The Women’s Equality Act provides that plaintiffs who win sex discrimination cases under the New York State Human Rights Law can collect their attorney fees from their employers — yet another way the new law makes sex discrimination an expensive mistake for employers.

The federal civil rights statutes and the New York City Human Rights Law already provide for attorney fees to employees who prevail in all types of discrimination cases. The Women’s Equality Act changes state law to be consistent with these laws — but only in cases of gender discrimination.