2014

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In Vosburgh v. American Nat. Red Cross, 2014 WL 4826688 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2014), the court denied defendant’s summary judgment motion regarding plaintiff’s retaliation claim (but granted it regarding plaintiff’s wage and individual liability claims). As to her retaliation claim, the court held: [T]o prevail at the pretext stage of the McDonnell–Douglas analysis, a plaintiff must show…

Read More Hostility to Employee’s Alleged “Disloyal” Conduct Supports Retaliation Claim
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Here is the complaint filed in Supreme Court, Richmond County (Staten Island) by firefighter Andrew Cannon against homeowner Kudar Uday. Plaintiff seeks recovery for injuries sustained while battling a fire at defendants’ house. At common law, the so-called “firefighter’s rule” in New York barred firefighters and police officers from recovering for injuries caused by negligence in…

Read More Injured Firefighter Sues Homeowner
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In Hermina v. 2050 Valentine Ave. LLC, the Appellate Division, First Department reversed summary judgment in favor of defendants. In this personal injury case, plaintiff sustained injuries when the window in her apartment suddently fell while her hands were on the window sill. In reversing summary judgment, the court held: Triable issues of fact exist as…

Read More Falling Window Personal Injury Case Continues
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Santiago v. Dept. of Education illustrates that in an employment discrimination case, the plaintiff must plausibly allege an “adverse employment action.” The quintessential “adverse employment action” is, of course, termination. However, other actions short of termination may qualify. Plaintiff – an itinerant attendance teacher – alleged disparate treatment and a hostile work environment under the…

Read More Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Dismissed; No “Adverse Action”
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Here is the recently-filed federal court complaint (captioned Jermaine Gilyard v. Nine West Group et al., 1:14-cv-07096) in which plaintiff alleges, among other things, that he “was subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, racial discrimination, was disciplined several times on spurious charges, and was finally fired … in retaliation for his attempts…

Read More Race Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment Lawsuit Against Nine West Group
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Cafe Lalo, the Upper West Side cafe featured in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” has been sued for wage violations and sexual harassment. Here’s the complaint. The plaintiffs, several women, allege (among other things) that defendant Daniel Reyes, a “barista and defacto manager … treated the restaurant as his own personal dating…

Read More “You’ve Got Mail” Cafe Sued for Sexual Harassment and Wage Violations
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In Samarskaya v. MVAIC, Judge Bluth of the New York Supreme Court, New York County denied defendant Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation’s (MVAIC) motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff alleged that while riding her bicycle, she was struck by an opened rear passenger-side door of a taxi, which then drove off. Under Article 52 of the…

Read More MVAIC Denied Dismissal in Case of Cyclist “Doored” by Taxi Passenger
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In Davis v. Duane Reade, Inc. (2d Dept. Sept. 24, 2014), the court explained the narrow scope of the waiver provision of New York’s Whistleblower Law: Labor Law § 740(7) provides that “the institution of an action in accordance with this section shall be deemed a waiver of the rights and remedies available under any…

Read More Court Clarifies Limited Scope of Whistleblower Law’s Waiver Provision
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In Pal v. New York University (Summary Order dated 9/22/14), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit clarified that New York’s “Whistleblower” law – New York Labor Law § 740 – only provides for “equitable” relief (such as back pay), does not allow recovery for “future or anticipated lost wages or benefits,” and does not provide…

Read More Second Circuit Clarifies Remedies Available Under New York’s “Whistleblower Law”, New York Labor Law 740/741
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Here is the complaint, recently filed by model Carolina Rommel, against the owner of NoHo restaurant Public. Plaintiff alleges that, while dining at defendant’s restaurant in October 2011, she “bit into a rock contained in a warm lentil salad that had been served to her by defendant. It further alleges: Plaintiff’s injuries have been exacerbated…

Read More This Restaurant’s Salad Rocks (Not in the Good Way)
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