Judge: Denise Cote

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In Agostini v. EmblemHealth, Inc. et al, 16-cv-7119, 2018 WL 3350324 (S.D.N.Y. July 9, 2018), the court held that plaintiff was entitled to pursue her claims in federal court, notwithstanding the existence of an arbitration provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between her union and her employer. Here’s the law, as summarized by the…

Read More Statutory Discrimination Claims Held Not Subject to Arbitration Agreement
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In Mayer v. Time, Inc., 17-cv-5613, 2018 WL 1738322 (S.D.N.Y. April 9, 2018) (J. Cote), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sex and age discrimination case on the ground of forum non conveniens. The court explained the legal principles applicable to the doctrine, including by noting the three factors to be considered: (1) the degree of deference to be…

Read More Sex, Age Discrimination Claims Dismissed Under Forum Non Conveniens Doctrine; U.K. Was More Appropriate Forum
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In Sharkey v. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., 2018 WL 1229831 (S.D.N.Y. March 5, 2018), the court, inter alia, struck down a jury verdict of $563,000 for emotional distress suffered by plaintiff as a result of her alleged retaliatory termination in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). From the Opinion: If Sharkey is…

Read More Court Strikes Down $563K Emotional Distress Damages Jury Verdict in SOX Case as “Infected With Passion and Prejudice”
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In Dineley v. Coach, Inc., No. 16-cv-3197 (DLC), 2017 WL 2963499 (S.D.N.Y. July 11, 2017), the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim based on her disability (alcoholism). Initially, the court noted that while the Second Circuit has not yet decided whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim, Based on Alcoholism Disability, Survives Summary Judgment
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In Paxton v. Fluor Enterprises, Inc., No. 15-cv-3737, 2017 WL 875856 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 3, 2017) (J. Cote), the court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s Americans with Disabilities Act and New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) claims, as her medical condition – birth with a cleft lip and palate – was not…

Read More Disability (Cleft Lip and Palate) Discrimination Claims Dismissed; Retaliation Claims Survive Summary Judgment
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Payano v. CompassRock Real Estate LLC, decided by the Southern District of New York on May 12, 2014, discusses the application of the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law. Plaintiff, a live-in apartment maintenance worker, alleged that he was only paid for 40 hours, even though he…

Read More Maintenance Worker Successfully Pleads Retaliation Claim Arising From Termination Following Wage Complaints
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In Greene v. Middletown, filed April 29, 2014, the Southern District of New York granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In reaching its decision, Judge Cote cited and applied the “stray remarks” doctrine, which is used to evaluate whether allegedly discriminatory comments are…

Read More Amputee’s Disability Discrimination Case Dismissed Due to “Oblique and Remote” Nature of Alleged Discriminatory Remark
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In Donohue v. Finkelstein Memorial Library, the Southern District of New York recently denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ sexual harassment (hostile work environment) claims. Generally, a plaintiff asserting a hostile work environment claim must establish two things: first, conduct rising to a sufficient level that constitutes a “hostile” or “abusive” working environment, and second,…

Read More SDNY Applies “Alter Ego/Proxy” Theory in Denying Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment in Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment Case
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