Author: mjpospis

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In Jones v. Target Corporation, 2019 WL 6247900 (2d Cir. Nov. 22, 2019) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s Title VII retaliation claim. The court explained that “[r]etaliation claims under Title VII are evaluated under the familiar McDonnell Douglas three-step burden-shifting analysis” and “presume[d] that Jones has established a prima facie case…

Read More Retaliation Claim Dismissal Affirmed; Marijuana-Based Termination Not Shown to be Pretextual
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In a recent case, ANNA MARIE SCORSONELLI, Plaintiff, v. MADISON DENTISTRY, P.C., et al., Defendants., 2019 WL 6032787, at *1–2 (S.D.N.Y., 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff’s failure-to-accommodate-disability claim could continue. From the decision: A reasonable jury could likewise find that Defendants failed to accommodate Scorsonelli’s disability. Even if Scorsonelli’s daily requests for…

Read More Failure to Accommodate Disability, Retaliation Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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In Pozner v. Fox Broadcasting Co., No. 652096/2017, 2019 WL 6117960, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 33415(U) (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Nov. 18, 2019), the court dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim, which was based on the filing of a counterclaim by the defendant. Some background: The plaintiff (Pozner) worked was a Fox executive vice president.…

Read More Court Dismisses Retaliation Claim, Predicated on Counterclaim, Under the Noerr-Pennington Doctrine
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In Chauhan v. MM Hotel Management LLC et al, 18-cv-5963, 2019 WL 6118006 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2019), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s clams of race, national origin, and religion-based hostile work environment claims. First, the court summarized the legal standard: To establish a hostile work environment claim under Title VII, “a plaintiff must show…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed; 6 Incidents Over a 15 Year Period Insufficient
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“Clever men may easily conceal their motivations.” Thus writes the Second Circuit in a recent case, Khanna v. MUFG Union Bank, N.A., 2019 WL 6127418 (2d Cir. Nov. 19, 2019) (Summary Order), in which the court vacated the district court’s dismissal – under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) – of plaintiff’s race and gender…

Read More 2d Circuit Revives Race/Gender Discrimination Claims
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In Bonilla v. City of New York et al, 18-cv-12142, 2019 WL 6050757 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged race discrimination. Central to plaintiff’s claim was his being called “bobo” – which means “fool” in Spanish – several times. In reaching its conclusion, the court cited and applied…

Read More Race Discrimination Claim Stated; “Bobo” Slur Cited
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In Thomas v. City of New York et al, No. 507887/2018, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 51822(U), 2019 WL 6041948 (Sup Ct, Nov. 01, 2019), the court, inter alia, held that the petitioner’s hostile work environment claim was timely under the “continuing violation doctrine.” Petitioner, a guidance counselor, alleged that she was subject to age discrimination…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Against DOE Held Timely Under the “Continuing Violation Doctrine”
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In Baker v Revolt Media & TV, LLC, No. 152612/17, 2019 WL 4861967 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Oct. 02, 2019), the court dismissed plaintiff’s race and age discrimination claims asserted under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Defendant asserted that plaintiff’s termination was due to the non-discriminatory reasons of “restructuring…

Read More Age/Race (“Reverse”) Employment Discrimination Claims Dismissed
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In Boger v. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, 17-cv-289, 2019 WL 6038545 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2019) – an age and discrimination case – the court, inter alia, precluded plaintiff from introducing so-called “me too” evidence from plaintiff’s co-workers who were also allegedly discriminated against. The court reasoned: Because Nagle and…

Read More Co-Worker Employment Discrimination Evidence Precluded as Prejudicial
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Depositions are a part of the pre-trial “discovery” stage of litigation, in which a witness is questioned under oath, while their testimony is transcribed by a court reporter. They often occur outside the presence of a judge. One issue that arises is the alleged “coaching” of a witness by their attorney. In a recent case,…

Read More Court Discusses Deposition Sanctions in Employment Discrimination Case
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