November 2013

by

Below and here is the complaint filed in New York state court on Wednesday by yoga instructor Dilek Edwards against Charles V. Nicolai and Stephanie Adams. Plaintiff alleges that defendants fired plaintiff, allegedly because Ms. Adams was jealous of plaintiff’s working relationship with her husband (Nicolai). It also alleges that, as a result of a complaint…

Read More Yoga Instructor’s Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Complaint Against Charles Nicolai and Stephanie Adams
Share This:
by

In Barenboim v. Starbucks, the Second Circuit (by Summary Order) yesterday held that Starbucks shift supervisors are not precluded by New York Labor Law § 196-d from sharing in tips.  The decision follows the New York Court of Appeals’ decision this summer that answered a certified question regarding the interpretation of that statute. The New York…

Read More Starbucks Shift Supervisors May Share in Tips
Share This:
by

In Freeman v. City of New York (decided November 20, 2013), the Appellate Division, Second Department held that plaintiff failed to state a claim for relief. Plaintiff alleged that her mother Yvonne Freeman died after the December 27, 2010 blizzard because defendants “were negligent in failing to provide emergency services, and in failing to prepare for,…

Read More Trial Court Should Have Dismissed Blizzard Death Lawsuit Due to Absence of “Special Relationship”
Share This:
by

In Kennington v. 226 Realty LLC, the court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint alleging sexual harassment and age discrimination. Although the court held only that the plaintiffs state a claim for relief (without determining the ultimate issue of liability), this case is instructive as to how to plead discrimination claims under the New…

Read More Plaintiffs Sufficiently Alleged Sexual Harassment and Age Discrimination Claims Under the New York City Human Rights Law
Share This:
by

This week in Litzman v. City of New York, Southern District of New York Judge Harold Baer largely sided with plaintiff, Probationary New York City Police Officer Fishel Litzman, in his lawsuit alleging religious discrimination. Plaintiff follows the rules and traditions of the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish community, and his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibits him from…

Read More SDNY Holds That NYPD Failed to Reasonably Accommodate Jewish Officer’s Religious Beliefs
Share This:
by

In Denermark v 2857 W. 8th St. Assoc., a trip and fall case, the Appellate Division, Second Department reversed a grant of summary judgment to defendants. Plaintiff was injured when she “overstepped” a single step and caused her to trip and fall onto the adjacent sidewalk while exiting a building owned by defendant 2857 West 8th…

Read More Right of Entry to Make Repairs Subjected Out-of-Possession Landlord to Liability in Trip and Fall Case
Share This:
by

In Benyard v. White Plains Hosp. Medical Center, the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment to defendants on plaintiff’s age discrimination claims. This case illustrates (among other things) that it is not enough for an age discrimination plaintiff to point to her years of service and replacement by a younger worker. This is…

Read More Age Discrimination Plaintiff Was Unable to Show Pretext, and General Complaints Did Not Support Retaliation Claim
Share This:
by

Here is the age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed in New York state court by Bernice Lowe, Angela Fletcher and Rosemary Mangum against retailer Loehmann’s and others. In the suit, captioned Lowe v. Loehmann’s Holdings Inc. et al (NY Sup. Ct. Index No. 160564/2013), plaintiffs allege discrimination and retaliation under the New York City Human Rights…

Read More Age Discrimination Lawsuit Against Loehmann’s
Share This:
by

In Knight v. State University of New York at Stony Brook, the Eastern District of New York recently dismissed plaintiff’s race discrimination and retaliation claims, on the ground that plaintiff did not sufficiently allege that he was employed by the defendant. Plaintiff alleged that he worked as an electrician at a construction project for defendant…

Read More Court Dismisses Race Discrimination Case Because Plaintiff Didn’t Sufficiently Allege That He Was Employed by Defendant
Share This:
by

Recently in Amadu v. Stratus Hacking Corp., a car accident case, the New York Supreme Court, Queens County held that plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether he suffered a “serious injury” within the meaning of Insurance Law Section 5102(d). The “serious injury” issue is critical in an automobile…

Read More Medical Evidence of “Strained Lumbar Spine” and “Right Ankle Sprain” Sufficient to Create Fact Issue Regarding “Serious Injury” in Car Accident Case
Share This: