April 11, 2017 New York State Division of Human Rights: Headquarters One Fordham Plaza, 4th Floor Bronx, NY
[email protected] FAX: (718) 741-8279 Mr. David Powell Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building 163 West 125th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10027 FAX: (212) 961-4425 Joyce Yearwood-Drury 55 Hanson Place, Room 900 Brooklyn, New York 11217 FAX: (718) 722-4525 Re: Request for Investigation into Sexual Harassment and Retaliation at Fox News Dear Mr. Powell and Ms. Yearwood-Drury: I am a civil rights attorney admitted to practice in California and New York. I have represented and conferred with a number of women alleging sexual harassment and retaliation at Fox News, owned by parent company 21st Century Fox. Under the unusual facts presented below, I respectfully request that the State Division of Human Rights (“SDHR”), upon its own motion, open an investigation. I. INTRODUCTION New York has the proud distinction of being the first state to enact a Human Rights Law, affording every citizen “an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life.”1 This law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and education, as well as discrimination based 1 New York Executive Law §290 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20700 Ventura Blvd., Suite 301 | Woodland Hills, CA 91364 | P (818) 914-7397 | F (866) 85-BLOOM
[email protected] | TheBloomFirm.com on gender, age, race, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and other specified classes. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and every employee in the State of New York is entitled to a working environment free from improper words and conduct.