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In Kenney v. State of New York, Office of Children and Family Services, 16-cv-4522, 2017 WL 5633166 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 20, 2017), the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s sexual harassment claims. In sum, plaintiff asserted claims of “hostile work environment” and “quid pro quo” sexual harassment…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim, Arising From Conduct of Non-Supervisor Co-Worker, Survives Summary Judgment
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From Davis v. NYC Dept. of Corrections et al, 17-cv-3863, 2017 WL 5634123 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 22, 2017): Plaintiff fails to state a claim under the ADA. “[T]he [C]omplaint alleges no facts indicating that [Plaintiff’s] PTSD … impaired any life activities,” Soules v. Town of Oxford, 669 F. App’x 54, 56 (2d Cir. 2016), nor does…

Read More PTSD Not Shown to Impair any “Major Life Activities”; ADA Disability Discrimination Claim Dismissed
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In O’Connell v. Macy’s Corporate Services, Inc., 154 A.D.3d 628 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. Oct. 31, 2017), the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s personal injury claim against Macy’s. In sum, plaintiff alleges that on or about November 28, 2013, she was struck by an all terrain-vehicle driven by the Defendant Jeff Stanton.…

Read More Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Handler Volunteer’s Injury Claim Properly Dismissed in Light of Release
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In Martinez v. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 2017 WL 5592281 (2d Cir. Nov. 21, 2017), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s Title VII race-based pay discrimination and retaliation claims. (Here I’ll focus on the court’s evaluation of plaintiff’s retaliation claim.) The court explained the legal requirements for making out a retaliation claim:…

Read More Finding Causation Lacking, 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim Against Davis Polk & Wardwell
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In Chauca v. Abraham, 2017 NY Slip Op 08158, 2017 WL 5557932 (N.Y. Nov. 20, 2017), the New York Court of Appeals – answered a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit – regarding the appropriate standard applicable for when punitive damages may be awarded under the New York City Human…

Read More New York’s Highest Court Clarifies Standard for Punitive Damages Under the New York City Human Rights Law
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In Matter of Lai v. St. John’s Univ., 2017 NY Slip Op 07601 (App. Div. 2d Dept. Nov. 1, 2017), the court affirmed a lower court’s decision dismissing the Article 78 petition brought by a professor following his termination due to alleged sexual harassment of a student. The court explained: The employment of the petitioner, a tenured…

Read More Dismissal of Tenured Professor, Following Sexual Harassment Allegations by Student, Upheld
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On November 18, 2017, a plaintiff filed a lawsuit (captioned Cater v. State of New York et al (SDNY 17-cv-9032 Nov. 18, 2017)) against the State of New York, the Empire State Development Corporation, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and William Ballard Hoyt a/k/a Samuel B. Hoyt, III. In it, plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that “Defendant Hoyt engaged in…

Read More Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit Against New York State, Governor Cuomo, William Hoyt, et al
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From Vasquez v. Chimborazo, 2017 NY Slip Op 07774 (NY App. Div. 1st Dept. Nov. 9, 2017): Plaintiff established her entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting evidence that her vehicle was stopped at a red light when it was rear-ended by defendants’ vehicle (see Bajrami v Twinkle Cab Corp., 147 AD3d 649 [1st…

Read More Rear-Ended Plaintiff Entitled to Summary Judgment, Court Holds
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In Garcia v. Barclays Capital, Inc., et al, 13-cv-5308, 2017 WL 5499789 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 2017), the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed plaintiff’s employment discrimination claims. The court reached this decision by, inter alia, applying the so-called “same actor inference.” That doctrine provides that “the person who made the decision to…

Read More Court Applies “Same Actor Inference” in Dismissing Latina Woman’s Employment Discrimination Claims Against Barclays
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Here is an excerpt from the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ November 16, 2017 press release regarding its efforts to enforce the recently-enacted Fair Chance Act: The NYC Commission on Human Rights announced charges today against 12 local and national businesses for violating the Fair Chance Act, including Estée Lauder, Family Dollar, Kroll Associates, Tavern on…

Read More NYC Commission on Human Rights Files Complaints Against Several Companies for Violating the Fair Chance Act
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