Pryor v. Jaffe & Asher, LLP

992 F. Supp. 2d 252, 2014 WL 144644, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5237, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 647
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 15, 2014
DocketNo. 13 Civ. 4558(KPF)
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 992 F. Supp. 2d 252 (Pryor v. Jaffe & Asher, LLP) 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
Pryor v. Jaffe & Asher, LLP, 992 F. Supp. 2d 252, 2014 WL 144644, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5237, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 647 (S.D.N.Y. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

KATHERINE POLK FAILLA, District Judge.

Pending before the Court is a motion by Defendants Jaffe & Asher LLP (“Jaffe & Asher”) and Jeffrey Tseng (collectively, “Defendants”) to dismiss the third, fourth, and fifth claims for relief alleged in the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the reasons set forth in the remainder of this Opinion, this motion is denied.

BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

Defendant Jaffe & Asher is a law firm doing business in New York, New York. [255]*255(Compl. ¶ 7).1 Defendant Jeffrey Tseng, an employee of Jaffe & Asher, served as a director of information technology. (Id. at ¶ 8). Plaintiff Katherine Pryor (“Plaintiff’) began working for Jaffe & Asher, reporting to Defendant Tseng, in November 2012. (Id. at ¶¶ 10,14).

According to Plaintiff, on June 3, 2013, Defendant Tseng invited her to join him at a bar after work. (Compl. ¶ 24). Shortly before receiving this invitation, Plaintiff had been the victim of an episode of domestic violence of which she had informed her superiors, including Defendant Tseng, and she was still suffering the physical and emotional effects of that episode. (Id. at ¶¶ 21, 23, 27).

After the two arrived at the bar, Defendant Tseng began asking Plaintiff about her plans for her career. (Compl. ¶ 28). At the beginning of the conversation, Defendant Tseng also stroked Plaintiffs hand in what is alleged to be a sexually suggestive fashion. (Id. at ¶29). Uncomfortable, Plaintiff rose to leave shortly thereafter. (Id. at ¶ 30). Defendant Tseng grabbed Plaintiff, trying to embrace her, and attempted to kiss her on the neck. (Id. at ¶ 31). Plaintiff tried to pull away from him; Defendant Tseng “forcibly” pulled her back and succeeded in kissing her on the neck. (Id. at ¶ 32). Plaintiff then broke free and departed. (Id. at ¶ 33). Plaintiff suffered extreme emotional distress as a result of this incident, and her psychologist has advised her that returning to her employment would have adverse health consequences. (Id. at ¶ 35).

B. Procedural History

Plaintiff filed the Complaint in this action on July 1, 2013, pleading seven claims for relief: (i) two claims, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219, and the New York Minimum Wage Act, N.Y. Labor Law §§ 650-665, respectively, alleging Plaintiffs wrongful underpayment by Defendant Jaffe & Asher’s failure to pay overtime; (ii) a claim under the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 290-297 (the “NYSHRL”), alleging hostile work environment and constructive discharge based on gender discrimination; (iii) two claims under the New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y. City Admin. Code §§ 8-101-8-131 (the “NYCHRL”), alleging hostile work environment and constructive discharge based on both gender and domestic-violence victim discrimination; (iv) a claim for common-law battery; and (v) a claim under New York Labor Law §§ 195 and 198 for failure to comply with state employment notice requirements. (Dkt. # 1). Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and damages for lost pay and benefits, medical expenses, unpaid overtime, compensatory and punitive damages, costs, fees, and interest. (Id. at 9-10).

By letter dated August 1, 2013, Defendants sought leave to file a motion to dismiss the third, fourth, and fifth claims for relief, dealing with Plaintiffs allegations of gender and domestic-violence victim discrimination. (Dkt. # 6). Plaintiff opposed that application by letter dated August 5, 2013. (Dkt. # 5). A conference was held on August 28, 2013, where a schedule was set to brief Defendants’ motion to dismiss.

Defendants filed their motion to dismiss on September 17, 2013 (Dkt. # 8), accompanied by a declaration (Dkt. # 9) and memorandum of law (Dkt. # 10) in its [256]*256support. Plaintiff filed a memorandum of law in opposition on October 18, 2013 (Dkt. # 11), and Defendants filed a reply memorandum of law in further support of their motion to dismiss on November 5, 2013 (Dkt. # 13).

DISCUSSION

A. Applicable Law

1. Motions to Dismiss Generally

The Court must consider a motion to dismiss by “ ‘construing the complaint liberally, accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor.’ ” Chase Grp. Alliance LLC v. City of New York Dep’t of Fin., 620 F.3d 146, 150 (2d Cir.2010) (quoting Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir. 2002)). “ ‘To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Kelly, 716 F.3d at 14 (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)). “A claim has facial plausibility when ‘the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.’ ” Spataro v. Glenwood Supply, 479 Fed.Appx. 403, 404 (2d Cir.2012) (summary order) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937).

2. The NYSHRL

“[C]laims brought under New York State’s Human Rights Law are analytically identical to claims brought under Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act of 1964].” Torres v. Pisano, 116 F.3d 625, 629 n. 1 (2d Cir.1997). A plaintiff claiming relief for a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII must allege facts demonstrating that the treatment in question: “(1) ‘is objectively severe or pervasive — that is, ... creates an environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive’; (2) creates an environment ‘that the plaintiff subjectively perceives as hostile or abusive’; and (3) ‘creates such an environment because of the plaintiffs sex.’ ” Patane v. Clark, 508 F.3d 106, 113 (2d Cir. 2007) (quoting Gregory v. Daly, 243 F.3d 687, 691-92 (2d Cir.2001)).

The “discriminatory intimidation” of the plaintiff must be “sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of his or her work environment.” Rojas v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, 660 F.3d 98, 106 (2d Cir.2011) (quoting Mack v. Otis Elevator Co., 326 F.3d 116, 122 (2d Cir.2003)), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 132 S.Ct. 1744, 182 L.Ed.2d 530 (2012). “Isolated instances of harassment ordinarily do not rise to this level.” Cruz v. Coach Stores, Inc., 202 F.3d 560, 570 (2d Cir.2000), superseded on other grounds by

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
992 F. Supp. 2d 252, 2014 WL 144644, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5237, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 647, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pryor-v-jaffe-asher-llp-nysd-2014.