2020

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In Matter of Vega (Postmates Inc. – Commissioner of Labor), 2020 NY Slip Op 02094 (NY Ct. App. March 26, 2020), the New York Court of Appeals – which, for non-NY practitioners, is our highest state-level appellate court – held that Postmates couriers are “employees” for purposes of unemployment benefits. This case arises from a…

Read More Court of Appeals: Postmates Couriers Are “Employees” For Purposes of Unemployment Insurance
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On March 19, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.7 (“Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency”), which, inter alia, permits documents to be notarized utilizing audio-video technology through April 18, 2020. The Order provides, in pertinent part: Any notarial act that is required under New…

Read More New York Permits “Virtual” Notarization in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic
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In a recent decision, Greenman v. 2451 Broadway Market, et al, No. 11287, 11287A, 154861/14, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 01962, 2020 WL 1290735 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Mar. 19, 2020) – a personal injury trip-and-fall case – the court unanimously reversed and vacated a jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor (allocating 75% of the fault to plaintiff…

Read More Evidentiary Errors Result in New Trial on Damages in Trip-and-Fall Personal Injury Case
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In Williams v. Anne Geiger and Department of Education, 2020 WL 1304397 (S.D.N.Y. March 19, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In order to establish a hostile work environment claim, plaintiff was required to show two elements: (1) the workplace was permeated with…

Read More Disability-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed
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In Bauman v. Mount Sinai Hospital, 2020 NY Slip Op 01964 (App. Div. 1st Dept. March 19, 2020), the court unanimously affirmed the lower court’s Order dismissing (on summary judgment) plaintiff’s claims that he was subjected to religion-based discrimination and retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law. As to plaintiff’s discrimination claim, the…

Read More Religious Discrimination Claim Dismissal Affirmed Against Mt. Sinai Hospital
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The EEOC recently offered information on how the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act may apply in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This document links to a prior document, titled “Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act” (written during the H1N1 outbreak), which has been…

Read More EEOC Issues (Updated) Guidance Regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and COVID-19
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On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.8, titled “Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency.” This Order affects various New York laws, including the Civil Practice Law and Rules, the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and the Business Corporation Law. It imposes the following changes to various…

Read More NYS Executive Order 202.8 Extends Statutes of Limitation Etc.
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In Montgomery v. New York City Transit Authority, 2020 WL 1313184 (2d Cir. March 18, 2020) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws.…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Discrimination Claims Against the NYC Transit Authority; Rejects “Coded Language” Theory
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In Kiraka v. M&T Bank, 2020 WL 1285632 (N.D.N.Y. March 18, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After summarizing the black-letter law regarding such claims, the court explained: [Plaintiff] fails to state a plausible claim under Title VII. ……

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Allegations, Including Mocking of Accent, Held Insufficient
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In Eyuboglu v. Gravity Media, LLC, 2020 WL 1280675 (2d Cir. March 17, 2020) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court based its decision, in part, on the so-called “stray marks” doctrine: “While discriminatory remarks may constitute evidence of…

Read More Citing “Stray Remarks” Doctrine, 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Employment Discrimination Claims
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