Author: mjpospis

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In Chavis v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No. 15 CIV. 4288 (DC), 2017 WL 3037536 (S.D.N.Y. July 18, 2017), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim that she was subjected to a hostile work environment based on her religion. Specifically, plaintiff – an Asset Protection Manager at the Suffern Walmart…

Read More Walmart Awarded Summary Judgment on Religion-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim
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In Le v. New York State, No. 1:16-CV-1517, 2017 WL 3084414 (N.D.N.Y. July 18, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims. Plaintiff – a woman of Asian descent – alleged that “defendant has wrongly sided with, and failed to take corrective action against, plaintiff’s co-workers and supervisors, who…

Read More Court Dismisses “Perceived as Muslim” Title VII Discrimination Claim, Among Others
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You may have read a recent news story about a group of teens who recorded and mocked a disabled man, Jamel Dunn, as he was drowning. If this happened in New York, could the observers be liable in a civil action to recover damages for personal injury/wrongful death?[1]Whether criminal liability may be found is beyond…

Read More Duty to Help Those in Danger
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In Bull v. Metro. Jewish Health Sys., Inc., No. 18128/12, 2017 WL 3045858 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. July 19, 2017), the Appellate Division held that the lower court should have dismissed plaintiff’s claims of age and disability discrimination. Plaintiff alleged, inter alia, “that the defendant discriminated against her on the basis of her age…

Read More Age, Disability Discrimination Claims Should Have Been Dismissed; Plaintiff Did Not Suffer From a “Disability” At the Time of Her Termination
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In McLeod v. The Jewish Guild for the Blind, No. 15-2898-CV, 2017 WL 3049541 (2d Cir. July 19, 2017) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit vacated a lower court’s award of summary judgment to defendant employer on plaintiff’s sexual harassment hostile work environment claim. Among other things, the court reiterated that it is improper for a…

Read More 2d Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment for Defendant on Hostile Work Environment Claim; Warns Lower Courts That All Circumstances Must Be Considered
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From McLeod v. Jewish Guild for the Blind, No. 15-2898-CV, 2017 WL 3044626 (2d Cir. July 19, 2017): Here, had the district court considered McLeod’s handwritten factual allegations alone, it would have been required to construe McLeod as having asserted claims under the NYSHRL and NYCHRL.1 McLeod’s allegations clearly suggest claims under the NYSHRL and NYCHRL,…

Read More 2d Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Sexual Harassment Claims Under New York State and City Human Rights Laws; Pro Se Plaintiff’s Failure to Check Boxes Not Fatal
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In Woods v. START Treatment & Recovery Centers, Inc., No. 16-1318-CV, 2017 WL 3044628 (2d Cir. July 19, 2017), the Second Circuit clarified the causation standard for retaliation claims brought under the Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). One FMLA regulation, 29 C.F.R. 825.220(c), provides: The Act’s prohibition against interference prohibits an employer…

Read More 2d Circuit Adopts “Negative Factor”, Rather Than “But For”, Causation Standard For FMLA Retaliation Claims
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In Kleinman v. Fashion Institute of Technology, No. 16 CIV. 4348 (KPF), 2017 WL 3016940 (S.D.N.Y. July 14, 2017) (J. Failla), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Initially, the court noted that while the “Second Circuit has not yet decided whether a hostile work environment…

Read More Court Dismisses ADA Hostile Work Environment Claim Against FIT
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In Vaughn v. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway et al, No. 14-CV-10297 (KMK), 2017 WL 3017503 (S.D.N.Y. July 14, 2017), the court (inter alia) denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim that he was subjected to discrimination – by being terminated and suspended – because of his race, in violation of Title VII…

Read More Race Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment; Evidence Included Supervisor’s Use of the “N-Word” and Favorable Treatment of White Co-Worker
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In Fratello v. Archdiocese of New York, St. Anthony’s Shrine Church, and St. Anthony’s School, No. 16-1271, 2017 WL 2989706 (2d Cir. July 14, 2017), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Title VII gender discrimination and retaliation claims brought by plaintiff, a former Roman Catholic school principal, under the “ministerial exception”. The Second Circuit, addressing…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Roman Catholic School Principal’s Gender Discrimination & Retaliation Claims Under the “Ministerial Exception”
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