April 2017

In Dole v. Town of Bethlehem, No. 1:16-CV-0173 (DJS), 2017 WL 1483451 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 25, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment case. Plaintiff, a police officer, alleged that “she was subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment when Officer Craig Sleurs [whom plaintiff dated] sent her numerous harassing and threatening text messages…

Read More Sexual Harassment Case Dismissed; Harassment Was Not Motivated by Victim’s Sex, But Rather By Failed Personal Relationship
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In James v. Gurneys Inn Resort & Spa Ltd., No. 16-CV-6813(JS)(ARL), 2017 WL 1483528 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 25, 2017), the court held that plaintiff’s complaint did not plausibly allege employment discrimination based on his gender, age, or disability. “The sine qua non of a gender-based [or age or disability-based] discriminatory action claim under Title VII [or the…

Read More Employment Discrimination Claims Dismissed; Complaint Did Not Allege Non-Preferential Treatment, Age- or Gender-Based Remarks, Etc.
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In Fish v. 1295 Aroxy Cleaners, No. 15-cv-102, 2017 WL 1496244 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 26, 2017), a sexual harassment hostile work environment case, the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Here are the facts, as summarized by the court: According to [plaintiff] Fish, [plaintiff’s primary supervisor Hagop] Poladian began sexually harassing her at the end…

Read More Sexual Harassment / Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Evidence Included Touching of Intimate Body Parts
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In Rao v. Rodriguez, No. 14-cv-1936, 2017 WL 1403214 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 18, 2017), a race/national origin/age discrimination case, the court – having previously denied defendants’ motions for summary judgment – ruled on several motions in limine as to the evidence to be presented at trial. In one such motion, defendants sought to preclude “any evidence regarding a statement…

Read More Court Allows Evidence of Post-Termination “Brown Monkey” Remark in Race/National Origin Discrimination Case
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In Daniel v. T & M Protection Resources, LLC, No. 15-560-CV, 2017 WL 1476598 (2d Cir. Apr. 25, 2017) (Summary Order), the court vacated the district court’s summary judgment in favor of plaintiff on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. (The court issued its ruling one week after it heard oral argument in the case.) While it…

Read More Second Circuit Reinstates Gay Black Man’s Hostile Work Environment Claims
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In Rao v. Rodriguez, No. 14-cv-1936, 2017 WL 1214437 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court denied defendants’ motions for summary judgment on plaintiff’s age discrimination claims – including under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and its “heightened burden of but-for causation.” Plaintiff alleged, among other things, that the defendant-hospital’s CEO said to plaintiff “You’re…

Read More Age Discrimination Claims Survive Summary Judgment; Age-Related Comments Were Not “Stray Remarks”
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In Rao v. Rodriguez, No. 14-cv-1936, 2017 WL 1214437 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017), the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the race, national origin, and age discrimination[1]In this post I’ll discuss the court’s evaluation of plaintiff’s race/national origin discrimination claims. allegations asserted by plaintiff (a brown-skinned man of Indian national origin who held…

Read More Race/National Origin Discrimination Claims Survive Summary Judgment Against Wyckoff Heights Medical Center et al
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In Daphnis v. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2017 WL 1021510 (N.Y.Sup.), 2017 N.Y. Slip Op. 30484(U) (Trial Order) (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 153511/14 March 16, 2017), the court granted defendant’s summary judgment and dismissed plaintiff’s complaint alleging (e.g.) discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The court summarized plaintiff’s allegations…

Read More Anti-Caucasian/Greek Discrimination & Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed
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In Capobianco v. Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC, No. 14 CIV. 6112 (NSR), 2017 WL 1157173 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24, 2017), a personal injury slip-and-fall action, the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment. In sum, plaintiff testified that upon entering the “bottle room” of defendant’s supermarket (i.e., the area where customers tend to their recycling…

Read More Supermarket Slip/Fall Personal Injury Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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On April 18, 2017, the Second Circuit heard oral argument in the case of Daniel v. T&M Protection Resources LLC (Case No. 15-560). At issue is whether a single, offensive comment (here, the n-word) is sufficient to overcome summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. The EEOC argued (as Amicus Curiae in support of pro…

Read More 2d Circuit Hears Oral Argument as to Whether the Single Use of the “N-Word” by a Supervisor is Sufficient to Overcome Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s Hostile Work Environment Claim
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