New Jersey Court Expands Sex Discrimination Protection

A New Jersey appeals court ruling has expanded protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

A three-judge panel ruled Wednesday that the female owner of a South Plainfield-based tire business could sue United Rentals North America Inc. for sexual harassment.

She claims a former manager of United Rental’s Piscataway branch pulled the firm’s business after she rejected his sexual advances.

A lower court dismissed her suit, saying that New Jersey’s law applied only to employer-employee relationships.

But the appellate panel disagreed, saying the alleged harassment could violate New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination by standing as a barrier to women’s ability to conduct business on an equal footing with men.