September 2018

In Berrie v. Board of Education of Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District, 2018 WL 4462587 (2d Cir. Sept. 18, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s race discrimination/hostile work environment claims. This case illustrates how courts apply the “severe or pervasive” standard when evaluating hostile work environment claims. Here, unfortunately,…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claims Dismissed; Eleven Incidents Over Five Years Insufficient
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In Vaigasi v. Solow Management Corporation, et al. , 17-784-cv (2d Cir. Sept. 14, 2018) (Summary Order), the court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims, including those for gender, religious, and age discrimination. As to his gender discrimination claim, the court states: Vaigasi does not plausibly allege that his gender was a basis for any of…

Read More Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims; “Write Up” Threat Insufficient
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In  Casarella v. New York State Department of Transportation, 2018 WL 4372674 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2018), the court, inter alia, held that plaintiff plausibly alleged a hostile work environment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “To establish a hostile work environment claim, a plaintiff must produce enough evidence to show…

Read More Hostile Work Environment Claim Survives Dismissal; Anti-Italian Slurs Were “Pervasive”
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From Casarella v. New York State Department of Transportation, 2018 WL 4372674 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2018): Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged he is part of a protected class and that he was qualified for his position to satisfy the motion to dismiss standard. (Compl. ¶¶ 25–29.) However, whether Plaintiff sufficiently alleged that he was subject to…

Read More Plaintiff Plausibly Alleges Title VII National Origin Discrimination Claim
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In Suarez v. Emerald 115 Mosholu LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op 06059 (App. Div. 1st Dept. Sept. 13, 2018) – a trip-and-fall personal injury case – the court held that the alleged defect was not “trivial” as a matter of law and, therefore, that plaintiff’s case should not have been dismissed on summary judgment. The facts,…

Read More Defect Was Not “Trivial” as a Matter of Law; Trip/Fall Case Continues
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In Calise v. New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, 17-cv-791, 2018 WL 4350247 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12, 2018), plaintiff, a white woman, asserted claims of race discrimination – based on alleged mistreatment by her boss, who is black – under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C.…

Read More Title VII Race Discrimination Claim Survives Against NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles
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In Calise v. New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, 17-cv-791, 2018 WL 4350247 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12, 2018), plaintiff, a white woman, asserted claims of race discrimination – based on alleged mistreatment by her boss, who is black – under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C.…

Read More Employment Discrimination Claims Against NYS Dept. Motor Vehicles Dismissed on Sovereign Immunity (Eleventh Amendment) Grounds
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In a recent Southern District case, Dickinson v. City University of New York, 2018 WL 4333986 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 11, 2018), the court (inter alia) denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s age discrimination claim against the City University of New York.[1]Plaintiff also asserted claims of gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment; here I…

Read More Age Discrimination Claim Against CUNY Survives Summary Judgment
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Jessica Denson, who worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign during the 2016 presidential election, asserted claims in a lawsuit – captioned Denson v. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Supreme Court, New York County, Index No. 101616/2017 (Sept. 7, 2018) – based on alleged mistreatment (including attempts to “find dirt on” her, cyberbullying, and harassment).…

Read More Court Declines to Compel Arbitration of Employment Claims Against Trump Campaign
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In Cargian v. Breitling USA, Inc., No. 16-3592-cv, 2018 WL 4293325 (2d Cir. Sept. 10, 2018) (Summary Order), the Second Circuit vacated and remanded a prior order granting summary judgment to defendant in plaintiff’s sexual orientation discrimination case asserted under, inter alia, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The basis for this…

Read More 2d Circuit Revives Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case Against Breitling in Light of Zarda Ruling
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