or national origin. The case received worldwide media attention.

January 20, 2005 Press Release (pdf)

January 20, 2005 NY Times article (pdf)

January 20, 2005 Wall Street Journal article (pdf)

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented individual women in an alleged gender discrimination class action complaint against Dresdner Kleinwort.

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP Represented a UBS Investment Banker in Connection with the HealthSouth Scandal

The Wall Street Journal
SEC.gov
July 26, 2004

After revealing information concerning the HealthSouth scandal, a UBS Investment Banker was told that he would be terminated immediately. After retaining Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP and threatening to file a claim under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Investment Banker was promoted and given a considerable bonus at year end.

July 26, 2004 Wall Street Journal article (pdf)

Hollywood Video Criminal Trial and Civil Suit

Daily News, March 23, 2004
New York Times, March 13, 2004
Newsday, March 2, 2004
Daily News, March 2, 2004

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP won an acquittal at trial of a Hollywood Video Store Manager who was falsely accused of multiple rapes, sexual assaults and other sex offenses by six former store employees who testified at trial. The Store Manager was charged in a 25 count indictment and faced 135 years in prison. Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP is currently defending the former Store Manager in a $50 million civil case brought by 11 current and former Hollywood Video employees.

Fraud and Breach of Contract Complaint Filed Against National Law Firm

New York Law Journal, July 27, 2005
ABA Journal, August 5, 2005
San Francisco Business Times, August 12, 2005
New York Law Journal, September 30, 2005

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP currently represents a former Senior Associate of Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe who has filed a lawsuit against the Firm and several individually named partners alleging that he was promised in writing to be put-up for partner in an effort to prevent him from leaving — only for that promise to be broken.

Emmett Till

New York Law Journal, July 2, 2004
Time Magazine, May 24, 2004
New York Times, May 11, 2004
Daily News, April 14, 2004
Newsday, April 14, 2004
Newsday, April 4, 2004
Daily News, April 7, 2004
Newsday, March 23, 2004

Upon being retained by filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP helped convince the United States Department of Justice to re-open the 1955 murder of 14-year old Emmett Till, which was one of the most horrific murders in the history of the civil rights movement. In connection with the case, Mr. Thompson has been featured on Good Morning America, and in The New York Times, Newsday and The Daily News.

Macy's Class Action

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented a group of individuals who brought claims of racial profiling against Macy's East Department stores which received significant media attention.

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented a group of former Radianz employees who brought claims of race discrimination against Radianz, Reuters PLC and Equant N.V. These claims received international media coverage including the BBC, the London Independent and Fox News.

Pregnancy Discrimination at United Way

Poughkeepsie Journal
January 30, 2004

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP represented a former employee of the United Way of Dutchess County in a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against the United Way that has received considerable attention in the media following the resignation of one of the named-defendants and former executive director of the United Way of Dutchess County.

New York City Firehouse Sit-In

New York Post
July 15, 2003

Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP negotiated a dismissal of charges against actor Steve Buscemi and other protestors, after they locked arms to protest the closing of a historic firehouse in Brooklyn, New York.

Abner Louima Federal Civil Rights Trial

Newsday Columnist Jimmy Breslin
May 5, 1999

"Nobody shifted, nor did a sound come from any throat when Kenneth Thompson, an Assistant United States Attorney, stood in front of the jury..."

New York Post
May 5, 1999

"As the packed Brooklyn Federal courtroom hung on his every word, Thompson bombarded the jury with graphic descriptions of unimaginable violence and abuse of power."

CNN
May 4, 1999

Mr. Thompson's opening was "in graphic detail that at times made jurors wince."

Waco Investigation

Mr. Thompson wrote part of the offical report President Clinton received regarding the raid on the Branch Davidian Compound by Federal Agents. The report has been described as:

"Brutally detailed." New York Times

"A thorough and candid account of a... law enforcement disaster." Washington Post

"Courageous, candid evaluation." Los Angeles Times

NLRB v. Major League Baseball Player Relations Committee

The American Lawyer

Mr. Gilly was a member of the legal team representing Major League Baseball in the 1994 collective bargaining negotiations and unfair labor practice litigation in the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit.

Articles, Speeches and Other Notables