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The words “technicality” and “loophole” are frequently used to describe certain legal developments or results that, for one reason or another, don’t “seem” right. Unfortunately, they are often used irresponsibly and in a way that perpetuates both ignorance of the law and unfair stereotypes of lawyers as sleazy manipulators. Take, for example, the New York…

Read More On “Technicalities” and “Loopholes”
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In Northeast Research LLC v. One Shipwrecked Vessel, 729 F.3d 197 (2nd Cir. Sept. 5, 2013), the Second Circuit held that the State of New York was the legal owner of the “Dunkirk Schooner” shipwreck – discovered in the “chill depths of Lake Erie” – under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act, 43 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq (ASA).…

Read More Second Circuit Holds That New York Owns Title to “Dunkirk Schooner” Shipwreck
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In Clindinin v. New York City Housing Authority, NY Supreme Ct. # 109954/2010, the New York Supreme Court recently denied defendant New York City Housing Authority’s motion for summary judgment. In his complaint plaintiff alleged that while taking a shower the water changed erratically “from cold and cool to scalding hot” and that the building’s “defective and unsafe”…

Read More Plaintiff Overcomes Summary Judgment in Shower Burn Case
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In Alladin v. Paramount Management LLC, the Southern District of New York recently granted summary judgment to plaintiff on various issues relating to her unpaid wage claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law, but denied it with respect to plaintiff’s race discrimination claim. Plaintiff worked for defendant for two…

Read More Court Awards Summary Judgment to Plaintiff on Wage Claims; Employer Kept No Records And Admitted to Failing to Pay Plaintiff as Required by Law
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently affirmed (by summary order) a dismissal of a claim, arising from a female student’s alleged harassment and bullying, under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The decision is KF ex rel. CF v. Monroe Woodbury Central School Dist., 13-516-cv, decided August 27, 2013. Plaintiffs…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Title IX School Bullying Claim
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In Viruet v. Port Jervis City School Dist., the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff, a Hispanic bus driver for defendant school district, presented enough evidence on her Title VII discrimination claim to defeat defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff claimed that defendant refused to permit her to “bid” for a contract bus run,…

Read More Plaintiff Defeats Summary Judgment on National Origin, Race, and Color Discrimination Claims; Claims Not Precluded By Collective Bargaining Agreement
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In Dall v. St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, the Eastern District of New York denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s gender discrimination claim, but granted it as to his hostile work environment and retaliation claims. Plaintiff (who is male) resigned after a female co-worker (Birmingham) filed an internal complaint of sexual…

Read More Gender Discrimination, But Not Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Claims, Survive Summary Judgment
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The Appellate Division, First Department this week held, in Tadmor v. New York Jiu Jitsu, that the defendant should have been granted summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim arising from an injury to his left knee while sparring with another student in a mixed martial arts class. The court held that plaintiff, who served in the…

Read More Israeli Army-Trained Martial Artist Assumed the Risk of Injury
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A recent Eastern District decision, Butler v. Coca-Cola, 12 Civ. 1791 (Aug. 26, 2013), illustrates the risks inherent in litigation in general and employment litigation in particular. There, the court taxed costs against plaintiff in the amount of $2,800.64 following its dismissal, on summary judgment, of plaintiff’s Section 1981 hostile work environment and retaliation claims. Citing the…

Read More Dismissal of “Marginal” Case Based on “Workplace Gossip” Results in Taxation of Costs Against Discrimination Plaintiff
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