In Vines v. Aron Sec. Inc., No. 156409/2025, 2025 WL 3231742 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Nov. 12, 2025), the court granted plaintiff’s motion for default judgment against the individual defendant on her claims of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation.
This decision provides an instructive overview of what a plaintiff must demonstrate to secure a default judgment.
From the decision:
Plaintiff’s complaint seeks recovery for damages sustained as a result of alleged sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and unlawful retaliation in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code 8-101, et seq., and the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law 290, et seq., and unlawful retaliation in violation of New York Labor Law Section 740 by defendants Aron Security Inc., d.b.a., Arrow Security, and Samuel Paasewe.
A plaintiff moving for default judgment must establish proper service on defendant; defendant’s default; and the facts constituting plaintiff’s claims (CPLR 3215 [f]). Plaintiff has established proper service upon SAMUEL PAASEWE, that defendant has failed to appear or answer and the time to do so has expired. As such, defendants are in default of this proceeding. “By virtue of this default, defendants are deemed to have admitted all factual allegations contained in the verified complaint and all reasonable inferences that flow from them.” Thus, as a matter of law the issue of liability has been determined in Plaintiff’s favor (Paez v 1610 Saint Nicholas Ave. L.P., 113 AD3d 523 [1st Dept 2014]). Plaintiff has sufficiently proven the facts constituting its claim for default judgment through the attorney affirmation of John J.P. Howley and the exhibits attached thereto, including the Verified Complaint.
Accordingly, the court granted plaintiff’s unopposed motion for default judgment against defendant Paasewe, and directed an assessment of damages as to that defendant to be held at or following the time of trial of the action against the non-defaulting defendant.