Damages

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Recently-proposed New York State legislation (A2865/S17) would make it more difficult for defendants to overturn employment discrimination damage awards. In sum, the law “[p]rovides that the court shall not reduce jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination actions unless the court finds that the proponent has proven by clear and convincing evidence that the verdict…

Read More Proposed New York Legislation Would Restrict Judicial Review of Employment Discrimination Damage Awards
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In Zepeda v. Halftime Bar & Grill Corp., 2023 WL 266504 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 18, 2023), a hostile work environment/sexual harassment case, the court, inter alia, awarded plaintiff $25,000 in emotional distress damages following defendants’ default. From the decision: For “garden variety” emotional distress claims, where a plaintiff did not seek medical treatment but the plaintiff’s…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff Awarded $25,000 in Emotional Distress Damages Following Defendants’ Default
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In a recent decision, Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C., 142 S.Ct. 1562 (U.S. April 28, 2022), the U.S. Supreme Court held that emotional distress damages are not recoverable under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Congress enacted under the Constitution’s “Spending Clause” (U.S. Constitution, Article…

Read More SCOTUS: Emotional Distress Damages Unavailable Under “Spending Clause” Antidiscrimination Laws
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In Legg et al v. Ulster County et al, 2022 WL 909045 (N.D.N.Y. March 29, 2022), the court, inter alia, held that the jury’s award of $200,000 to one sexual harassment plaintiff was excessive, and that under the facts of the case, a new trial would be granted unless they agreed to accept $75,000. The…

Read More Sexual Harassment Plaintiff’s Emotional Distress Damages Remitted to $75,000
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Taxes. The second thing in the oft-quoted sardonic/cynical short list of things that are certain in this life. If and when the settlement of an employment discrimination claim is discussed, consideration must be given to the tax implication of any such settlement, both to the payor employer and payee employee. (For this purpose a tax…

Read More Employment Settlement Subject to Taxation; Did Not Qualify For Section 104(a)(2) “Personal Physical Injuries or Physical Sickness” Exclusion
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In Lopez v. Mama’s Fried Chicken, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 01124 (NY App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 22, 2022) – involving claims of failure to pay wages, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation – the First Department unanimously affirmed a lower court’s Order denying defendant’s motion to vacate a default judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor.…

Read More Sexual Harassment Default Judgment Upheld; “Law Office Failure” Argument Rejected
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In Quintero v. Angels of the World, Inc., 19-CV-6126, 2021 WL 4464123 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2021), the court, inter alia, assessed emotional distress damages to be awarded to plaintiff (an exotic dancer), upon defendants’ default, on her claims of race-based discrimination and hostile work environment, hostile work environment sexual harassment, among others. The court summarized…

Read More Exotic Dancer Awarded $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages Upon Defendants’ Default in Sexual Harassment Case
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In New York State Division of Human Rights v. Hawk, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 03687, 2021 WL 2389091 (N.Y. App. Div. 4th Dept. June 11, 2021), the court enforced orders issued by the New York State Division of Human Rights that found respondents Ronald E. Hawk and Big Money Jim, Inc., doing business as Chaffee…

Read More $10,000 Awarded in Sexual Harassment Case Against Chaffee Flatts and Owner
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In Argoti v. Equinox Holdings, Inc., No. 152903/2019, 2021 WL 2480058 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County June 17, 2021) – an employment discrimination / hostile work environment case –  the court, inter alia, denied defendants’ motion to compel information regarding plaintiff’s medical treatment, which they contend was relevant to plaintiff’s claim for emotional distress…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Plaintiff May Refrain, For Now, From Producing Medical Discovery Relating to Emotional Distress Damages
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In Madrigal v. Montefiore Medical Center et al., No. 12306, 2020-00608, 307949/10E, 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 00526, 2021 WL 329412 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Feb. 02, 2021), the court, inter alia, upheld damage awards for plaintiff on her gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation claims. (The court’s discussion of liability is discussed here.) A jury awarded…

Read More Court Reverses Damages Reductions in Sexual Harassment Case Against Montefiore Medical Center
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