Daniels v. American Airlines et al, No. 1:2019cv03110 - Document 71 (E.D.N.Y. 2022)

Court Description: ORDER denying 54 Motion for Leave to File; granting 55 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim; denying 60 Motion to Remand to State Court; denying 63 Motion to Remand to State Court. For the reasons discussed in the attached Memo randum and Order, 54 Plaintiff's motion to amend the Second Amended Complaint is denied, 55 Defendant's motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint for failure to state a claim is granted, and 60 Plaintiff's motion to remand t o state court is denied. The Court further denies as moot 63 Plaintiff's second motion to remand to state court, 64 Plaintiff's additional amended complaint, and 65 Plaintiff's request to submit a USB drive to the court. Ordered by Chief Judge Margo K. Brodie on 2/17/2022. (Collins, Natalie)

Download PDF

Daniels v. American Airlines et al Doc. 71 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 1 of 29 PageID #: 1076 U NI T E D S T A T E S DI S T RI C T C O U R T E A S T E R N DI S T RI C T O F N E W Y O R K --------------------------------------------------------------A N T O N Y A E N E A S D A NI E L S, P l ai ntiff, v. ME M O R A N D U M & O R DE R 1 9- C V - 3 1 1 0 ( M K B) A M E RI C A N AI R LI N E S I N C., D ef e n d a nt . --------------------------------------------------------------M A R G O K. B R O DI E , U nit e d St at es Distri ct J u d g e: Pl ai ntiff A nt o n y A e n e as D a ni els c o m m e n c e d t his a cti o n i n t h e S u pr e m e C o urt of t h e St at e of N e w Y or k, C o u nt y of Q u e e ns, o n M a y 1, 2 0 1 9, n a mi n g A m eri c a n Airli n es a n d ni n e of its e m pl o y e es as d ef e n d a nts. ( C o m pl. fil e d i n St at e Ct. A cti o n, a n n e x e d t o N oti c e of R e m o v al as E x. A, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 1- 1.) O n M a y 2 4, 2 0 1 9, A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c. r e m o v e d t h e a cti o n t o t h e U nit e d St at es Distri ct C o urt f or t h e E ast er n Distri ct of N e w Y or k. ( N oti c e of R e m o v al, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 1.) I n D e c e m b er of 2 0 1 9, A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c. m o v e d t o dis miss t h e a cti o n f or l a c k of j urisdi cti o n a n d f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m. ( D ef .’s M ot. t o Dis miss, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 1 7.) T h e C o urt gr a nt e d t h e m oti o n t o dis miss, b ut als o gr a nt e d Pl ai ntiff l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e C o m pl ai nt. ( M e m. a n d Or d er d at e d S e pt. 4, 2 0 2 0, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 2 6.) Pl ai ntiff fil e d a n A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt o n A pril 1 7, 2 0 2 1, r e pl a ci n g all f or m er d ef e n d a nts wit h D ef e n d a nt A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c. ( A m. C o m pl. 1, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 4 2.) O n M a y 2 1, 2 0 2 1, Pl ai ntiff fil e d a s e c o n d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt. ( S e c o n d A m. C o m pl. ( “ S A C ”), D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 2.) Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 2 of 29 PageID #: 1077 O n J ul y 3 0, 2 0 2 1, D ef e n d a nt m o v e d t o dis miss t h e S A C f or f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m .1 ( Def .’s M ot. t o Dis miss f or F ail ur e t o St at e a Cl ai m ( “ D ef .’s M ot. ”), D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 5; D ef.’s M e m. i n S u p p. of D ef .’s M ot. ( “ D ef .’s M e m. ”), D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 5- 3.) 