O'Reggio v. Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities

Summary

The court held that the federal definition of “supervisor” applies to hostile-work-environment claims under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act for purposes of vicarious liability. An employee qualifies as a supervisor only if empowered to take tangible employment actions against the victim, and the employee here lacked that authority. The court therefore affirmed the judgment rejecting the employer’s vicarious liability. Robinson, C. J., joined by Mullins and Ecker, Js., dissented and would have adopted a broader definition including authority over an employee’s daily work activities.