2020

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In Mezinev v. Donald Smith & Co., Inc., 161367/2017, 2020 NY Slip Op 33429 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. Oct. 9, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed defendant employer’s counterclaims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of the faithless servant doctrine. Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for alleged employment discrimination…

Read More Employer’s Breach of Contract Claim, Based on Alleged Secret Recording of Conversations in the Workplace, Dismissed
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Just a friendly reminder that, under New York law, A person is guilty of grand larceny in the second degree [a class C felony] when he steals property and when: 1. The value of the property exceeds fifty thousand dollars; or 2. The property, regardless of its nature and value, is obtained by extortion committed…

Read More Trick or Treat, a/k/a Extortion?
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n Rosalie v. Supreme Glass Co., Inc., 18-CV-02064, 2020 WL 6263311 (EDNY Oct. 23, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual orientation-based hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York City Human Rights Law. (The court also denied…

Read More Wrongful Termination Claim, Based on Plaintiff’s Gender and Sexual Orientation, Survives Summary Judgment
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In Rosalie v. Supreme Glass Co., Inc., 18-CV-02064, 2020 WL 6263311 (EDNY Oct. 23, 2020), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual orientation-based hostile work environment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York City Human Rights Law. The court outlined the…

Read More Hostile Work Environment (Sexual Orientation/Gender) Claims Survive Based on Offensive Comments
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In Langlois v. Hartford Board of Education et al, 2020 WL 6278722 (2d Cir. Oct. 27, 2020) (Summary Order), the court, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal on summary judgment of plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court wrote: [W]e agree with the district…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Properly Dismissed; Most Conduct Was “Reasonably Expected” in the School Environment
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In Cardwell v. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP et al, 19-cv-10256, 2020 WL 6274826 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 24, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim. In sum, plaintiff – a law firm associate – alleged (inter alia) that he was suffered a hostile work environment on account of his race, in…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Social Ostracism Insufficient
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In Hewitt v. Palmer Veterinary Clinic, PC, No. 28, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 05975, 2020 WL 6163313 (N.Y., Oct. 22, 2020), the New York Court of Appeals held that the so-called “vicious propensity notice” rule – generally applicable to situations where an injury results from a domestic animal – was inapplicable here, where the alleged attack…

Read More “Vicious Propensity” Rule Inapplicable to Claim Arising From Dog Attack in Veterinary Clinic Waiting Room
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In Stephens v. New York State Division of Human Rights, No. 100699/18, 12163, 2019-5430, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 06038, 2020 WL 6163900 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Oct. 22, 2020), the court, inter alia, upheld the dismissal (by the NYS Division of Human Rights) of the petitioner’s disability discrimination claims. Here, the NYSDHR issued a determination of…

Read More Disability Discrimination Claims, Based on “Invisible” or “Hidden” Disability (Brain Injury), Properly Dismissed
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In Green v. Mount Sinai Health System, Inc. et al, 2020 WL 6165969 (2d Cir. Oct. 22, 2020) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the court held that (1) plaintiff did not engage in “protected activity”, (2) plaintiff…

Read More Retaliation Claim Dismissed; “Generalized Complaints” Did Not Constitute “Protected Activity”
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In Lax v. City University of New York et al, 2020 WL 6161253 (EDNY Oct. 21, 2020), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. The court summarized the “black-letter law” as follows: A hostile work environment claim requires a showing: (1) that the harassment was “sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed, as it was Largely Based on Conduct Experienced by Others
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