2 O n O ct o b er 1 1, Pl ai ntiff, w h o h a d i niti all y m o v e d f or l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e S A C o n J u n e 2 5, ( Pl.’s M ot. f or L e a v e t o Fil e D o c., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 4), s u b mitt e d a pr o p os e d t hir d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt ( T hir d A m. C o m pl. ( “ T A C ”), D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 9), a n d m o v e d t o r e m a n d t h e a cti o n b a c k t o t h e S u pr e m e C o urt of N e w Y or k, Q u e e ns C o u nt y ( Pl.’s M ot. t o R e m a n d, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 0). 3 1 Pl ai ntiff o p p os e d t h e m oti o n t o dis miss, cl ai mi n g t h at h e h a d n ot r e c ei v e d c ert ai n d o c u m e nts t h at h e h a d r e q u est e d fr o m D ef e n d a nt . ( Pl.’s R es p. t o M ot., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 1.) B e c a us e at t h e m oti o n t o dis miss st a g e all f a ct u al all e g ati o ns i n t h e C o m pl ai nt ar e a c c e pt e d as tr u e, Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot n e e d t o pr o vi d e a n y e vi d e n c e, i n cl u di n g d o c u m e nts fr o m D ef e n d a nt, t o o p p os e D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n. S e e S a c er d ot e v. N. Y. U ni v. , 9 F. 4t h 9 5, 1 0 6- 0 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1). T h e C o urt h as r e vi e w e d Pl ai ntiff’s o p p ositi o n, b ut b e c a us e it is n ot r es p o nsi v e t o t h e p oi nts r ais e d i n D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n t o dis miss, it is n ot m e nti o n e d i n t h e a n al ysis b el o w. 2 D ef e n d a nt att a c h es m u lti pl e a d diti o nal d o c u m e nts t o its m oti o n, b ut t h e C o urt d e cli n es t o c o nsi d er t h e a d diti o n al i nf or m ati o n or t o c o n v ert t h e m oti o n t o a s u m m ar y j u d g m e nt m oti o n. (S e e D e cl. of M. M os ci c ki, a n n e x e d t o D ef.’s M ot., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 5- 1; E x hi bit A t o D e cl. of M. M os ci c ki, a n n e x e d t o D ef.’s M ot., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 5- 2; A p p e n di x A t o D ef.’s M e m., a n n e x e d t o D ef.’s M ot., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 5- 4 ); s e e als o St e a df ast I ns. C o. v. T. F. N u g e nt I n c. , 5 1 3 F. S u p p. 3 d 4 1 9, 4 2 3 n. 2 ( S. D. N. Y. J a n. 1 5, 2 0 2 1) ( “ F e d er al c o urts h a v e c o m pl et e d is cr eti o n t o d et er mi n e w h et h er or n ot t o a c c e pt t h e s u b missi o n of a n y m at eri al b e y o n d t h e pl e a di n gs off er e d i n c o nj u n cti o n wit h a . . . m oti o n [t o dis miss], a n d t h us c o m pl et e dis cr eti o n i n d et er mi ni n g w h et h er t o c o n v ert t h e m oti o n t o o n e f or s u m m ar y j u d g m e nt. ” ( alt er ati o ns i n ori gi n al) (i nt er n al cit ati o n o mitt e d) ( q u oti n g A b b e y v. 3 F T h er a p e uti cs I n c. , N o. 0 6-C V - 4 0 9, 2 0 0 9 W L 4 3 3 3 8 1 9, at * 5 ( S. D. N. Y. D e c. 2, 2 0 0 9))) ; E n er giz er, L L C v. M T A Tr a di n g, I n c. , N o. 2 0- C V - 1 5 8 3, 2 0 2 1 W L 2 4 5 3 3 9 4, at * 3 n. 6 ( E. D. N. Y. J u n e 1 6, 2 0 2 1) (s a m e); R e g a n v. Vill a g e of P el h a m , N o. 1 9-C V - 7 9 8 7, 2 0 2 1 W L 1 0 6 3 3 2 0, at * 8 n. 6 ( S. D. N. Y. M ar. 1 9, 2 0 2 1) (fi n di n g t h at “[t h e p]l ai ntiff’s r eli a n c e o n [t h e d ef e n d a nt’s p oli c y], w hi c h a p p e ars n o w h er e i n t h e [ a] m e n d e d [ c] o m pl ai nt a n d is o nl y dis c uss e d i n [t h e p]l ai ntiff’s affi d a vit, is i m pr o p er b e c a us e it is b e y o n d t h e f o ur c or n ers of t h e c o m pl ai nt a n d c a n n ot b e c o nsi d er e d i n a dj u di c ati o n of a R ul e 1 2( b)( 6) m oti o n t o dis miss f or f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m ”) . 