Damages

On May 28, 2014, an Eastern District federal jury awarded $1.35 million to white Freeport police lieutenant Christopher Barella. Here is the Judgment, memorializing the following awards: $150,000 for loss of back pay, $1,000,000 for loss of front pay, $200,000 for punitive damages. In his Amended Complaint, plaintiff asserted that the Village of Freeport and…

Read More White Police Lieutenant Wins $1.35 Million Award in “Reverse” Discrimination Suit
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In Halsey v New York City Transit Authority, 114 AD3d 726, the Second Department affirmed a judgment, entered on a jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor, in the principal amount of $3,000,000 for future pain and suffering. Plaintiff was injured when a bus on which she was riding struck a utility pole. Plaintiff’s injuries included a protruding…

Read More Court Affirms $3 Million Future Pain and Suffering Jury Award in Bus Accident Case
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In Luna v New York City Transit Authority, the Appellate Division, First Department reinstated a $1 million jury award for the plaintiff who was injured after falling on defendant NYCTA’s bus. The jury awarded plaintiff $500,000 for past pain and suffering and $500,000 for future pain and suffering over 34 years. The trial court (Supreme Court, Bronx…

Read More Court Reinstates $1 Million Jury Award for City Bus Passenger
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In a recent case, Harrison v. New York City Tr. Auth., the First Department clarified how juries must be instructed on the issue of constructive notice in a slip-and-fall case. There, the court reversed a judgment entered on a $500,000 jury verdict for plaintiff and ordered a new trial on liability. Plaintiff “slipped and fell on…

Read More Citing Erroneous Jury Instruction on Constructive Notice, Court Orders New Liability Trial in Subway Slip/Fall Case
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In Trezza v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Appellate Division, First Department recently affirmed and modified a decision by the Supreme Court, Bronx County relating to the damages phase of a car accident case. The trial court entered a judgment on a jury’s verdict awarding plaintiff damages in the amounts of $500,000 for past pain and…

Read More First Department Finds “Serious Injury” Based on Shoulder and Spine Injuries, and Conditionally Modifies Damages in Car Accident Case to $300,000 for Past Pain & Suffering
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A recent Eastern District of New York decision, Berroyer v. U.S., illustrates that paying taxes can be literally painful. Plaintiff and his wife sued the United States of America under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), seeking recovery for injuries sustained during a meeting with an IRS auditor. Plaintiff was injured when “his foot became caught…

Read More Fall in IRS Office Results in $712,000 Award
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In a recent decision, Grevelding v. State of New York (No. 2013-018-439, Claim No. 109855), the Court of Claims – the court having exclusive jurisdiction over lawsuits against the State of New York – assessed damages arising from the tragic automobile-related death of Jason Rhoades. Mr. Rhoades died when his car “vaulted” off a bridge…

Read More Court Explains $14 Million Award in Auto Accident Wrongful Death Case, Including Damages for “Pre-Impact Terror”
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In Seubert v. Deluty, a Nassau County judge awarded, after an inquest following defendant’s default, damages to compensate plaintiff for sexual harassment she suffered while employed as a part-time dental assistant and receptionist for defendant dentist. It also set aside a transfer of property from defendant dentist to his wife as a fraudulent conveyance. Plaintiff alleged that defendant…

Read More Dental Assistant Awarded Damages in Sexual Harassment Suit
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Last week the Second Circuit held, in Palma v. NLRB, that undocumented aliens were not entitled to back pay following a determination that their employer engaged in unlawful employment practices in violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The court based its decision on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v.…

Read More Second Circuit: No Back Pay For Undocumented Aliens For NLRA Violation
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