A recently filed federal lawsuit outlines allegations that a cosmetics company failed to address an incident of sexual assault involving a supervisory employee and later retaliated against the worker who reported it. The complaint was submitted by Dyvon Nieves on March 17, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Natasha Denona Makeup and Yosi Cohen, the company’s owner.
According to the court documents, Nieves claims that while employed as a makeup artist and field education trainer at Natasha Denona Makeup (NDM), he experienced unwanted physical contact from his direct supervisor during a company-sponsored work trip on April 24, 2025. The complaint states that Mitchell Richardson, identified as NDM’s Global Education Director and Nieves’ superior, used his authority to make unwelcome advances toward Nieves in a hotel room after hours. During this encounter, Richardson allegedly climbed on top of Nieves, kissed him on the forehead and cheek, grabbed his waist, and referenced career advancement opportunities linked to this conduct.
Nieves asserts that he promptly reported the incident to management but was met with indifference. Specifically, when Amanda Hernandez—Nieves’ direct manager—reported Richardson’s actions to Yosi Cohen (NDM’s Owner and Co-Founder), Cohen allegedly laughed at the report and remarked: “well they are all gay men, I am not surprised.” The complaint characterizes this response as dismissive of both the seriousness of the allegations and Nieves’ sexual orientation.
The filing further claims that no investigation or corrective action was taken by NDM following these reports. Richardson was neither disciplined nor separated from Nieves after the alleged assault. As stated in the document: “Defendants took no action to discipline Richardson, separate him from Plaintiff, or remediate the hostile work environment.”
After enduring what is described as months of a hostile workplace environment without intervention from leadership, Nieves requested an in-person meeting with Cohen on September 6, 2025. Two days later—on September 8—he received notice via email from another manager that his employment had been terminated effective immediately. No reason for termination was provided in this communication.
The lawsuit brings multiple causes of action under federal law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act), state law (New York State Human Rights Law), city law (New York City Human Rights Law), as well as Texas common law for events occurring during the Austin trip. Claims include sexual harassment (both quid pro quo and hostile work environment), discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation, retaliation for reporting misconduct or opposing discrimination, assault and battery under Texas law for Richardson’s alleged conduct during the work trip, as well as aiding and abetting those acts by company leadership.
The complaint provides specific examples intended to support these claims: text messages sent by Richardson after the incident referencing career advancement; declarations from managers about their knowledge of events; communications between Nieves and NDM leadership regarding workplace concerns; temporal proximity between protected activity (requesting meetings about discrimination) and adverse employment actions (termination); as well as statements attributed directly to Cohen reflecting attitudes toward gay employees.
In addition to monetary damages—including lost wages, benefits, emotional distress compensation—the plaintiff seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions barring NDM from engaging in similar practices in future. Punitive damages are also sought under Title VII and related laws due to what is described as willful or malicious conduct by defendants. Attorneys’ fees are requested along with any other relief deemed just by the court.
The attorneys representing Dyvon Nieves are Tal J. Meehan Esq. and Jesse R. Mautner Esq., both of Joseph & Norinsberg LLC located at 825 Third Avenue in New York City. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-02153.
Source: 126cv02153_Dyvon_Nieves_v_Natasha_Denona_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York..pdf
