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

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Comments demonstrating bias are frequently cited in employment discrimination and retaliation cases. A recent Second Circuit decision, In Kazolias v. IBEWLU 363, 806 F.3d 45 (2d Cir. 2015), holds that a comment can demonstrate evidence of retaliation existing prior to the statement. There, plaintiffs, three journeymen wiremen, asserted (among other claims) that they were subjected to age discrimination…

Read More Comments Can Evidence Pre-Existing Bias, Second Circuit Holds
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In Hofmann v. Schiavone Contracting Corp., No. 14-2861-CV, 2015 WL 7067853 (2d Cir. Nov. 13, 2015), a Summary Order, the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s order granting summary judgment to defendants. In sum, plaintiff – a female crane operator and member of defendant International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14-14B – alleged that “John…

Read More “Sexually Inflected Dinner Conversation” and “Rudeness” Insufficient to Defeat Summary Judgment on Gender Discrimination Claim
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In Sands v. New Paltz Central School District, a race discrimination case, the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133 (2000), the court explained: [A] plaintiff’s prima facie case … when combined with sufficient evidence…

Read More Second Circuit Revives Race Discrimination Case, Citing SCOTUS “Reeves” Decision
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In Davis v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., 804 F.3d 231 (2d Cir. 2015), the Second Circuit squarely rejected the argument that “the denial or reduction of a discretionary bonus is categorically insufficient to constitute an adverse employment action.” In this case, plaintiff (a substitute teacher) took a four-month leave of absence from work…

Read More Denial of “Discretionary” Bonus Can Still Be An “Adverse Employment Action”
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The Second Circuit’s decision in Shamir v. City of New York, No. 14-3606, 2015 WL 6214708 (2d Cir. Oct. 22, 2015) (Newman, Walker, Jacobs) is instructive on pleading police misconduct cases – namely, claims for excessive force. This case arises from plaintiff’s arrest after putting a sleeping bag on the ground while attending an Occupy Wall Street…

Read More Excessive Force/Tight Handcuffing Claim Sufficiently Alleged
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In White v. Andy Frain Servs., Inc., No. 14-3332-CV, 2015 WL 6684485 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2015), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s (a black Jewish man) employment discrimination claims. Plaintiff “assert[ed] that Andy Frain discriminated against him by failing to give him a raise, providing unequal terms and conditions of employment, retaliating…

Read More Court Explains Dismissal of Religious Discrimination (Including Failure to Accommodate) Claims
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In Uzoukwu v. City of New York, No. 13-3483-CV, 2015 WL 6742739 (2d Cir. Nov. 5, 2015), a false arrest/excessive force case, the Second Circuit vacated a judgment entered following a jury verdict for defendants. The facts, briefly: Plaintiff was sitting on a park bench near a playground. Park rules prohibited adults unaccompanied by children…

Read More Second Circuit Revives False Arrest Case Following Improper Jury Instruction on “Obstruction of Governmental Administration”
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In Sosa v. Local Staff LLC (14-3704-cv), a Summary Order issued by the Second Circuit on Oct. 9, 2015, the court discussed what constitutes “protected activity” for purposes of asserting a retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the NYC Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). In this employment discrimination case,…

Read More Complaint About “You’re So Street” Comment Was Not “Protected Activity”; Retaliation Claim Properly Dismissed
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In Gordon v. City of New York, 14-545-cv (2d Cir. 2015), the Second Circuit affirmed, in a summary order, the dismissal of plaintiffs’ First Amendment retaliation and hostile work environment claims. The facts, as summarized by the court: While working as emergency medical technicians (“EMTs”) for the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”), plaintiffs Tomeko…

Read More Second Circuit: No Hostile Work Environment Where Black Woman and White Male Were Subjected to Similar Treatment
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In Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 14-2265-CV, 2015 WL 5127519 (2d Cir. Sept. 2, 2015), the Second Circuit held that plaintiff, a state employee, stated a claim for discrimination (based on his Hispanic ethnicity) and retaliation, and thus vacated the lower court’s order granting defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings under…

Read More Second Circuit Holds That Teacher Stated Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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