Case: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Boxwood Hotels, LLC

1:24-cv-00902 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Filed Date: Sept. 25, 2024

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This is one of several cases originally brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under the Biden Administration to enforce Title VII’s prohibition of sex-based workplace discrimination against transgender employees. In these cases, the EEOC’s position was that discrimination on account of gender identity and sexuality necessarily constituted sex-based discrimination in violation of Title VII. After Present Donald Trump was elected, the EEOC reversed its position and mo…

On September 25, 2024, the EEOC filed this lawsuit against eight hotels operating in New York state—all of which were owned and operated by the same individuals--in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. The EEOC filed this lawsuit on behalf of Defendant’s former employee, who was transgender and worked as a housekeeper. They alleged that their supervisor insulted and harassed them because of their gender identity throughout their first day working for Defendants. They further alleged that within one day of complaining about the harassment to management, they were fired from their housekeeping position. The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged that Defendant’s actions constituted unlawful retaliation in violation of Title VII. The EEOC sought compensatory, emotional distress, and punitive damages for the former employee and a permanent injunction to (1) prevent the Defendant from maintaining a hostile work environment for transgender employees, (2) prevent the Defendant from subjecting its employees to retaliatory treatment, and (3) affirmatively require the Defendant to implement policies, practices, and programs to provide equal employment opportunities for transgender employees. This case was assigned to Judge Lawrence Joseph Vilardo.

The Defendants began to file their answers to the EEOC’s complaint over the course of the next several months.

However, after President Trump was inaugurated to his second term on January 20, 2025, he issued several Executive Orders that declared the Administration's reversal on several issues relating to gender identity (EO 14201, Keeping Men out of Women's Sports; EO 14187, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, and EO 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government). On January 28, 2025, the EEOC issued a press release, "Removing Gender Ideology and Restoring the EEOC’s Role of Protecting Women in the Workplace," indicating the ways in which the EEOC would implement the Executive Orders.

In response to the change in administration and federal guidance, the EEOC filed a consent motion to dismiss this case on February 14, 2025, arguing that discrimination on the basis of gender identity did not constitute sex-based discrimination in violation of Title VII.

On February 20, 2025, two attorneys from the Gender Equality Law Center moved to appear as attorneys for Defendant’s former employee, indicating that they intend to move to substitute the EEOC as plaintiff in this case. The charging party filed a motion to intervene on March 10, 2025. This motion was granted by the court on June 17, 2025.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Sarah Portwood (2/21/2025)

Jinan Abufarha (8/24/2025)

Zoe Hayes (10/11/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69603377/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-boxwood-hotels-llc/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cruz, Kimberly Anne (New York)

Fishel, Allegra Louise (New York)

Fortier, Vico D. (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Bernstein, Jonathan Marc (New York)

Jacobson, Nicholas P. (New York)

Judge(s)

Vilardo, Lawrence Joseph (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cruz, Kimberly Anne (New York)

Fishel, Allegra Louise (New York)

Fortier, Vico D. (New York)

O'Neil, Caitlin Elizabeth (New York)

Sanders, Harvey P. (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Bernstein, Jonathan Marc (New York)

Jacobson, Nicholas P. (New York)

McCann, Ryan F. (New York)

Storr, Amber E. (New York)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:24-cv-00902	Complaint Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Boxwood Hotels, LLC	Sept. 25, 2024	Sept. 25, 2024 Complaint
32 1:24-cv-00902	Unopposed Motion to Dismiss the EEOC’s Complaint	Feb. 14, 2025	Feb. 14, 2025 Pleading / Motion / Brief

