Cat’s Paw Theory of Discrimination

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In Edelman v. NYU Langone Health System et al, 2023 WL 8892482 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 26, 2023), the court, inter alia, granted defendant’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict on plaintiff’s retaliation claim. Among other points discussed in this comprehensive decision is a key point in retaliation cases. From the decision: The complete absence of evidence…

Read More Court Overturns Retaliation Verdict, Citing Absence of Evidence of Awareness of Gender Discrimination Complaint
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In Jones v. Target Corporation, 2019 WL 6247900 (2d Cir. Nov. 22, 2019) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s Title VII retaliation claim. The court explained that “[r]etaliation claims under Title VII are evaluated under the familiar McDonnell Douglas three-step burden-shifting analysis” and “presume[d] that Jones has established a prima facie case…

Read More Retaliation Claim Dismissal Affirmed; Marijuana-Based Termination Not Shown to be Pretextual
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In Menaker v. Hofstra University, 18-3089-cv, 2019 WL 3819631 (2d Cir. Aug. 15, 2019), the Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of plaintiff’s sex discrimination claim asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court summarized its holding(s) as follows: (1) Where a university (a) takes an adverse employment action against an…

Read More Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Hofstra Tennis Coach’s Sex Discrimination Claim
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In Campbell v. national Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (2d Cir. 17-1820 May 25, 2018) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s Title VII gender discrimination claim. Initially, the court rejected plaintiff’s attempt to establish discrimination by comparing herself to male co-workers: We affirm for substantially the same reasons given by the district court…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Gender Discrimination, Rejects “Cat’s Paw” Theory
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In Jones v. Target Corporation, 15-CV-4672, 2018 WL 1377301 (EDNY March 16, 2018), the court, inter alia, dismissed plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, defendant terminated plaintiff for violating its drug-free workplace policy after marijuana was found in the employee locker room. According to her, the marijuana was…

Read More Court Dismisses Retaliation Claim Against Target; “Cat’s Paw” Theory Inapplicable
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In Campbell v. Nat’l Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., No. 1:13-CV-00438 EAW, 2017 WL 1957829 (W.D.N.Y. May 11, 2017), the court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII gender discrimination claim. While plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, her case fell apart at the third step of the analysis.…

Read More Title VII Gender Discrimination Case Dismissed; Actions By “Tough Supervisor” Who “Did Not Like” Plaintiff Not Shown to Have Exhibited Unlawful Bias
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In McFadden v. Cty. of Monroe, No. 14-2167, 2016 WL 7107468 (2d Cir. Dec. 6, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination and retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Municipal Liability As to municipal liability, the court explained that…

Read More Court Discusses Municipal, Individual, and “Cat’s Paw” Liability in Race Discrimination Case
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In Boston v. Taconic Eastchester Mgmt. LLC, No. 12 CIV. 4077 (ER), 2016 WL 5719751 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s discriminatory termination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claims under Title VII. The law, as summarized by the court: Plaintiff’s Title VII claims for race and color discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation are…

Read More Theft Was Nondiscriminatory Reason For Termination; Pretext Not Shown
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Today, in Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Service, 15-3239-cv (2d Cir. Aug. 29, 2016), the Second Circuit – in an opinion authored by Judge Calabresi – vacated a lower court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Title VII, and explicitly held “that an employer may be held liable for an employee’s animus under a ‘cat’s paw’…

Read More Second Circuit Reinstates Retaliation Claim Based on “Cat’s Paw” Theory
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In Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Serv., Inc., No. 14 CIV. 8387 NRB, 2015 WL 5037055 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2015), the court addressed the following question: [W]hether an employer is liable for unlawfully retaliating against a plaintiff employee when (1) the plaintiff reports that a coworker [here, Gray] has sexually harassed her, (2) the employer promptly…

Read More Court Discusses and Applies “Cat’s Paw” Theory in Sexual Harassment/Retaliation Case
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