Steven Fingerhut is a Partner at Phillips & Associates. He takes an aggressive approach to the representation of his clients and is proud to give a voice to those who may otherwise have none. Mr. Fingerhut has obtained over $7 Million in settlements for his clients in the past four years.
Most recently, Steven Fingerhut successfully tried a sexual harassment case to verdict in Queens County Supreme Court. He obtained a unanimous jury verdict for his client who was employed by the Defendants for less than 2 weeks. The Defendants were found guilty of sexual harassment, assault, battery, and an unlawful constructive discharge of the Plaintiff. The case was Grant v. Pexie Enterprises, Inc. and Carl A. Lashley, Index No.: 704041/2015. Defendants were represented by the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington. On March 30, 2022, the jury reached a verdict and awarded $112,000 in damages to the Plaintiff. The jury further found that Plaintiff was not guilty of any of the counterclaims that were filed against her.
Previously, Steven Fingerhut, with co-counsel, also obtained a judgment at trial in the amount of $77,054.64 for their client who was discriminated against by her supervisor and wrongfully terminated from her employment due to her pregnancy. They successfully presented sufficient evidence and testimony for the jury to return a unanimous verdict in Plaintiff's favor. Weng v. Fancy Lee Sushi Bar & Grill, Inc., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183657 (E.D.N.Y., Nov. 18, 2017).
Steven is committed to providing vigorous representation to individuals who have suffered from employment discrimination in New York City and need an attorney to protect their rights. He is a zealous advocate of those who have suffered sexual harassment or discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected traits. He is an active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association. In 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 he was selected by SuperLawyers as a "Rising Star" in New York. SuperLawyers recognizes no more than 2.5% of attorneys as Rising Stars in each state. Mr. Fingerhut has also been recognized by various other legal organizations such as the American Institute of Legal Counsel and the Lead Counsel Review Board.
Mr. Fingerhut routinely represents people who suffer harassment which constitutes a hostile work environment in the workplace. Harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is unwelcome conduct that is based on one or more of the enumerated protected characteristics. To be actionable, harassment must be severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or in which enduring harassment becomes a condition of employment. Title VII applies to businesses with 15 or more workers. No employer may take employment action against an employee or prospective employee based on a protected characteristic. In other words, decisions about hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, or other terms of employment may not be based on race, color, national origin, or other protected traits.
Steven advocates for individuals who have suffered harassment at large, Fortune 500 companies, as well as smaller companies with fewer than 10 employees. Harassment could include epithets, slurs, physical assaults, intimidation, mockery, offensive pictures, or other interference with a worker's ability to perform their job. An employer is automatically liable if a supervisor takes an employment action that is adverse to an employee based on a protected characteristic. Mr. Fingerhut also represents people who are unlawfully retaliated against after engaging in a protected activity. It is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against its employees for opposing any employment practice that discriminates based on a protected characteristic or for filing a discrimination charge.
Steven Fingerhut graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in mathematics and a minor in art history in 2010. He graduated from Albany Law School in May 2013. Early in his legal career, Mr. Fingerhut clerked for the Honorable Lawrence E. Kahn in Federal District Court for the Northern District of New York where he gained valuable insight into the federal judiciary. He then worked in private practice at a small firm in the area of employment law with a focus on FINRA matters. Mr. Fingerhut has been fighting for employee rights with Phillips & Associates since 2015.
