Judge Karas

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In Cowan v. City of Mount Vernon, No. 14-CV-8871 (KMK), 2017 WL 1169667 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2017), the court dismissed plaintiff’s sexual harassment claim as insufficiently pled. This decision illustrates the degree of specificity courts look for when evaluating these types of claims on a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. From…

Read More Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed; Court Cites Lack of Complaint’s Specificity
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In order to hold an employer liable for a hostile work environment, a plaintiff needs to establish two elements: The existence of a hostile work environment (i.e., sufficiently “hostile” conduct connected a protected characteristic); and A specific basis for imputing the hostile work environment to the employer (vicarious liability). A recent case, Ward v. Shaddock, No.…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Created by Co-Worker Not Imputable to Entity Employer
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In Guzman v. Concavage Marine Constr. Inc., No. 14-CV-8587 (KMK), 2016 WL 1273285 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2016), the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss/strike plaintiff’s allegation that he suffered a physical workplace injury as a result of his employer’s owner’s racist attitude towards him, in violation of 42 U.S.C. 1981. This decision is instructive as…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Arising From Alleged Racism-Caused Bodily Injury Proceeds
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In McCall v. Genpak, LLC, No. 13-CV-1947 KMK, 2015 WL 5730352 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2015), the court denied defendants’ summary judgment motion on plaintiff’s race discrimination and hostile work environment claims. Race Discrimination Based on “Adverse Action” Plaintiff alleged that he was subjected to two adverse employment actions – demotion and termination – because of…

Read More Plaintiff Survives Summary Judgment on Race Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation Claims
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In Lewis v. Blackman Plumbing Supply Co. 51 F. Supp. 3d 289 (SDNY 2014), the Southern District of New York denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims that defendants terminated him because of his hip-related disability, failed to accommodate him, and subjected him to a hostile work environment. As to plaintiff’s discriminatory-discharge claim,…

Read More Evidence, Including Derogatory Comments About Plaintiff’s Walk, Was Sufficient to Overcome Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s Disability Discrimination Claims
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Here’s the lawsuit recently filed in the Southern District of New York by ESPN sportscaster Linda Cohn against Southeast Sports Complex, Players Club at Brewster Ice Arena, and Steve Santini. Plaintiff alleges in her complaint that she was injured “when a heavy, large coin change machine fell upon her”. Cohn stated on her whosay page that “[s]ome…

Read More Linda Cohn Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Brewster Ice Arena
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