September 2015

In Garnett v. Strike Holdings LLC, 2015 NY Slip Op 06694 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 1, 2015), plaintiff was injured while riding in a two-seat go-kart; “[w]hile driving on the track, they were allegedly bumped twice by other go-karts, allegedly causing injuries to plaintiff, including ‘Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.’” Defendant moved for summary judgment, on the ground…

Read More Injured Go-Kart Rider Assumed Risk of Being Bumped; Negligence Case Dismissed
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Generally, by bringing a personal injury lawsuit a plaintiff waives the physician-patient privilege, but only with respect to medical records relevant to the injuries for which compensation is sought. This point is illustrated by the decision today in Kenneh v. Jey Livery Serv., 2015 NY Slip Op 06993 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 29, 2015), in which the…

Read More Defendants Not Entitled to Medical Records Relating to Preexisting Diabetic Condition in Car Accident Personal Injury Case
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In Stevens v. Rite Aid Corp., No. 6:13-CV-783, 2015 WL 5602949 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2015), a disability discrimination case, plaintiff – a pharmacist working for Rite Aid – alleged that defendant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law by discharging him because of his disability (trypanophobia), failing to provide him…

Read More Court Upholds Disability Discrimination Jury Verdict For for Needle-Fearing Pharmacist
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An employee of the Metropolitan Repertory Ballet alleges in a recent lawsuit, Volpe v. Anthony Carmine Paniccioli et al (NY Sup. Ct., NY Cty., Index # 159739/2015, filed 9/21/15), that her boss, defendant Paniccioli, subjected her to sexual assault and sexual harassment and breached an agreement to pay her for her work on a movie…

Read More Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Metropolitan Repertory Ballet Board Member/Sponsor
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Every first-year law student reads the case of Palsgraf v Long Is. R.R. Co., 248 NY 339 [1928], arguably the leading case in New York on the issue of whether a defendant had a duty to plaintiff in a negligence case. In Gonzalez v. City of New York, 2015 Slip NY Slip Op 06869 (App. Div.…

Read More Court Reinstates Negligence Claims Against City Arising From Fatal Shooting By Off-Duty Officer
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In a recent lawsuit captioned Schultz v. Congregation Shearith Israel of the City of New York et al (SDNY, 15-cv-07473, filed 9/22/15), plaintiff alleges that her employer, described in the complaint as “the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States”, fired plaintiff “immediately after learning that when her Orthodox marriage ceremony was performed, she was also…

Read More Lawsuit Alleges Unlawful Termination by Jewish Congregation for Having Pre-Marital Sex
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In Herling v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., No. 13-CV-5287 JG VVP, 2015 WL 5307752 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2015), the court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of discrimination based on his race (white) and religion (Jewish). In an April 23, 2014 Order (which I discussed here) the court denied defendants’ FRCP 12(b)(6)…

Read More White Jewish Teacher Overcomes Summary Judgment on Discrimination Claims
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In Lenart v. Coach Inc., No. 15-CV-1922 JMF, 2015 WL 5319735 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 11, 2015), the court held that the plaintiff – a male tax lawyer – stated a claim for a sex-based hostile work environment under the NYC Human Rights Law (but not under Title VII or the New York State Human Rights Law).…

Read More Male Employee States Sex-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim Against Coach Under the NYC Human Rights Law
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In a recently-filed lawsuit, Silva v. Georgio Armani Corp. et al (filed NY Sup. Ct., NY Cty., Index # 159449/2015) (complaint here), plaintiff Fabio Silva – formerly defendant’s General Counsel and VP for Legal Affairs – alleges that defendant discriminated against him based on his Mexican nationality and his colon cancer diagnosis and retaliated against…

Read More Lawsuit Against Georgio Armani Alleges Disability Discrimination, National Origin Discrimination, Retaliation, and Hostile Work Environment
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