In a recent lawsuit, captioned Maurice v. Lynsey Plasco-Flaxman and Joel Plasco, 18-cv-08841 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2018), plaintiff, a nanny, accuses her new employers of race discrimination. The basis of her suit is a text message she received from defendant Lynsey – stating “NOOOOOOOOOOO ANOTHER BLACK PERSON” – that was apparently meant for her husband.…
Read More Nanny Accuses Employers of Race DiscriminationHere is yet another reason why accident victims should refrain from using social media after they are in an accident. In Smith v. Brown, 2018 NY Slip Op 28299 (Sup. Ct. Bx. Cty. Sept. 27, 2018), a personal injury case involving a motor vehicle accident, the court held that plaintiff was required to respond to requests…
Read More Car Accident Plaintiff Must Respond to Requests for Admission Regarding Instagram “Selfies,” Court RulesIn Dooley v. JetBlue Airways Corp., 17-2899 (2d Cir. Sept. 25, 2018) (Summary Order) affirmed the district court’s summary judgment dismissal,[1]Dooley v. JetBlue Airways Corp., No. 14-CV-4432, 2017 WL 3738721 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 29, 2017.) following discovery, of plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The court explained, inter alia: “Although Dooley disputes…
Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Disability Discrimination Claim Against JetBlueIn Maines et al v. Last Chance Funding, Inc. d/b/a The LCF Group et al, 2018 WL 4558408 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2018), the court clarified the standard for imposing liability on individual defendants under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), N.Y. Executive Law § 290 et seq. The statute, explained the court, provides for…
Read More Court Explains Standard for Individual Liability for a Hostile Work Environment Under the New York State Human Rights LawIn A. Anonymous v. Mount Sinai Hospital, 2018 WL 4567945, 2018 NY Slip Op 06212 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. Sept. 25, 2018), the Appellate Division, First Department unanimously affirmed the Supreme Court’s order granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. Central to the court’s…
Read More Citing Lack of Knowledge of HIV, First Department Affirms Dismissal of Disability Discrimination ClaimIn Maines et al v. Last Chance Funding, Inc. d/b/a The LCF Group et al, 2018 WL 4558408 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 21, 2018), the court, inter alia, held that one plaintiff (Alexandre) sufficiently stated a claim for hostile work environment based on gender in a proposed amended complaint.[1]The court also held that this particular plaintiff also sufficiently alleged…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Sufficiently Alleged; Claims Include Inappropriate Touching and Viewing PornographyAs you may know, SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh stands accused of engaging in sexual misconduct against one, and possibly several, women, including Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. The allegations are based on conduct that allegedly occurred decades ago. This, predictably, has resulted in significant discussions, on social media and likely elsewhere, about the nature and likely…
Read More The Dangers of Failing to Report Workplace Sexual HarassmentIn Wolfe-Santos v NYS Gaming Com’n, No. 160963/16, 2018 WL 4350325, at *4, 2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 32247(U), 4 (Sup Ct, New York County Sep. 12, 2018), the court dismissed plaintiff’s hostile work environment claims under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Laws. Initially, the court explained the legal standards for such claims: A hostile work…
Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed Against NYS Gaming CommissionIn Dawson v. William Brock Long, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2018 WL 4519199 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2018), the court adopted a Magistrate Judge’s Report & Recommendation that defendant’s summary judgment motion be granted on plaintiff’s claims of race discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After agreeing that…
Read More Magistrate’s Dismissal of Title VII Race Discrimination Claim Against FEMA AdoptedIn Gilani v. Hewlett-Packard Company, 15-CV-5609, 2018 WL 4374002 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12, 2018), the court addressed the issue of whether Hewlett-Packard was plaintiff’s “employer” for purposes of Title VII and the ADEA. Plaintiff was, pursuant to employment contract, “formally” employed by a company called Insight Global and worked at an HP location. Because of the…
Read More “Temporary” Employee May Pursue Discrimination Claims Against HP