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A Summary Order issued today by the Second Circuit (in Kirkweg v. New York City Department of Education) includes language helpful to plaintiffs asserting retaliation claims. Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Burlington N. & Sante Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 68−70 (2006) and Second Circuit precedent, the Second Circuit explains: In granting dismissal,…

Read More Second Circuit: Pecuniary Injury Not Necessary for “Adverse Action” for Retaliation Claim
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In a recently-filed lawsuit, Last v. Consolidated Edison (SDNY 16-cv-00468), plaintiff Jovira Last asserts that she experienced sex-based discrimination at her employer, Con Edison, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York City Human Rights Law. The complaint refers to “ConEd’s negative and stereotyped view of women…

Read More Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Against Con Edison
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In McRae v. Venuto, No. 2014-10748, 2016 WL 515794 (N.Y. App. Div. 2nd Dept. Feb. 10, 2016), the court held that plaintiff raised a triable issue of fact on her slip-and-fall case: Here, the defendant established, prima facie, his entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting the deposition testimony of the plaintiff, which…

Read More Eyewitness Affidavits Save Slip-and-Fall Case From Summary Judgment Dismissal
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According to one source, four out of 10 employees have dated someone at work. This, according to that article, “makes perfect sense [because] [t]here are more singles in the workforce than ever before, spending more than half their waking hours on the job[ and] [w]ith co-workers there’s a familiarity and commonality, not to mention proximity and…

Read More Love Can Get You Fired: Dating is Not a “Recreational Activity” Within the Meaning of New York’s “Lawful Activities” Law
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In Bhatia v Cummings, 2016 NY Slip Op 00918 (App. Div. 2d Dept. Feb. 10, 2016), plaintiff was driving his car when he was struck in the rear by a vehicle operated by defendant. Plaintiff sued, and defendant (the rear-ender) asserted a counterclaim for negligence. The Supreme Court granted plaintiff’s motion dismissing defendant’s counterclaim; the Appellate Division…

Read More Leading Car’s Alleged Slamming on Brakes and Improper Signaling Creates Fact Issue in Rear-End Car Accident Case
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In Lekettey v. City of New York, No. 15-1169-CV, 2016 WL 482109 (2d Cir. Feb. 8, 2016), the court affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint alleging sexual harassment. There are generally two theories of sexual harassment recognized under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: (1) “quid pro quo” sexual harassment,…

Read More Sexual Harassment Allegations Insufficiently Alleged, Notwithstanding Assertion of “Fondling”
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In Mazza v. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 134 A.D.3d 1073 (N.Y. App. Div. 2nd Dept. 2015), the court affirmed the lower court’s denial of defendant’s motion for summary judgment on liability, and declined to find that the alleged defect upon which plaintiff tripped was “trivial” as a matter of law. In…

Read More Trip-and-Fall Case Continues; Alleged Defect Was Not “Trivial”
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In Novak v St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hosp. Ctr., Inc., 2016 NY Slip Op 00762 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Feb. 4, 2016), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s “healthcare whistleblower” claim under New York Labor Law § 741. From the decision: Plaintiff alleges that defendants had retaliated against her for lodging a complaint with defendant supervisors regarding the…

Read More “Healthcare Whistleblowing” Claim Dismissed; Abandonment of Post Was Reason for Termination
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In Echeverri v. The New York City Dept. of Sanitation, No. 15 CIV. 80 (LGS), 2016 WL 427914 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 3, 2016), the court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the NYC Human Rights Law.. This opinion is instructive on, among other things,…

Read More Sanitation Worker’s Disability Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment
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In a recent complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, Moore v. Despont Studios LLC et al, 15-cv-00619, plaintiff – an architect and former employee of Despont Studios LLC d/b/a The Office of Thierry W. Despont, Ltd. – asserts claims of gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and retaliation. From her complaint: In stark contrast to its progressive…

Read More Lawsuit: Pregnancy/Gender Discrimination, FMLA Retaliation Allegations Against Despont Studios LLC d/b/a The Office of Thierry W. Despont, Ltd.
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