July 2016

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So-called slip-and-fall cases, a species of “premises liability” cases, are deceptively easy/straightforward. Some may believe that if a person slips and falls on a foreign substance (e.g., water), the owner of the property is automatically liable. Not so. In Parietti v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2016 NY Slip Op 04923 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. June…

Read More Slip/Fall Case Dismissed Against Walmart
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I preface this by noting that this is not a political blog. That said, there are many reasons why I think Donald Trump should/must not be president. As a plaintiffs’ civil rights lawyer, the most glaring is his apparent mocking of a disabled reporter. It was cruel, unnecessary, and the opposite of presidential. Take a look: In the…

Read More On Donald Trump Mocking the Disabled
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In Richardson-Holness v. Alexander, No. 13-CV-2761 (NG), 2016 WL 4027978 (E.D.N.Y. July 26, 2016), the court denied in part defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s quid pro quo sexual harassment claim (with respect to certain alleged actions) and her hostile work environment claim. In sum, plaintiff (a probationary teacher) alleged “that defendant Michael A.…

Read More NYC Public School Teacher’s Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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In Felmine v. Service Star, No. 13-cv-2641, 2016 WL 4005763 (E.D.N.Y. July 25, 2016), the court granted defendants’ summary judgment motion and dismissed plaintiff’s claims for (1) quid pro quo sexual harassment, (2) hostile work environment, (3) retaliation, and (4) disability discrimination. Plaintiff – a cargo handling agent – alleged that defendant “subjected him to…

Read More Court Dismisses Sexual Harassment Claims Based on Conduct of Non-Supervisory Co-Worker
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In Castro v. City of New York, No. 1036, 2016 WL 3919217(N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. July 21, 2016), the court held that a plaintiff asserting a claim under Civil Service Law § 75-b – the public-sector-employee whistleblower statute – is not required to file a notice of claim. That statute, as summarized by the court,…

Read More 1st Dept. Holds That Notice of Claim Requirement Does Not Apply to Civil-Service Whistleblower Retaliation Claims
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In Fullwood v. SDH Servs. W., LLC, No. 16-CV-1 (RA), 2016 WL 3951186 (S.D.N.Y. July 20, 2016), an employment discrimination/hostile work environment/sexual harassment case, the court granted defendants’ motion to change venue from the Southern District of New York to the Western District of New York. In this case, plaintiff contends that over the course…

Read More Go West, Ms. Plaintiff: Manhattan Federal Court Explains Decision to Transfer Discrimination Case to the Western District of New York
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In a lawsuit captioned Gonzalez v. Manhattan Auto Care et al (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 156078/2016 filed July 21, 2016), plaintiff asserts various claims – including hostile work environment and quid pro quo sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation under the NYC Human Rights Law – against the defendants. Plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that the individual…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Alleges Required Consumption of Alcohol, Sexual Comments, Attempted Touching
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In a Manhattan federal lawsuit, captioned Rodriguez v. Highgate Hotels (SDNY 16-cv-05736, filed July 19, 2016), plaintiff (a male hotel worker) alleges that he was terminated for having a relationship with a female co-worker, while the defendant did not discipline (and in fact celebrated) a “clandestine romantic relationship” between a male supervisor and his male subordinate. Plaintiff…

Read More Gender and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit By Heterosexual Hotel Worker
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In Dhar v. City of New York, No. 15-2698-CV, 2016 WL 3889108 (2d Cir. July 15, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). “To state a prima facie claim of retaliation, a plaintiff must show (1) participation in a protected activity; (2) that the…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim, Citing Large Gap Between Protected Activity and Adverse Actions
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In Black v. Anheuser-Busch in Bev, No. 14 CIV. 2693 (RWS), 2016 WL 3866583 (S.D.N.Y. July 13, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment claims. Plaintiff filed a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR), which set forth claims for gender discrimination and sexual harassment. The NYCCHR issued…

Read More Court Dismisses Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims; Discusses Election of Remedies, Statute of Limitations, and Exhaustion of Remedies Principles
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