In Smyth v. City of New York, No. 157294/2017, 2021 WL 1667153 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Apr. 28, 2021) – an employment discrimination case – the court granted defendants’ motion for a protective order, and precluded plaintiff from conducting a deposition of its Acting General Counsel Sanford Cohen, on the ground that such…
Read More Discrimination Plaintiff Not Entitled to Depose City CounselYesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Mahanoy Area School District v. B. L., a Minor, By and Through Her Father, Lawrence Levy and Her Mother, Betty Lou Levy, No. 19-1842. The plaintiff in this lawsuit is a high school cheerleader who – due to frustrations arising from, e.g., her…
Read More SCOTUS Hears Oral Argument in “Fuck School” Free Speech CaseIn Rodriguez v City of New York, No. 13662, 2019-5301, 28675/18, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 02477, 2021 WL 1566826 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Apr. 22, 2021), an employment discrimination case, the First Department unanimously affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs’ complaint due to their failure to file a Notice of Claim as required by Education Law §…
Read More Dismissal of Discrimination Claims Against NYC Dept. of Education Affirmed Due to Failure to Comply With Notice of Claim RequirementIn Murray v. Williamsville Central School District, 2021 WL 1610201 (WDNY April 26, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed various constitutional claims asserted by plaintiff – a middle school teacher – who alleges that his employer (the defendant school district) deprived him of his liberty interest in his reputation and free speech rights after he…
Read More Court Dismisses Teacher’s Section 1983 & 1st and 14th Amendment Claims Arising From Alleged Showing of Pornographic Film to StudentsIn Blanc v. The City of New York et al, No. 154032/2020, 2021 WL 1022595, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 30837(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 17, 2021), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff – a 57 year-old Black man of Haitian national origin – sufficiently alleged facts to make out a claim…
Read More Age/Race/Color/National Origin Discrimination Claims Sufficiently Alleged; Plaintiff Alleges Dilution of Job Responsibilities, Demotion, and Salary ReductionIn Donnelly v. New York City & Vicinity Dist. Council of the United Bhd. of Carpenters & Joiners of Am., 2021 NY Slip Op 31308(U), No. 152197/2019, 2021 WL 1549821 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Apr. 20, 2021), the court granted plaintiff’s motion to amend their complaint to add a claim for retaliation under the New York…
Read More Retaliation Claim Sufficiently Alleged; Court Grants Motion to Amend Complaint to Add NYC Human Rights Law Claim Arising From Complaints of Sexual HarassmentIn Sapio v. Selux Corporation et al, 2021 WL 1568819 (2d Cir. April 22, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination claim asserted under 42 USC § 1981. From the Order: The District Court dismissed Sapio’s Section 1981 claim on the…
Read More Race Discrimination Dismissal Vacated; Court Cites Allegedly False Reasons For TerminationIn Taylor v. The Children’s Village et al, 2021 WL 1581568 (SDNY April 21, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination claim, asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, based on her status as a crime victim. This decision illustrates Title VII’s relatively narrow scope: Plaintiff suggests throughout the amended…
Read More Title VII Discrimination Claim, Based on Status as Crime Victim, DismissedIn Henry v. McDonald, 2021 WL 1309729 (E.D.N.Y. March 31 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the decision: Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that Defendant discriminated against him based on any protected characteristic to support his hostile…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed; Discrimination Based on “Educational Background” Not Actionable Under Title VIIIn Pustilnik v. Battery Park City Authority et al, No. 150138/2020, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 21087, 2021 WL 1324212 (NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Apr. 8, 2021), the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claim of caregiver-status discrimination asserted under the New York City Human Rights Law.[1]The court also denied defendants’ motion to…
Read More Caregiver Status Discrimination Claims Survive Dismissal Against Battery Park City Authority