FRCP 12(b)(6)

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In Olsen v. Suffolk County et al, 15-CV-4064, 2016 WL 5395846 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 27, 2016), the court held, among other things, that plaintiff plausibly alleged hostile work environment sexual harassment. The court summarized plaintiff’s allegations, in part, as follows: On or about May 26, 2014, Plaintiff was eating dinner with coworkers outside the precinct and…

Read More Forced Penis Touch, Among Other Allegations, Sufficient to Plausibly Allege Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment
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In Conforti v. Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., No. 15-cv-5045, 2016 WL 4288699 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2016), the court held  that the Plaintiff “satisfied the minimal showing required at this motion to dismiss stage to plausibly allege that the Defendant’s decision to terminate her employment … was motivated at least in part by a discriminatory reason.” Judge Spatt…

Read More Replacement By Men, Sexist Comments, Etc. Among Facts That Plausibly Alleged Gender Discrimination
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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 Epstein v. County of Suffolk & Suffolk County Community College, No. 14-CV-0937, 2016 WL 4257349 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s claims for, e.g., age discrimination, disability discrimination (failure to provide reasonable accommodation), and hostile work environment. In this post I’ll discuss the court’s evaluation of plaintiff’s failure-to-accommodate-disability and hostile work environment claims.…

Read More Professor’s Hostile Work Environment & Sleep-Related Disability Discrimination Claims Dismissed as Insufficiently Pled
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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 Yang v. Dep’t of Educ. of the City of New York, 2016 WL 4028131 (E.D.N.Y. July 26, 2016), the court denied defendant’s FRCP 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss plaintiff’s disparate treatment and hostile work environment claims based on her national origin (Chinese). As to plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim, the court explained: [T]he Court concludes…

Read More National Origin (Chinese) Disparate Treatment and Hostile Work Environment Claims Plausibly Alleged
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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 Tiffany v. Dzwonczyk, 2016 WL 3661410 (N.D.N.Y. July 5, 2016), the court dismissed plaintiff’s claim asserting retaliation in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The court summarized the law: The Second Circuit recognizes two claims under the FMLA: (i) interference with FMLA rights; and (ii) retaliation for exercising FMLA rights. … To…

Read More FMLA Retaliation Claim Dismissed; Yearlong Work Absence Was Not FMLA-Protected, Evidence of Causation Lacking
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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 Beaton v. Metro. Transp. Auth. New York City Transit, No. 15 CIV. 8056 (ER), 2016 WL 3387301 (S.D.N.Y. June 15, 2016), the court held that plaintiff – who suffered from schizophrenia – successfully pleaded discrimination (termination) and retaliation claims, but failed to sufficiently allege a failure-to-accommodate claim. Plaintiff’s allegations, in sum: Plaintiff alleges that…

Read More Schizophrenic Plaintiff Fired for Sleeping on the Job Plausibly Alleges Disability Discrimination and Retaliation, But Not Failure-to-Accommodate, Claims
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