2019

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In Ravina v. Columbia University and Geert Bekaert, 16-cv-2137, 2019 WL 1450449 (S.D.N.Y. March 31, 2019), a sexual harassment/retaliation case, the court – in addition to denying defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on plaintiff’s retaliation claim – next evaluated the jury’s damage awards to plaintiff ($750,000 in emotional distress damages, $500,000…

Read More Court Remits $750,000 Award for Emotional Distress Damages in Retaliation/Sexual Harassment Case Against Columbia University
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In Ravina v. Columbia University and Geert Bekaert, 16-cv-2137, 2019 WL 1450449 (S.D.N.Y. March 31, 2019), a sexual harassment/retaliation case, the court denied defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on plaintiff’s retaliation claim, but granted its motion for remittitur as to the jury’s damage awards for compensatory/emotional distress damages and punitive damages.…

Read More Jury Verdict of Retaliation for Complaints of Sexual Harassment Against Columbia University Professor Upheld
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In a recent decision, Feldesman v. Interstate Hotels LLC, 16-cv-9352, 2019 WL 1437576 (S.D.N.Y. March 31, 2019), the court, inter alia, explained that, under the circumstances, so-called “sex neutral” events contributed to plaintiff’s actionable hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Interstate also asserts that the evidence establishes that struggles about money, authority, and bar…

Read More Court Finds “Sex Neutral” Events Contributed to Actionable Hostile Work Environment Against Hotel Employer
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In Nixon v. TWC Administration LLC, 16-cv-6456, 2019 WL 1428348 (SDNY March 29, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s age discrimination (wrongful termination) claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). Plaintiff conceded that she violated several of defendant’s policies, but claimed that her termination based on such violations was a…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Dismissed; “Dinosaur” and Other Comments Lacked Sufficient Nexus to Termination
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In Caserta v Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, No. 157983/2015, 2019 WL 1003772 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 26, 2019), a personal injury case, the court stated and applied the general rule regarding discovery of a plaintiff’s social media postings. Here is the court’s summary of the general rule: Social media information is…

Read More Court Permits Limited Social Media Discovery in Personal Injury Case
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In Rea v. New York State Dept. of Transportation, 2019 WL 1409977 (N.D.N.Y. March 28, 2019), the court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). In sum, the court held that the DOT may not be sued in federal court, in light of the Eleventh Amendment: The DOT is an…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim (ADEA) Against NYS Dept. of Transportation Dismissed on Eleventh Amendment Grounds
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In Winklevoss v. Steinberg, 2019 NY Slip Op 02419 (App. Div. 1st Dept. March 28, 2019), the court unanimously affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs’ defamation claim. The court based its decision on the plaintiffs’ status (public figures) and their failure to prove “actual malice”, the applicable standard under these circumstances. As to their status, the…

Read More Winklevoss Twins’ Defamation Claim Dismissed; Actual Malice Not Shown
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In Alexander Guerrero Toro v. Northstar Demolition & Remediation, 2019 WL 1396751 (W.D.N.Y. March 28, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s claim of a disability-based hostile work environment claim. From the decision: Plaintiff testified that he was subject to workplace harassment because he was assigned to jobs he could not complete, his supervisors wanted…

Read More Asbestos Handler’s Disability-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed
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A recent decision, Petrisko v Animal Medical Center, No. 151573/2018, 2019 NY Slip Op 30679(U), 2019 WL 1311026 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 22, 2019), highlights important features of New York defamation law – such as when alleged defamatory statements are non-actionable opinion, and the specificity with which such claims must be alleged.…

Read More Defamation Claim Dismissed; Alleged Defamatory Statements Were Non-Actionable Opinion, and Allegations Were Insufficiently Specific as to Time
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