Melissa Vo

Melissa Vo is a knowledgeable litigator at Phillips & Associates that understands how important it is to fight for those that have faced workplace harassment. If you have been discriminated against by an employer or harassed on the job because of your membership in a protected class, you should discuss your situation with Ms. Vo and the seasoned New York City employment discrimination lawyers of Phillips & Associates.

Ms. Vo graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to earn her J.D. from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. While in Law school, Ms. Vo participated in the Integrated Trial Advocacy Program, was the Vice President of the Media and Communications Law Society, and Director of Community Relations in the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

Prior to joining Phillips & Associates, Ms. Vo served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County’s District Attorney’s Office where she developed a passion for victims’ and civil rights.

Ms. Vo is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Discrimination and Harassment

Workplace discrimination and harassment can do severe harm to workers of different backgrounds. You may have grounds to sue if you were discriminated against or harassed due to a protected characteristic under federal, state, or local laws. In general, the New York City Human Rights Law and the New York State Human Rights Law provide greater protection than do federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law.

The New York City Human Rights Law, widely considered one of the most liberal laws in the country, prohibits discrimination based on:

• Age
• Race
• Creed
• Color
• National origin
• Gender identity
• Sex
• Disability
• Marital status
• Partnership status
• Sexual orientation
• Alienage
• Citizenship status.

Some of these characteristics are also protected under the New York State Human Rights Law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). If you were denied a promotion because you came out as gay at the office holiday party, you may have grounds to sue for sexual orientation. Similarly, if you were refused a reasonable accommodation and you are paraplegic, you may have claims not only under the city law, but also the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New York State Human Rights Law.

In some cases, the specific facts of a case will allow for relief under one law but not the others, even though all three seem to apply. It is critical to retain a compassionate, knowledgeable trial lawyer like Ms. Vo and the rest of the team at Phillips & Associates to make sure your interests are properly protected.

Hire Seasoned New York City Legal Counsel

You should retain experienced New York City lawyers when you believe you’ve been discriminated against or sexually harassed by your employer. At Phillips and Associates, we represent victims of discrimination in companies located in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Suffolk County, and Nassau County, among other places. Fill out our online form or contact us at (866) 229-9441

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