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
OPM Memo - Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women Charles Ezell	Directing all agencies to take prompt actions to end all agency programs that use taxpayer money to "promote or reflect gender ideology" as defined in Executive Order 14168	Jan. 29, 2025	Jan. 29, 2025 https://chcoc.gov/...
EO 14168 - Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government President Donald Trump	Declaring that the United States government recognized two biologically-defined sexes, male and female and implementing this definition of gender in various legal spaces, including but not limited to…	Jan. 20, 2025	Jan. 20, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69603377/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-boxwood-hotels-llc/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 4:12 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 25, 2024	COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 09/25/2024) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Clearinghouse
	Sept. 26, 2024	Case Assigned to Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo. Notification to Chambers of on-line civil case opening. (TMK)
	Sept. 26, 2024	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	Sept. 26, 2024	AUTOMATIC REFERRAL TO MEDIATION Pursuant to Section 2.1(A) of the Plan for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (the ADR Plan), this case is automatically referred to ADR. To access the ADR Plan and for inquiries regarding the Court's ADR Program please review the Court's ADR webpage and/or contact the Court's ADR Administrator at adrprogram@nywd.uscourts.gov. Prior to the Local Rule 16 scheduling conference, counsel and unrepresented parties shall review the ADR Plan and confer with each other regarding ADR for this case. Unless the parties agree to a different intervention, it is presumed they will participate in mediation. The parties shall be prepared to report on the outcome of their ADR discussion at the scheduling conference, as the initial Scheduling Order for this case will establish ADR deadlines in accordance with the ADR Plan. (TMK)
	Sept. 26, 2024	Automatic Referral to Mediation
	Sept. 26, 2024	Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge: A United States Magistrate of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form (AO-85) is available for download at http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/forms. (TMK)
	Sept. 26, 2024	Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge
	Sept. 26, 2024	Original Summons Not Submitted. (TMK)
	Sept. 26, 2024	Remark
	Sept. 30, 2024	ATTENTION ALL PARTIES OR INTERVENORS: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.1 and/or General Order No. 157 In the Matter of Disclosure of Members, Shareholders, Partners, and Leaders of Business Organization Parties, all Disclosure Statements are to be filed with first appearance, pleading, petition, motion, response, or other request addressed to the court. (KM)
	Sept. 30, 2024	Remark
2	Oct. 9, 2024	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Boxwood Hotels, LLC waiver sent on 9/26/2024, answer due 11/25/2024. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 10/09/2024)	RECAP
3	Nov. 8, 2024	NOTICE of Appearance by Jonathan Marc Bernstein on behalf of Boxwood Hotels, LLC (Bernstein, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/08/2024)	RECAP
4	Nov. 18, 2024	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Rosewood Hotels LLC waiver sent on 11/12/2024, answer due 1/13/2025. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 11/18/2024)	RECAP
5	Nov. 22, 2024	ANSWER to 1 Complaint by Boxwood Hotels, LLC.(Bernstein, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/22/2024)	RECAP
6	Dec. 3, 2024	Original Summons Filed. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/03/2024)	RECAP
7	Dec. 9, 2024	Original Summons Filed. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/09/2024)	RECAP
8	Dec. 10, 2024	Summons Issued as to Bradford Hotel LLC, Falls Hotel LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc.,, Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Star Hotels, LLC. (SG) (Entered: 12/10/2024)	RECAP
9	Dec. 11, 2024	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons served on Star Hotels, LLC on December 11, 2024, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2024)	RECAP
10	Dec. 11, 2024	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons and Complaint served on Sandalwood Hotels, LLC on December 11, 2024, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2024)	RECAP
11	Dec. 11, 2024	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons and Complaint served on Hamburg Lodging Inc. on December 11, 2024, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2024)	RECAP
12	Dec. 11, 2024	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons and Complaint served on Hamburg Hotel LLC on December 11, 2024, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2024)	RECAP
