Pleading

by

In Phillips v. Central New York Psychiatric Center, No. 16-cv-0219, 2017 WL 2869938 (N.D.N.Y. July 5, 2017), the court articulated and applied the legal framework for evaluating comments as evidence of unlawful discrimination. The court explained: Verbal comments provide evidence of discriminatory intent when the plaintiff shows that a nexus exists between the allegedly discriminatory…

Read More Race/Gender Discrimination Claims Dismissed; “Sloppy” Remark Was Not Race-Based
Share This:
by

In Luka v. Bard College et al, No. 15-cv-4598, 2017 WL 2839641 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 2017), the court held, inter alia, that plaintiff sufficiently alleged gender discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). This decision is instructive on how courts apply pleading standards to such claims. The court summarized the law: To…

Read More Lesbian Professor, Denied Tenure, Plausibly Alleges Discrimination Under the NYS Human Rights Law Against Bard College
Share This:
by

In Marquart v. NYC Dept. of Education (NY Cty 150327/2016 June 27, 2017), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged disability discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law, and denied defendant’s CPLR 3211(a)(7) motion to dismiss that claim (it reached the opposite conclusion, however, as to plaintiff’s age discrimination claim). Plaintiff sufficiently alleged that he…

Read More Guidance Counselor Sufficiently Pleads Discrimination Based on Disability (Sleep Apnea) Under the NYC Human Rights Law
Share This:
by

In Padilla v. Yeshiva Univ., No. 16-4086-CV, 2017 WL 2347567 (2d Cir. June 2, 2017), the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s judgment that plaintiff failed to plausibly allege (1) retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and (2) disability discrimination under the New York City Human Rights Law. Initially, the court summarized…

Read More FMLA Retaliation Claim, and NYC Human Rights Law Disability Discrimination Claim, Sufficiently Alleged
Share This:
by

In Brunache v. MV Transp., Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 05196 (App. Div. 2d Dept. June 28, 2017), the court held (inter alia) that plaintiff – a paratransit van driver who sued after not being reinstated following his dismissal following an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against him by a passenger – did not state…

Read More Retaliation Claim Not Stated; “General Complaints” Were Not “Protected Activity” Under the NYS Human Rights Law
Share This:
by

In Rubin v. Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP, 2017 NY Slip Op 05054 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 20, 2017) – a gender discrimination lawsuit – the court unanimously affirmed the denial of defendant’s motion to amend his answer to assert counterclaims for defamation and defamation per se. From the decision: [D]efendant fails to state with particularity…

Read More Defamation Counterclaims Insufficiently Alleged in Gender Discrimination Suit Against Napoli Bern Firm
Share This:
by

In Gentleman v. State Univ. of N.Y.-Stony Brook, No. 16-CV-2012(ADS)(AKT), 2017 WL 2468963 (E.D.N.Y. June 6, 2017), the court held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged a claim of discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act. In sum, the court concluded that – applying the more lenient standard for “regarded as disabled” claims – plaintiff plausibly alleged that she “was…

Read More Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges “Regarded As” Disability Discrimination Claim Against SUNY
Share This:
by

In Wooding v. Winthrop Univ. Hosp., No. 16-cv-4477, 2017 WL 2559942 (E.D.N.Y. June 12, 2017), the court held that plaintiff plausibly alleged a racially hostile work environment. It provides a summary/overview of the pleading standards for this type of claim: To establish a hostile work environment claim under federal and New York State law, a…

Read More Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Sufficiently Alleged Against Winthrop University Hospital
Share This:
by

In Irrera v. University of Rochester, No. 16-2004, 2017 WL 2587324 (2d Cir. June 15, 2017), the Second Circuit held that the plaintiff – a piano student at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester – plausibly alleged a claim of retaliation for complaining of sexual harassment by his teacher (defendant Dr.…

Read More 2d Circuit Holds That Piano Student’s Title IX Retaliation Claim, Arising From Rejection of Teacher’s Sexual Advances, Was Plausibly Alleged
Share This:
by

In Wooding v. Winthrop University Hospital et al, No. 16-cv-4477, 2017 WL 2559942 (E.D.N.Y. June 12, 2017) (J. Spatt), the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). It held that plaintiff plausibly alleged various claims, including race discrimination, retaliation, and hostile…

Read More Race Discrimination Plausibly Alleged Against Winthrop University Hospital; Complaint Referred to Use of the Word “Nigger” and “Coded” Racial Language
Share This: