Court: U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

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In Chauca v. Abraham, No. 15-1720, 2016 WL 6436834 (2d Cir. Nov. 1, 2016), a pregnancy discrimination case, the Second Circuit certified to the New York Court of Appeals the following question: What is the standard for finding a defendant liable for punitive damages under the New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code…

Read More Second Circuit Addresses the Standard for Punitive Damages Under the NYC Human Rights Law
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In a recent Summary Order, Dunaway v. MPCC Corp. (2d Cir. Sept. 27, 2016), the Second Circuit affirmed the summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s age discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This decision teaches that asking age-related questions during a job interview is not, alone, necessarily sufficient to sustain a failure-to-hire discrimination claim.…

Read More Age-Related Comments During Job Interview Insufficient to Establish Failure-to-Hire ADEA Claim
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In Griffin v. Sirva Inc., No. 15-1307, 2016 WL 4524466 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2016), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit identified so-far unanswered questions relating to liability under Section 296(15) of the New York State Human Rights Law, which prohibits the denial of employment on the basis of a criminal conviction.…

Read More 2nd Circuit Certifies Three Questions to the NY Court of Appeals Regarding Liability Under the NYS Human Rights Law’s Provision Prohibiting Denial of Employment on the Basis of a Criminal Conviction
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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 Doe v. Columbia Univ., No. 15-1536, 2016 WL 4056034 (2d Cir. July 29, 2016), the court held that the plaintiff adequately pled facts that plausibly support a minimal inference of sex bias. Plaintiff, a male Columbia University student, alleges that Columbia violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et…

Read More Title IX Claims Plausibly Alleged Against Columbia University
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In Dhar v. City of New York, No. 15-2698-CV, 2016 WL 3889108 (2d Cir. July 15, 2016) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). “To state a prima facie claim of retaliation, a plaintiff must show (1) participation in a protected activity; (2) that the…

Read More 2d Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Retaliation Claim, Citing Large Gap Between Protected Activity and Adverse Actions
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In Walsh v. New York City Housing Authority, 14-181-cv, 2016 WL 3632245 (2d Cir. July 7, 2016), a Title VII gender discrimination failure-to-hire case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the lower court’s order granting summary judgment to defendant. It is worth a read, for at least the reason that it…

Read More Citing People v. Gambini, 2d Circuit Reinstates Female Bricklayer’s Gender Discrimination Failure-to-Hire Case
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In Carter v. Syracuse City School District, No. 15-2395, 2016 WL 3671631 (2d Cir. July 11, 2016) (Summary Order), an employment discrimination case, the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation claims. Initially, the court held that the District Court incorrectly dismissed plaintiff’s State Human Rights Law claim because plaintiff…

Read More Second Circuit Revives Discrimination Claims Against School District; Discusses Title VII Pleading Standards for Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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In Staten v. City of New York, No. 15-2611, 2016 WL 3569906 (2d Cir. June 30, 2016) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim. This case illustrates the importance of context – specifically, the nature of the plaintiff’s job – in evaluating hostile work environment claims. From the…

Read More No Hostile Work Environment Claim Stated by Police Officer Based on Receipt of “Dangerous Orders”
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In Vangas v. Montefiore Med. Ctr., No. 15-1514-CV, 2016 WL 2909354 (2d Cir. May 19, 2016), the Second Circuit ruled for defendant on plaintiff’s claims that she was subjected to disability discrimination under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws, and that her COBRA notice was defective. In sum, plaintiff alleged that the defendant terminated…

Read More 2nd Circuit Considers NYSHRL Reasonable Accomodation Disability Discrimination; NYCHRL Applicability; COBRA Notice Requirements
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