13	Dec. 11, 2024	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons and Complaint served on Falls Hotel LLC on December 11, 2024, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (O'Neil, Caitlin) (Entered: 12/11/2024)	RECAP
14	Jan. 9, 2025	NOTICE of Appearance by Ryan F. McCann on behalf of Rosewood Hotels LLC (McCann, Ryan) (Entered: 01/09/2025)	RECAP
15	Jan. 11, 2025	ANSWER to 1 Complaint by Rosewood Hotels LLC.(McCann, Ryan) (Entered: 01/11/2025)	RECAP
16	Feb. 3, 2025	NOTICE of Appearance by Amber E. Storr on behalf of Star Hotels, LLC, Bradford Hotel LLC (Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/03/2025)	RECAP
17	Feb. 3, 2025	Letter filed by Star Hotels, LLC, Bradford Hotel LLC re extension to answer/respond to complaint. (Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/03/2025)	RECAP
18	Feb. 3, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Boxwood Hotels, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Bernstein, Jonathan) (Entered: 02/03/2025)	RECAP
19	Feb. 4, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting the request for an extension of time to answer filed by Star Hotels LLC and Bradford Hotels LLC, Docket Item 17, until 2/24/2025. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/4/2025. (ZHM) (Entered: 02/04/2025)	RECAP
20	Feb. 7, 2025	Letter filed by Sandalwood Hotels, LLC to request extension of time to Answer. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/07/2025)	RECAP
21	Feb. 10, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting the request for an extension of time to answer, Docket Item 20, filed by defendants Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc., and Falls Hotel LLC, until 2/24/2025. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/10/2025. (ZHM) (Entered: 02/10/2025)	RECAP
22	Feb. 10, 2025	NOTICE of Appearance by Nicholas P. Jacobson on behalf of Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc.,, Falls Hotel LLC (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/10/2025)	RECAP
	Feb. 10, 2025	Remark
	Feb. 10, 2025	ATTENTION ALL PLAINTIFFS OR INTERVENORS: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.7.1 and/or General Order No. 157. In the Matter of Disclosure of Members, Shareholders, Partners, and Leaders of Business Organization Parties, all Disclosure Statements are to be filed within seven (7) days of this notice. (KM)
23	Feb. 11, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Star Hotels, LLC. (Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/11/2025)	RECAP
24	Feb. 11, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Bradford Hotel LLC. (Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/11/2025)	RECAP
25	Feb. 13, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Rosewood Hotels LLC. (McCann, Ryan) (Entered: 02/13/2025)	RECAP
26	Feb. 14, 2025	NOTICE of Appearance by Kimberly Anne Cruz on behalf of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Cruz, Kimberly) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
27	Feb. 14, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Falls Hotel LLC. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
28	Feb. 14, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Hamburg Hotel LLC. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
29	Feb. 14, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Hamburg Lodging Inc.,. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
30	Feb. 14, 2025	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Sandalwood Hotels, LLC. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
31	Feb. 14, 2025	NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Unopposed Motion to Dismiss the EEOC's Complaint (Cruz, Kimberly) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	RECAP
32	Feb. 14, 2025	Consent MOTION to Dismiss the EEOC's Complaint by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(Cruz, Kimberly) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	Clearinghouse
33	Feb. 20, 2025	MOTION to appear pro hac vice for Allegra Fishel ( Filing fee $ 200 receipt number ANYWDC-5410101.) by Dylan Bringuel. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Civil Oath, # 2 Exhibit Attorney Oath, # 3 Exhibit ECF registration, # 4 Declaration of Allegra Fishel, # 5 Exhibit Petition for Pro Hac Vice Admission, # 6 Affidavit of Harvey Sanders in support of Petition)(Sanders, Harvey) (Entered: 02/20/2025)	RECAP
34	Feb. 20, 2025	MOTION to appear pro hac vice for Vico Fortier ( Filing fee $ 200 receipt number ANYWDC-5410280.) by Dylan Bringuel. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Petition for admission Pro Hac Vice, # 2 Declaration in support of motion for prohac vice, # 3 Exhibit civility oath, # 4 Exhibit attorney oath, # 5 Exhibit ECF registration, # 6 Affidavit of Harvey Sanders in support of Petition)(Sanders, Harvey) (Entered: 02/20/2025)	RECAP
35	Feb. 24, 2025	Letter filed by Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc.,, Falls Hotel LLC Requesting extension of time to answer. (Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/24/2025)	RECAP
