The tragic story of Connor Cummings, who died while trying to take a photo atop NYC’s Four Seasons Hotel, is making the rounds. Assuming Mr. Cummings was trespassing, might he have a claim? It depends. A recent Second Circuit decision, Philip v. Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., No. 14-4054-CV, 2015 WL 6642978 (2d Cir. Nov. 2, 2015) (Summary…
Read More Court Affirms Dismissal of Trespasser’s Personal Injury CaseIn a lawsuit filed on December 30, 2015 in New York Supreme Court (Figueroa v. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden et al., Index # 163141/2015), plaintiff Carlos Figueroa, a chauffeur and office clerk employed by the Sweden’s New York Mission to the United Nations, asserts various claims, including for personal injuries (sustained while assembling…
Read More Personal Injury and Discrimination Lawsuit Against Sweden’s New York Mission to the United NationsIn a lawsuit filed on December 29, 2015 in New York Supreme Court, Katz v. Bocca East Restaurant et al, NY Sup. Ct. Index No. 163085/2015, plaintiffs Judith Katz and (her daughter) Laura Katz allege that they were injured when Laura “was dowsed [sic] in flames, lit on fire, engulfed in flames and severely burned…
Read More Burn Lawsuit Against Bocca East RestaurantNegligence cases, particularly those arising from car accidents, involve many facts, and hence questions of fact that are typically for a jury. However, there are situations where a plaintiff might be entitled to judgment as a matter of law. One example of such a situation is the case of State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v.…
Read More Plaintiff Awarded Summary Judgment in Auto Accident Case Where Defendant’s “Sneezing Fit” Was Documented in Police ReportIn Tate v. Levy Rest. Holdings, LLC, No. 14-CV-2056, 2015 WL 9076230 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 16, 2015), the court stated and applied the standard for awarding attorney fees to a prevailing defendant in an employment discrimination case. You can read about the Eastern District’s dismissal of claims brought by the plaintiff – a gay male waiter who…
Read More Court Denies Attorney Fees to Prevailing Defendant in Sexual Orientation Discrimination CaseIn Dooley v. JetBlue Airways Corp., No. 15-1356-CV, 2015 WL 9261293 (2d Cir. Dec. 18, 2015), a Summary Order, the Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of plaintiff’s claim of disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Initially, the court held, contrary to the district court, that plaintiff sufficiently alleged discrimination under the ADA.…
Read More Plaintiff Sufficiently Alleged Disability Discrimination Against JetBlueIn employment law, the term “constructive discharge” is used to describe a scenario in which, in sum, an employee is not terminated (i.e. discharged) directly by the employer, but rather that things got so bad that they were, in essence, “forced to quit.” As recently explained by the court in Ingrassia v. Health & Hosp.…
Read More What is a “Constructive Discharge”?In Santiago v Weisheng Enters. LLC, the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the denial of summary judgment to defendants on plaintiff’s personal injury claim. From the decision: Defendants property owner and lessee-restaurant failed to establish their entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, in this action where plaintiff alleges that he was injured when he…
Read More Defendants Not Entitled to Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s Slip/Fall ClaimThank you for visiting the Pospis Law Blog (the “Blog”), maintained by Pospis Law, PLLC (the “Firm”). The Blog primarily provides general information regarding legal developments in the areas of employment discrimination, sexual harassment, civil rights, and personal injury. This website’s general disclaimer (which is incorporated by reference) likewise applies to the Blog. 1. Not…
Read More Sticky: About This Blog; DisclaimerIn Turner v. Manhattan Bowery Mgmt. Corp., 49 Misc. 3d 1220(A) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2015), the court held that plaintiff (an African American maintenance worker) presented sufficient evidence to overcome summary judgment on his race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims. As to his hostile work environment claim, the court held: [P]laintiff presented sufficient…
Read More Plaintiff Overcomes Summary Judgment on Race Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims