News
Transgender Middle School Student Files Sues Wisconsin School District for Denying Her Access to Girls’ Restrooms
On March 21, 2024, a transgender middle school student sued the Elkhorn Area School District in Wisconsin for denying her access to girls’ restrooms at school, violating her rights under Title IX and the Fourteenth Amendment.
NYC Bar Association Features Joe Wardenski on “This Lawyer’s Life” Podcast
The NYC Bar Association featured Wardenski P.C. founder Joe Wardenski on its February 16, 2024, episode of “This Lawyer’s Life.” In the podcast, Joe discusses his civil rights career, his advocacy for LGBTQ+ students, and the challenges of launching his own law firm.
Fair Housing Groups Join Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Major Rental Apartment Provider
Three fair housing organizations have joined a federal fair housing lawsuit against AION Management, a major apartment rental provider in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest, alleging the company discriminates against persons with disabilities by refusing to grant reasonable accommodation requests for assigned parking spaces.
Allie Vance Rejoins Firm as Inaugural Nigel Shelby Civil Rights Litigation Fellow
Wardenski P.C. is delighted to announce that Alexandra (Allie) Vance has rejoined the firm as our inaugural Nigel Shelby Civil Rights Litigation Fellow. Allie will support the firm’s civil rights litigation work, with a particular focus on our work advocating for students’ rights and LGBTQ+ equality.
Virginia Family Settles Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Former Landlords
Wardenski P.C. clients Claire Payton and Jonathan Katz have reached a settlement of their federal fair housing lawsuit against their former landlords for refusing to renew their apartment lease after learning they were expecting their first child. The settlement requires the landlords to pay Payton and Katz $137,500, and to take a course on fair housing protections for families with children.
Wardenski P.C. Welcomes Summer 2023 Law Clerks
Wardenski P.C. welcomes Leora Johnson, a law student at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, and Aaron Pinkett, a law student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, as the firm’s Summer 2023 law clerks.
Camika Shelby Remembers Her Son Nigel, Describes Her Fight for Other LGBTQ+ Students
Our client, Camika Shelby, writes in HuffPost about her son Nigel and how his tragic loss has driven her to advocate for the rights of other LGBTQ+ students facing discrimination and harassment at school.
Alabama School District to Bolster LGBTQ+ Protections as Part of Settlement with Family of Nigel Shelby
An Alabama school district and the family of Nigel Shelby, a ninth-grade student who died by suicide in 2019 after experiencing severe anti-gay harassment at school, have reached a settlement that requires the district to strengthen its protections for LGBTQ+ students.
Wardenski P.C. Welcomes Spring 2023 Law Clerks
Wardenski P.C. welcomes Ashley Toruno, a second-year law student at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, and Allie Vance, a third-year law student at New York University School of Law, as the firm’s Spring 2023 law clerks.
Wardenski P.C. Files Amicus Brief for Fair Housing Groups in Disability Rights Case
On December 20, 2022, Wardenski P.C. filed a proposed amicus brief on behalf of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and five New York fair housing organizations, urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to affirm a major disability rights victory against a Connecticut town.
Comprehensive Agreement Reached to Settle South Dakota Tribes’ “Motor-Voter” Lawsuit
A federal court has approved a settlement agreement in Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Barnett, resolving a lawsuit challenging the State of South Dakota’s numerous violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The agreement will expand voter registration opportunities for all South Dakota residents, particularly in Native American communities.
Virginia Couple Forced Out of Apartment for Having a Baby Sues Former Landlords
On July 27, Wardenski P.C. filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of a Charlottesville, Virginia couple against their former landlords for refusing to renew their lease after learning that they were expecting their first child. The lawsuit alleges that the landlords violated federal and state fair housing laws and forced them to move out with a weeks-old newborn during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wardenski P.C. Welcomes Summer 2022 Law Clerks
Wardenski P.C. is pleased to welcome our Summer 2022 law clerks, Ezra Clark and Michael Hannaman. Ezra is a rising 2L at Georgetown University Law Center and Michael is a rising 2L at NYU School of Law. Ezra and Michael will support the firm’s civil rights litigation and consulting work this summer.
Federal Court Rules that South Dakota Violated Native Voters’ Rights Under “Motor-Voter” Law
On May 26, a federal judge ruled that the South Dakota has committed numerous violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), depriving Native voters and others of federally-mandated voter registration services at driver’s license offices and public assistance agencies.
Federal Court Denies South Dakota’s Motion to Dismiss Voting Rights Case
On May 17, in an important ruling in Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Barnett, a South Dakota federal judge denied the State of South Dakota’s motion to dismiss claims that the State has violated the National Voter Registration Act brought by the Rosebud and Oglala Sioux tribes, the Lakota People’s Law Project, and two individuals.
Supreme Court Slashes Remedies for Victims of Health Care Discrimination
On April 28, the Supreme Court ruled in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Health that victims of discrimination by federal funding recipients may not seek emotional distress damages. In this column, Joseph Wardenski and Katie Keith, director of the O’Neill Institute’s Health Policy and the Law Initiative, explain the consequences of the Court’s decision and how Congress can fix it.
Gay Couple Challenges NYC’s Denial of IVF Benefits to Gay Male Employees
On April 12, Wardenski P.C. and Gupta Wessler PLLC filed a class action discrimination charge on behalf of Corey Briskin and Nicholas Maggipinto, a gay male couple, who were denied coverage for IVF benefits under the New York City employee health plan. (Photo credit: Sarah Merians)
Wardenski P.C. Welcomes Julio Castillo as Spring 2022 Law Clerk
Wardenski P.C. welcomes Julio Castillo as the firm’s first law clerk. Julio, a third-year law student at NYU School of Law, joins us for the Spring 2022 semester. He will support the firm’s civil rights litigation and consulting work during his clerkship.
Introducing Wardenski P.C.
Firm founder Joe Wardenski introduces his new Brooklyn, NY-based civil rights law firm focused on advocating for equality in public education, health care, housing, and voting.