36	Feb. 24, 2025	Letter filed by Star Hotels, LLC, Bradford Hotel LLC requesting extension of time to respond to the complaint - on consent. (Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/24/2025)	RECAP
37	Feb. 25, 2025	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc.,, Falls Hotel LLC.(Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
38	Feb. 25, 2025	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by Star Hotels, LLC, Bradford Hotel LLC.(Storr, Amber) (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
39	Feb. 25, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 33 MOTION to appear pro hac vice of Allegra Fishel. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/25/2025. (ZHM)Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
40	Feb. 25, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 34 MOTION to appear pro hac vice of Vico Fortier. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/25/2025. (ZHM)Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
41	Feb. 25, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting the motion for an extension of time to answer filed by defendants Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc., and Falls Hotel LLC, Docket Item 37, until 3/10/2025. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/25/2025. (ZHM) (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
42	Feb. 25, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting the motion for an extension of time to answer filed by defendants Star Hotels LLC and Bradford Hotels LLC, Docket Item 38 . Star Hotels LLC and Bradford Hotels LLC's time to answer is extended until 30 days after the Court's resolution of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's pending motion to dismiss its complaint, Docket Item 32 . SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 2/25/2025. (ZHM) (Entered: 02/25/2025)	RECAP
	Feb. 25, 2025	E-Filing Notification
	Feb. 25, 2025	E-Filing Notification: 35 Letter and 36 Letter; letters contain a relief and therefore the attorneys are directed to refile using the Motion event. (SG)
43	March 10, 2025	Third MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc.,, Falls Hotel LLC.(Jacobson, Nicholas) (Entered: 03/10/2025)	RECAP
44	March 10, 2025	First MOTION for Leave to File Complaint in Intervention by Dylan Bringuel. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration Declaration of Vico Fortier, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 1, Complaint)(Fortier, Vico) (Entered: 03/10/2025)	RECAP
45	March 10, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting the motion for an extension of time to answer filed by defendants Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc., and Falls Hotel LLC, Docket Item 43 . Sandalwood Hotels, LLC, Hamburg Hotel LLC, Hamburg Lodging Inc., and Falls Hotel LLC's time to answer is extended until 30 days after the Court's resolution of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's motion to dismiss its complaint, Docket Item 32, and putative intervenor plaintiff Dylan Bringuel's motion for leave to file a complaint in intervention, Docket Item 44 . Any responses to Bringuel's motion for leave to file a complaint in intervention are due by 3/24/2025. Bringuel may reply by 3/31/2025. SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 3/10/2025. (ZHM) (Entered: 03/10/2025)	RECAP
46	June 17, 2025	ORDER: For the reasons stated in the order, the motion to intervene filed by Dylan Bringuel, Docket Item 44 , is GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court shall update the docket to name Bringuel as a plaintiff, and Bringuel shall file an amended complaint o n or before July 1, 2025. The action will thereafter proceed as to only the parties and claims identified in Bringuel's amended complaint. If the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission fails to join the amended complaint, the Clerk of the Court shall terminate it as a party to this action without further order. The motion to dismiss filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Docket Item 32 , is DENIED as moot. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 6/17/2025. (ZHM)Clerk to Follow up	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Transgender Rights

Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation

Transgender Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 25, 2024

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Private Entity/Person

Boxwood Hotels LLC

Bradford Hotel LLC

Falls Hotel LLC

Hamburg Hotel LLC

Hamburg Lodging Inc.

Rosewood Hotels LLC

Sandalwood Hotels LLC

Star Hotels LLC

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Other Dockets:

Western District of New York 1:24-cv-00902

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Gender identity

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Transgender

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Boxwood Hotels, LLC, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/46132/ (last updated 10/11/2025).