A former employee of a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the homeless has filed a lawsuit accusing the organization of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. On October 17, 2024, Samantha Grimaldi lodged her complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and two of its executives, Greta Guarton and Michael Giuffrida.
According to the complaint, Grimaldi, who sought help from the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) after fleeing domestic abuse by her mother, was later employed by the organization as a Street Outreach Worker. She alleges that her employment was marked by sexual harassment from Associate Director Michael Giuffrida, including inappropriate comments about his marriage and suggestions to create an account on a pornographic website. Grimaldi also claims that Giuffrida offered drugs and alcohol during work hours and drove under the influence while she was in his vehicle.
Grimaldi further asserts that after she rejected Giuffrida's advances, he retaliated by spreading rumors about her personal life among colleagues. Despite reporting these incidents to Executive Director Greta Guarton, Grimaldi claims no action was initially taken. She states that it was only after another employee raised concerns that an investigation was launched, which she contends led to further retaliation by Guarton. The lawsuit cites violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and New York State Human Rights Law, seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and additional punitive damages.
Samantha Grimaldi is represented by the Law Offices of Geoffrey T. Mott, P.C. The case is filed under Case ID 2:24-cv-07305 in the Eastern District of New York.