February 2019

In 554 Euo LLC v. Bldg. Maintenance Employees Union, Local 486, No. 654999/2018, 2019 WL 645975 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 11, 2019), the court upheld an arbitrator’s decision to impose a less serious sanction (loss on one months’ pay), instead of termination, upon an employee found to have engaged in workplace harassment. The…

Read More Court Upholds Arbitrator’s “Progressive Discipline” Determination in Light of Workplace Harassment
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In Matter of Romero v. DHL Holdings (USA) Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 00936 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 7, 2019), the court affirmed the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board’s determination that the claimant was discharged for cause, and not in violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law. The court summarized the law: Workers’ Compensation Law…

Read More Workers’ Compensation Retaliatory Discharge Claim Dismissal Affirmed
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In Nokaj v. North East Dental Management, LLC et al, 16-cv-3035, 2019 WL 634656 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 14, 2019), the court (inter alia) denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim of “aiding and abetting” discrimination (sexual harassment) under the New York State Human Rights Law. The court holds that plaintiff may maintain an “aiding…

Read More Aiding & Abetting Sexual Harassment Claim, Based on Supervisor Inaction, Survives Summary Judgment
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In Baker v. Medical Answering Services, LLC, 18-cv-00870, 2019 WL 634654 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 14, 2019), the court dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination complaint, finding that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Plaintiff has, however, failed to plausibly allege circumstances giving rise to…

Read More Inference of Discrimination Not Sufficiently Alleged; Employment Discrimination Complaint Dismissed
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From Petterson v. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2019 WL 367840, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2019): While the alleged statements, such as “Barbara’s bush” and “sucking dick” by themselves are insufficient to show a hostile work environment, when coupled with the other evidence presented, a jury could conclude that Plaintiff was subjected…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Court Cites Derogatory Terms and Threatening Behavior
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In Canosa v. Harvey Weinstein et al, 2019 WL 498865 (S.D.N.Y. 2019), the court, inter alia, clarified that sexual harassment is a form of “discrimination” under federal law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws, and does not constitute an independent common-law tort.…

Read More Sexual Harassment is a Statutory Claim, Not a Common-Law Tort, Court Explains
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In Castillo v. Slupecki, 2019 NY Slip Op 29033 (Sup. Ct. Bronx Cty. Feb. 8, 2019), the court held (upon reargument) that plaintiff – who seeks damages for injuries sustained as a result of a “pedestrian-knockdown” car accident – was free from comparative fault as a matter of law. The court had previously granted plaintiff summary judgment…

Read More Pedestrian Knockdown Plaintiff Was Free From Comparative Fault as a Matter of Law, Court Holds
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In Saudagar v. Walgreens Co. and Duane Reade Inc., 2019 WL 498349 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 8, 2019), the court (inter alia) applied the “election of remedies” doctrine to dismiss plaintiff’s discrimination claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. The court explained that under this doctrine, “a complainant who files a complaint with either the…

Read More “Election of Remedies” Doctrine Bars NYC Human Rights Law Hostile Work Environment Claim
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In Palaj v. Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 00958 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 7, 2019), the court held that plaintiff’s personal injury claim should have been dismissed, and reversed the lower court’s decision to the contrary. In a terse decision, the court explained: Plaintiff Sander Palaj, and his wife suing derivatively, commenced…

Read More Co-Op City Shooting Victim’s Personal Injury Lawsuit Dismissed
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