2017

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In Chauca v. Abraham, 2017 NY Slip Op 08158, 2017 WL 5557932 (N.Y. Nov. 20, 2017), the New York Court of Appeals – answered a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit – regarding the appropriate standard applicable for when punitive damages may be awarded under the New York City Human…

Read More New York’s Highest Court Clarifies Standard for Punitive Damages Under the New York City Human Rights Law
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In Matter of Lai v. St. John’s Univ., 2017 NY Slip Op 07601 (App. Div. 2d Dept. Nov. 1, 2017), the court affirmed a lower court’s decision dismissing the Article 78 petition brought by a professor following his termination due to alleged sexual harassment of a student. The court explained: The employment of the petitioner, a tenured…

Read More Dismissal of Tenured Professor, Following Sexual Harassment Allegations by Student, Upheld
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On November 18, 2017, a plaintiff filed a lawsuit (captioned Cater v. State of New York et al (SDNY 17-cv-9032 Nov. 18, 2017)) against the State of New York, the Empire State Development Corporation, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and William Ballard Hoyt a/k/a Samuel B. Hoyt, III. In it, plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that “Defendant Hoyt engaged in…

Read More Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit Against New York State, Governor Cuomo, William Hoyt, et al
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From Vasquez v. Chimborazo, 2017 NY Slip Op 07774 (NY App. Div. 1st Dept. Nov. 9, 2017): Plaintiff established her entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting evidence that her vehicle was stopped at a red light when it was rear-ended by defendants’ vehicle (see Bajrami v Twinkle Cab Corp., 147 AD3d 649 [1st…

Read More Rear-Ended Plaintiff Entitled to Summary Judgment, Court Holds
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In Garcia v. Barclays Capital, Inc., et al, 13-cv-5308, 2017 WL 5499789 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 2017), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims. The court reached this decision by, inter alia, applying the so-called “same actor inference.” That doctrine provides that “the person who made the decision to…

Read More Court Applies “Same Actor Inference” in Dismissing Latina Woman’s Employment Discrimination Claims Against Barclays
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Here is an excerpt from the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ November 16, 2017 press release regarding its efforts to enforce the recently-enacted Fair Chance Act: The NYC Commission on Human Rights announced charges today against 12 local and national businesses for violating the Fair Chance Act, including Estée Lauder, Family Dollar, Kroll Associates, Tavern on…

Read More NYC Commission on Human Rights Files Complaints Against Several Companies for Violating the Fair Chance Act
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In Kassapian v. City of New York, 2017 NY Slip Op 07985, 2017 WL 5474008 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept. Nov. 15, 2017), the Second Department held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged claims of sexual harassment, age discrimination, and retaliation under the NYC Human Rights Law. As to plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim, the court explained: The allegation that…

Read More Sexual Harassment, Age Discrimination, and Retaliation Claims Survive Dismissal; Evidence Included Sex Toy at Work
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In Ada Damla Demir, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Sandoz Inc., et al., Defendants-Appellants., 2017 WL 5328744 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Nov. 14, 2017), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged violations of New York’s Whistleblower Law (Labor Law 740) and employment discrimination claim (under the New York State Human Rights Law). Initially, the court held that plaintiff’s Whistleblower…

Read More Whistleblower, Discrimination, and Hostile Work Environment Claims Survive Dismissal
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In Chakraborty v. Valentina Soto & The Riverside Church, 16-cv-9128, 2017 WL 5157616 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 6, 2017), the court explained and applied the “election of remedies” doctrines codified in the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Specifically, it held that that doctrine deprived it of subject matter jurisdiction to hear plaintiff’s NYSHRL and NYCHRL…

Read More Broadly-Construed “Election of Remedies” Doctrine Operates to Deprive Federal Court of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction Over NYS and NYC Human Rights Law Claims
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From Ortiz v. Gazes, LLC, 2017 NY Slip Op 32339(U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. 150876/2015 Oct. 30, 2017): Defendants have articulated legitimate reasons for terminating plaintiff by pointing to, among other things, plaintiff’s chronic absences, lateness and her inability to handle some of the work necessary. However, defendants acknowledge that they did not address attendance issues with…

Read More Gender/Pregnancy Discrimination Case Survives Summary Judgment
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