The New York Attorney General’s investigation has culminated in a detailed, 168-page Report finding that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former state employees, in addition to those outside the state government. It is replete with corroboration, and contains a thorough review of the relevant laws implicated by the governor’s conduct.…
Read More Andrew Cuomo Engaged in Sexual Harassment: ReportIn Byer v. Periodontal Health Specialists of Rochester, PLLC et al, 2021 WL 3276725 (2d Cir. August 2, 2021) (Summary Order), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, inter alia, vacated a district court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant on plaintiff’s racial harassment case asserted under the New York State Human Rights…
Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Summary JudgmentDespite what popular culture may imply, the main battles of litigation are not waged in the courtroom, but rather in various pre-trial events that, together, comprise what is known as “discovery.” In this phase, the parties use various methods to obtain (“discover”) information from the other side. Among the various (and most prevalent) discovery methods…
Read More A Cautionary Tale Regarding Attorney Deposition ConductIn a recent Order in Doe v. Cuba Gooding, Jr. (SDNY, 20-cv–6569) – in which the plaintiff alleges that defendant, Cuba Gooding, Jr., forcibly raped her in 2013 – the Court (i) granted the plaintiff’s motions to proceed pseudonymously, (ii) granted the plaintiff’s motion for default judgment as to defendant’s liability, and (iii) reserved judgment as…
Read More Default Judgment Issued in Cuba Gooding, Jr. Rape CaseIn a recent case, Kengerski v. Orlando Harper; County of Allegheny, 2021 WL 3199225 (3d Cir. July 29, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit revived the plaintiff’s retaliation claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This decision is instructive as to the claim for so-called “associational…
Read More Title VII “Race-Association” Retaliation Claim, Arising From “Monkey” Comment, Improperly Dismissed on Summary Judgment, Third Circuit HoldsIn Alberto Coronado v. Veolia North America Inc. & Subsidiaries et al, NY Sup. Ct. NY Cty. 450319/2019 (April 6, 2021), a motor vehicle accident case, the court held that the defendant was not entitled to obtain discovery of so-called “litigation funding” material from the plaintiff. Despite the liberal construction courts give to the CPLR’s…
Read More Litigation Funding Discovery Denied in Car Accident CaseIn Lively v. WAFRA Investment Advisory Group, Inc., 2021 WL 3118943 (2d Cir. July 23, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s award to defendant of judgment on the pleadings, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c), of plaintiff’s age discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under the Age…
Read More ADEA Retaliation Claim Dismissal (Judgment on the Pleadings) AffirmedIn Lively v. WAFRA Investment Advisory Group, Inc., 2021 WL 3118943 (2d Cir. July 23, 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s award to defendant of judgment on the pleadings, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c), of plaintiff’s age discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under the Age…
Read More ADEA Age Discrimination Claim Dismissal (Judgment on the Pleadings) Affirmed, Notwithstanding Ageist CommentsIn Avent v. Target Corporation et al, 19-1565, 2021 WL 3089120 (NDNY July 22, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s race-based “adverse action” discrimination claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (I wrote about the court’s assessment of plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claims here.)…
Read More Race Discrimination Claim, Based on “Adverse Actions”, Sufficiently Alleged Against TargetIn Avent v. Target Corporation et al, 19-1565, 2021 WL 3089120 (NDNY July 22, 2021), the court, inter alia, dismissed defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s race-based hostile work environment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The court explained: [T]he Court found that Plaintiff sufficiently stated…
Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claims Sufficiently Alleged Against Target