42 USC § 1983

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On May 28, 2014, an Eastern District federal jury awarded $1.35 million to white Freeport police lieutenant Christopher Barella. Here is the Judgment, memorializing the following awards: $150,000 for loss of back pay, $1,000,000 for loss of front pay, $200,000 for punitive damages. In his Amended Complaint, plaintiff asserted that the Village of Freeport and…

Read More White Police Lieutenant Wins $1.35 Million Award in “Reverse” Discrimination Suit
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In Smith v. Town of Hempstead (decided May 15, 2014), the Eastern District of New York held that plaintiff stated claims for sexual harassment/hostile work environment under Title VII, and a claim for municipal liability under 42 USC 1983. Plaintiff worked as a Community Research Assistant in the Town’s Clerk’s Office and claimed that she was subjected…

Read More Town Clerk States Claims For Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment and Municipal Liability Under Section 1983
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In Betts v. Shearman et al, decided May 2, 2014, the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution arising from his wife’s an encounter in which, he claims, his wife falsely accused him of assaulting her. Plaintiff alleged the following: On January 20, 2011 at approximately 11:30 p.m., while…

Read More Complaining Victim’s Allegedly False Accusation of Assault Insufficient to Establish False Arrest Claim
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Here’s a little Mother’s Day-themed law for you. In Pierre v. City of New York, the Southern District of New York recommended the dismissal of various claims asserted by plaintiff against the City of New York, including for false arrest, excessive force, deprivation of property, violation of First Amendment rights, under federal law (through 42 USC…

Read More Mother’s Day Cards Are Not Exempt From General Vendor’s License Requirement
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Below is the federal court complaint recently filed by the parents of aspiring model Jazmin Drain against the Freeport Union Free School District and others, arising from a razor attack by a fellow student. Plaintiffs bring their claims under 42 USC 1983. Plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that defendant school district “failed to properly act” when Jazmin…

Read More $21 Million Lawsuit by Parents Against School District Arising from Razor Attack on Aspiring Model Jazmin Drain
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White Castle can’t buy advertising like this. Below is a recent federal complaint, in which plaintiffs allege that they were arrested and struck by NYPD officers after refusing the officers’ demand for their White Castle food. According to a recent Gothamist article: Brooklyn residents Danny Maisonet and Kenneth Glover say that they procured White Castle meals on Halloween 2012…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges NYPD Officers Subjected Men to False Arrest and Police Brutality For Refusing to Hand Over White Castle Food
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In a lawsuit filed on December 12, 2013 in the Southern District of New York, Zayas v. City of New York et al. (SDNY 13-cv-8808), plaintiff – photojournalist Angel Zayas – alleges that he was “forced out of the subway for trying to photograph police performing a stop-and-frisk and was then arrested for complaining about…

Read More Photojournalist’s False Arrest Lawsuit Against the City of New York
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In Meadors v. Ulster County, the Northern District of New York held in favor of plaintiffs, county corrections officers, on various employment discrimination claims. Here we summarize the court’s holdings on plaintiffs’ sexual harassment, disparate treatment, retaliation, and pregnancy discrimination claims. Hostile Work Environment The court held that plaintiffs presented “barely” just enough evidence to survive…

Read More Court Rules in Favor of Corrections Employees on Sexual Harassment, Sex Discrimination, Retaliation, and Pregnancy Discrimination Claims
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This week in Litzman v. City of New York, Southern District of New York Judge Harold Baer largely sided with plaintiff, Probationary New York City Police Officer Fishel Litzman, in his lawsuit alleging religious discrimination. Plaintiff follows the rules and traditions of the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish community, and his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibits him from…

Read More SDNY Holds That NYPD Failed to Reasonably Accommodate Jewish Officer’s Religious Beliefs
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