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

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In Greathouse v. JHS Security, 12-4521-cv (2nd Cir. April 20, 2015), the Second Circuit (panel: Carney, Pooler, Korman) held that, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kasten v. Saint-Gobain (2011), the FLSA’s retaliation provision (29 USC 215) is not restricted to written complaints to a government agency, but is broad enough to prohibit retaliation…

Read More Second Circuit: FLSA Anti-Retaliation Provision Covers Oral Complaints to Employer, Not Just Written Complaints to Government
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In Green v. District Council 1707, a Summary Order issued by the Second Circuit on April 17, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated a lower court’s order dismissing plaintiff’s race discrimination claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. “To survive a motion to dismiss, a discrimination complaint need not allege facts…

Read More Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Race Discrimination Claim
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For employment litigators in New York City, the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) is a formidable weapon against discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The NYCHRL’s protections are broad, particularly when compared with those offered by federal and state law. In Velazco v. Columbus Citizens Foundation et al (2nd Cir. Feb. 13, 2015),…

Read More Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of NYC Human Rights Law Age Discrimination Claim
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In Turley v. ISG Lackawanna, the Second Circuit clarified the standards for awarding punitive damages in employment discrimination cases. It provides a good review of the law, as well as how it applies in specific cases. In this race discrimination case, the plaintiff “endured an extraordinary and steadily intensifying drumbeat of racial insults, intimidation, and…

Read More Second Circuit Weighs in on Punitive Damages in Employment Discrimination Cases
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In Gayle v. Harry’s Nurses Registry, Inc., 594 F.App’x 714 (2d Cir. 2014) (Summary Order), the court held that the plaintiffs were indeed employees, and not independent contractors. The decision is instructive as to the factors bearing on that analysis. Plaintiffs, a class of nurses, sued to recover unpaid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards…

Read More Nurses Were Employees, Not Independent Contractors, Court Holds
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In Mathew v. North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, a Summary Order dated 11/13/14, the Second Circuit explained that, in a case alleging retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), courts “are decidedly not interested in the truth of the allegations against plaintiff when evaluating pretext”, and are rather “interested in what motivated the employer.”…

Read More Second Circuit Reiterates That Employer’s Motivation, Rather Than Truth of Allegations Against Employee, Are Key in Evaluating FMLA Retaliation Claims
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In EEOC v. Port Authority, decided 9/29/14, the Second Circuit provided guidance on the level of specificity necessary to survive a motion to dismiss a claim under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. 206(d). This case began with a charge of discrimination filed by a female Port Authority attorney, and led to an investigation…

Read More Failure to Allege Facts Concerning Attorneys’ Job Duties Results in Dismissal of Equal Pay Act Claim
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In Cruz v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A., the Second Circuit recently affirmed the dismissal of a bank officer’s claim of breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The court cited the rule of “at will employment” in New York and its narrow exception, based on the New York Court of Appeals’ decision…

Read More Bank Officer Not Entitled to Invoke Narrow Exception to “At Will” Employment Rule
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In Pal v. New York University (Summary Order dated 9/22/14), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit clarified that New York’s “Whistleblower” law – New York Labor Law § 740 – only provides for “equitable” relief (such as back pay), does not allow recovery for “future or anticipated lost wages or benefits,” and does not provide…

Read More Second Circuit Clarifies Remedies Available Under New York’s “Whistleblower Law”, New York Labor Law 740/741
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In Delaney v. Bank of America et al. (decided 9/5/14), the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision granting defendant summary judgment on plaintiff’s age discrimination and breach of contract claims. Age Discrimination As to plaintiff’s age discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the court rejected plaintiff’s reliance on another…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Age Discrimination and Breach of Contract Claims
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