December 2013

An eye-opening Metro article highlights the difficulties faced by victims of domestic violence with respect to obtaining appropriate housing. Victims of domestic violence may also suffer discrimination in the workplace, where its effects can be particularly devastating. As explained by the New York Supreme Court court in Reynolds v. Fraser, decided in 2004: The ability to hold on…

Read More Workplace Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sex Offenses, or Stalking
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In Wright v. Emigrant Savings Bank, the Appellate Division, First Department recently held that the Supreme Court, Bronx County properly denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint. Defendant failed to “establish[] prima facie that it did not create or have notice of the black ice that allegedly caused plaintiff to slip and fall,…

Read More Plaintiff’s Case Arising From Slip/Fall on Black Ice Continues
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In Reynolds v. All Island Media, Inc., the New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, held that plaintiff Leona Reynolds adequately stated claims arising from the alleged sexual harassment by her supervisor, Angelo Donofrio. The court summarized plaintiff’s allegations as follows: The amended complaint alleges, among other things, that plaintiff was sexually harassed by Donofrio throughout…

Read More At-Will Employee Stated Claim For Sexual Harassment and Breach of the Contractual Obligation of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
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Addressing an issue of first impression, the New York Supreme Court (Bronx County) in Bautista v. 85th Columbus Corporation recently held that a sidewalk basement stairway, accessed through trap doors set into the sidewalk, is not an “interior stair” within the meaning of New York City Administrative Code § 27-375. Plaintiff was injured after slipping and…

Read More Court Dismisses Personal Injury Suit, Holding That Sidewalk Trapdoor Stairs Were Not “Interior Stairs” Under the NYC Building Code and Therefore Could Lawfully Include Conveyor Belt
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In Munasca v Morrison Mgt. LLC, a trip-and-fall case, the Appellate Division, First Department reversed the trial court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s case on summary judgment. Plaintiff was injured after tripping and falling on a sidewalk defect in front of defendants’ premises. The court held that defendant failed to show, as a matter of law, that the…

Read More Sidewalk Tlip and Fall Case Continues; Pictures Didn’t Show That Defect Was “Trivial”
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In Graves v. Deutsche Bank Securities, the Second Circuit (by Summary Order dated December 4, 2013) affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims against Deutsche Bank for age discrimination and retaliation under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the New York City Human Rights Law. Age Discrimination As to plaintiff’s age discrimination claim,…

Read More Court Affirms Dismissal of Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against Deutsche Bank
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A Nassau County trial court recently held, in DeMay v. Wheatley Hills Golf Club, Inc., that plaintiff presented enough evidence to proceed on her gender discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and aiding and abetting claims under the New York State Human Rights Law, NY Executive Law § 296(1)(a). Plaintiff Toni DeMay, the former General Manager of…

Read More Court Finds in Favor of Female Manager Against Country Club on Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
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News recently broke about a man, William Iglesias, who was arrested for secretly recording female employees in the bathroom of photography studio Foto Y Video Alexander in Brentwood. You can read about the story here and here. I previously wrote about a case, Hughes v. Pacienza, involving similar conduct. There, the court granted plaintiff Hughes…

Read More Toilet-Spy Boss: Deja Vu?
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‘Tis the season for company holiday parties, where the awkward mingling with co-workers and the free flow of alcohol can combine to create uncomfortable and humiliating social situations and, in some cases, possible legal liability for discrimination and harassment. Despite various warnings about maintaining professionalism, it seems that every year there are people who embarrass themselves…

Read More Company Holiday Parties, Professionalism, and Discrimination/Sexual Harassment
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In Carbonnier v. Board of Education of the City of New York, a student who was injured after being pushed by another student while playing on the monkey bars in a school playground. The Appellate Division yesterday directed the entry of judgment in favor of defendant. According to the court, defendant demonstrated its entitlement to summary…

Read More Monkey Bar Injury Case Dismissed
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