In Cubelo v. City of New York, 2019 NY Slip Op 00689 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Jan. 31, 2019), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation claims. Plaintiff – who was born in Spain – alleged that he was “passed over for several promotions in his employment as a civil engineer with…
Read More Court Affirms Dismissal of Engineer’s Discrimination and Retaliation ClaimsIn Sims v Trustees of Columbia University, No. 156566/13, 8262, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 00672, 2019 WL 385366 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Jan. 31, 2019), the Appellate Division, First Department held that the lower court properly dismissed plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation, but not plaintiff’s hostile work environment, claims. As to plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims, the court…
Read More “Bubbles” Chimp Hostile Work Environment Claim Resurrected From Summary Judgment DismissalA recent decision, Grant v. Almonte, 2019 NY Slip Op 00057 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Jan. 3, 2019), provides some insight into the mechanics of an “open court” settlement under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules 2104. That statute provides: An agreement between parties or their attorneys relating to any matter in an action, other than…
Read More Marking Court File Did Not Qualify as a CPLR 2104 StipulationIn Marino v. City of New York, 2018 NY Slip Op 09027 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 27, 2018), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint alleging employment discrimination. From the decision: Plaintiff’s timely allegations fail to state claims for employment discrimination (see Askin v Department of Educ. of the City of N.Y., 110 AD3d 621…
Read More City Not Responsible For Alleged Discrimination By Police Pension Fund, Court HoldsIn Tzamarot v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., 2018 NY Slip Op 09023 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 27, 2018), the court unanimously affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s slip-and-fall complaint. The court (tersely) stated: Dismissal of the complaint was proper since plaintiff’s attempt to walk on top of a curbside mound of snow as a shortcut…
Read More Attempted Shortcut Leads to Injury, Dismissal of Slip-and-Fall ComplaintDefamation claims are not easy to prove. One (substantial) hurdle that a defamation plaintiff must overcome is demonstrating that the alleged defamatory remark was a false statement of fact, rather than (non-actionable) opinion. This is illustrated by a recent court decision, Cardali v. Slater, 2018 NY Slip Op 08544 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 13, 2018).…
Read More Libel Claim Properly Dismissed; “Common Criminal” Remark Was Nonactionable OpinionIn Wilkins v. West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 08247 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Dec. 4, 2018) – a premises liability personal injury case – the court reversed the lower court’s decision granting summary judgment to defendant. In sum, plaintiff was injured when, after attempting to close a window on property leased by…
Read More “Res Ipsa Loquitur” Doctrine Applicable in Falling-Window Personal Injury Case; Summary Judgement to Defendant ReversedIn Hirsch v. Solares, 2018 NY Slip Op 07828 (App. Div. 1st Div. Nov. 15, 2018), a personal injury action arising from a bar fight, the court held that summary judgment was properly denied as to plaintiff’s negligence claim, but that plaintiff’s claim for strict liability under Alcoholic Beverage Control Law § 65(2) should have been dismissed. As…
Read More Bar Brawl Personal Injury Case Survives Summary Judgment, In PartIn Sager v. Waldo Gardens, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 07359 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Nov. 1, 2018) – a personal injury slip-and-fall case – the court affirmed the lower court’s denial of summary judgment to the defendant. The outcome, like so many cases of this type, turned on the often difficult-to-prove issue of constructive notice. From…
Read More Slip/Fall Case Survives Summary Judgment; Court Cites Porter’s Failure to Mop the Area Despite Noticing it Was WetIn Ricaurte v. Inwood Beer Garden & Bistro Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 07242 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Oct. 30, 2018), the court held that the lower court should have granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s claim under New York’s Dram Shop Act, but that it should have denied it as to plaintiff’s…
Read More Negligence, But Not Dram Shop Act, Claim Survives Summary Judgment