In Kong v. Morrison-Tennenbaum PLLC, 2019 NY Slip Op 30529(U), 156864/2016 (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. March 1, 2019), an employment discrimination case, the court determined that various “requests to admit” were improper. Judge Chan discussed the parameters of this disclosure device: A notice to admit “is to be used only for disposing of uncontroverted questions…
Read More Court Strikes Requests to Admit in Employment Discrimination CaseIn McCabe v Consulate General of Canada, No. 101565/15, 8619, 8620, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 01651, 2019 WL 1064104 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Mar. 07, 2019), the court, inter alia, affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s sex and age discrimination claims under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. From the decision: The court properly…
Read More Reduction in Force Coupled With Retention of Others Not in Plaintiff’s Protected Class Insufficient to State Claims of Age and Gender DiscriminationIn Noel v. Wal-Mart Stores, East LP, 18-1139-cv (2d Cir. March 11, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit, inter alia, vacated the lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint. Plaintiff, who held the position of pharmacist manager, suffered from trypanophobia (or needle phobia). He sought an exemption from an alteration of his job description that would…
Read More 2d Circuit Overturns Dismissal of Disability Discrimination Complaint by Needle-Fearing PharmacistThe New York City Commission on Human Rights recently released its Legal Enforcement Guidance on Race Discrimination on the Basis of Hair (February 2019). That document provides, inter alia: The New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) protects the rights of New Yorkers to maintain natural hair or hairstyles that are closely associated with their…
Read More “Hair Discrimination” Enforcement Guidance Issued by NYC Commission on Human RightsIn Nguedi v. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 16-cv-636, 2019 WL 1083966 (S.D.N.Y. March 7, 2019), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. From the decision: The [New York City Human Rights Law] “is not a ‘general civility code.’ ” Mihalik, 715 F.3d at…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Dismissed Against Federal Reserve Bank of New YorkFrom Fox v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, 2019 WL 1050643, at *7 (C.A.2 (N.Y.), 2019): The district court demanded too much of Fox. Fox is not required to list the shift, week, or month to be able to present this issue to a jury. See Aulicino v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Homeless Servs., 580 F.3d 73, 84…
Read More Plaintiff’s ADA Disability Disability Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment Summary Judgment ClaimIn Hazelwood v. Highland Hospital, 17-4139 (2d Cir. March 1, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s (a deaf woman) claims of failure to accommodate and unlawful retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The court provides some guidance as to what qualifies as an ADA “reasonable accommodation”: A reasonable…
Read More 2d Circuit: Disability Accommodation (Effective, Though Not Preferred) Was ADA-CompliantIn Diggs v. Oscar De La Renta, LLC, 2019 NY Slip Op 01390 (App. Div. 2nd Dept. Feb. 27, 2019), the court upheld a jury’s verdict in plaintiff’s favor on her race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims under, inter alia, the New York City Human Rights Law. in reviewing the jury verdict, the…
Read More Plaintiff Discrimination Verdict UpheldIn Sarmiento v. Ampex Casting Corp., 2019 NY Slip Op 30431(U), Index NO. 150294/2011 (Sup. Ct. NY Cty. Feb. 21, 2019), the court (inter alia) denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s gender discrimination and retaliation claims. The court addressed the “central question” of “whether plaintiff has stated an issue of fact in her…
Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Survives Summary JudgmentIn Dotson v. City of Syracuse, et al., No. 18‐1020 (2d Cir. Feb. 27, 2019) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit reversed the district court’s grant of summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim of gender discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court’s review/analysis was “limited to the issue whether [plaintiff] Dotson…
Read More Title VII Sex Discrimination Claim Revived