Pinsky v. JP Morgan Chase & Co.

576 F. Supp. 2d 559, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74033, 2008 WL 4212450
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 10, 2008
DocketNo. 07 Civ. 3328(CM)(HP)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 576 F. Supp. 2d 559 (Pinsky v. JP Morgan Chase & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pinsky v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., 576 F. Supp. 2d 559, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74033, 2008 WL 4212450 (S.D.N.Y. 2008).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AS TO ITS . COUNTERCLAIMS

McMAHON, District Judge.

On February 14, 2008, I issued an opinion granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs complaint. Several days earlier, defendant had withdrawn its motion, so that it could file a revised motion, one that also sought summary judgment on its counterclaims against plaintiff. I therefore withdrew my February 14 opinion and the parties submitted new briefs addressing both the old and the new issues raised by the revised motion.

[561]*561Nothing in the revised summary judgment papers leads me to believe that I erred by granting summary judgment dismissing the complaint in the February 14 opinion. I am reissuing that opinion under today’s date. The plaintiffs complaint is dismissed in accordance with that opinion.

In this companion opinion, I will address whether defendant is entitled to summary judgment on its counterclaims. I conclude that it is not.

The following facts are undisputed:

Plaintiff Susan Pinsky was first employed by Chase Investment Services Corp., an affiliated entity of defendant, in November 2002, as an Assistant Personal Financial Advisor. She was then hired by JP Morgan Chase Bank, effective February 1, 2004, as a Home Equity Loan Officer. On May 20, 2005, plaintiffs manager gave plaintiff written notice that her position was being eliminated and that her employment was to be terminated as of July 18, 2005.

In the May 20 letter, defendant offered plaintiff seven weeks’ severance pay if she did not obtain another position with JP Morgan Chase prior to her termination date. The offer of severance was conditioned on the execution of a Release Agreement, which plaintiff executed on June 24, 2005.

On June 13, 2005, plaintiff began a short-term disability leave due to a disc herniation and associated complications. Although plaintiffs job no longer existed after July 18, 2005, plaintiff could not be fired as of that date, because she was out on disability. Nor did her employment end when her short term disability benefits expired; on December 12, 2005, plaintiff was approved for a long-term disability leave of absence, and it was against company policy to fire an employee who was out on disability leave.

During the entire period of her disability leave, plaintiff received medical and dental benefits at employee cost, rather than at COBRA cost (which is greater), as well as vision, life insurance and other benefits under various JP Morgan benefits plans. JP Morgan Chase has paid for some of plaintiff s medical and dental bills. All these advantageous benefits, which plaintiff received well into 2007, would have come to an end had plaintiff lost her job when it was eliminated. She received them only due to the fact that she was out on disability when her position was eliminated.

On July 10, 2007, Plaintiffs physician, Dr. Bryan J. Nestor of the Hospital for Special Surgery, cleared Pinsky to return to work effective September 1, 2007. On July 16, 2007, plaintiffs attorney forwarded Dr. Nestor’s note to defendant, and announced, “Ms. Pinsky will be able to return to work, with accommodation, as of September 1, 2007.”

After receiving the note and letter, JP Morgan Chase’s long term disability carrier determined that plaintiff was no longer disabled and terminated Pinsky’s disability leave as of July 10, 2007. Plaintiffs term of employment automatically ended when her disability period expired.

While she was out on disability leave from JP Morgan Chase, plaintiff invested in Tri-State Biodiesel LLC, an alternative fuel company, and served as its Chief Administration Officer. Plaintiff did not receive pre-clearance from JP Morgan Chase regarding her affiliation with Tri-State. Although plaintiff states that she became involved with Tri-State after she was “out for a year” on disability (Pinsky Decl. ¶ 21) — which would have been sometime during 2006 — defendant did not learn of the affiliation until April 20, 2007, after this case commenced (PI. Rule 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 103).

[562]*562The Instant Action and Motion

On March 27, 2007, plaintiff filed a complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, alleging claims of disability discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law. Defendant removed the action to this court on April 26, 2007. The ground for removal was diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff did not seek remand, but instead served an amended complaint, adding a cause of action under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

JP Morgan Chase answered the complaint and countersued for fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract. Defendant alleges that, by taking a position as Chief Administration Officer of TriState while she was on disability leave, plaintiff violated the terms of JP Morgan Chase’s Code of Conduct by failing to request or receive pre-clearance from JP Morgan before performing services for Tri-State. Plaintiff also allegedly failed to notify either defendant (so it could terminate her employment) or defendant’s plan coordinator (so she could be removed from long term disability status) that she had regained her ability to work. Defendant alleges that plaintiff was unjustly enriched by her receipt of benefits after the period when — had JP Morgan Chase known she was able to work — plaintiff would have been fired. Defendant seeks a refund of all monies it has expended on plaintiff (for insurances, etc.) for any period when plaintiff was able to work.

Discussion

Under Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court will grant summary judgment if the evidence offered shows that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The Court views the record in the light most favorable to the non-movant and resolves all ambiguities and draws all reasonable inferences against the movant. See United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962); Donahue v. Windsor Locks Bd. of Fire Comm’rs., 834 F.2d 54, 57 (2d Cir.1987).

1. Fraud

Under New York law, defendant must establish the following five elements of a fraud claim by clear and convincing evidence: (1) a material misrepresentation or omission of fact; (2) made by plaintiff with knowledge of its falsity; (3) and an intent to defraud; coupled with (4) reasonable reliance on the representation by the defendant; and (5) resulting damage to defendant. Crigger v. Fahnestock & Co., 443 F.3d 230, 234 (2d Cir.2006) (citation omitted).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Leary v. Al-Mubaraki
S.D. New York, 2019
Frank Dombroski v. JP Morgan Chase Bank NA
513 F. App'x 212 (Third Circuit, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
576 F. Supp. 2d 559, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74033, 2008 WL 4212450, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pinsky-v-jp-morgan-chase-co-nysd-2008.