3 Pl ai ntiff h as si n c e fil e d a s e c o n d m oti o n t o r e m a n d, ( S e c o n d M ot. t o R e m a n d, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 3), a n a d diti o n al A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt, ( F o urt h A m. C o m pl., D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 4), a n d a l ett e r r e q u esti n g l e a v e t o s u b mit a U S B fl as h dri v e t o t h e c o urt. ( L ett er d at e d J a n. 1 1, 2 0 2 2, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 5.) D ef e n d a nt h as r es p o n d e d t o t h es e m oti o ns. ( R es p. i n O p p’ n, 2 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 3 of 29 PageID #: 1078 F or t h e r e as o ns s et f ort h b el o w, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n t o dis miss, d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o a m e n d , a n d d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o r e m a n d t h e c as e t o st at e c o urt. I. B ac k gr o u n d T h e f oll o wi n g f a cts ar e t a k e n fr o m t h e S A C 4 a n d ar e a c c e pt e d as tr u e f or t h e p ur p os es of d e c i di n g t h e m oti o n.5 Pl a i ntiff is a f or m er fli g ht att e n d a nt f or D ef e n d a nt A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c. ( S e e S A C 1 .) W hil e h e w as e m pl o y e d b y D ef e n d a nt, 6 Pl ai ntiff w as “si n gl e d o ut b y ” C h arl e n e H o w ell, o n e of D o c k et E ntr y N o. 7 0.) B e c a us e t h e C o urt is d e n yi n g Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o a m e n d a n d dis missi n g t h e S e c o n d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt, it d e ni es t h es e s u bs e q u e nt fili n gs as m o ot. S e e Illi a n o v. Mi n e ol a U ni o n Fr e e S c h o ol Dist. , 5 8 5 F. S u p p. 2 d 3 4 1, 3 4 9 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 0 8) ( “‘ W h e n a pl ai ntiff a m e n ds its c o m pl ai nt w hil e a m oti o n t o dis miss is p e n di n g’ t h e c o urt m a y ‘ d e n[ y] t h e m oti o n as m o ot.’ ” ( alt er ati o ns i n ori gi n al)) . D ef e n d a nt h as als o fil e d a m oti o n f or s a n cti o ns, w hi c h is c urr e ntl y p e n di n g. ( L ett er M ot. f or S a n cti o ns, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 8.) 4 B e c a us e t h e p a g es of t h e S A C ar e n ot c o ns e c uti v el y p a gi n at e d, t h e C o urt r ef ers t o t h e p a g e n u m b ers assi g n e d b y t h e El e ctr o ni c C as e Fili n g ( “ E C F ”) s yst e m. 5 Pl ai ntiff fil e d t h e S A C w it h c o pi es of s u b p o e n a f or ms, (S A C 9 – 1 0, 1 2 – 2 4), a n d r e c or ds of Pl ai ntiff’s pr e -s uit att e m pts t o c o nt a ct D ef e n d a nt a n d r e pr es e nt ati v es of t h e Ass o ci ati o n of Pr of essi o n al Fli g ht Att e n d a nts ( “ A P F A ”) , (S A C 1 0, 2 5 – 3 0). I n a d diti o n t o t h e f a ct u al all e g ati o ns i n t h e S A C, t h e C o urt als o c o nsi d ers t h e f a ct u al all e g ati o ns s et f ort h i n t h es e d o c u m e nts. Ni c osi a v. A m az o n. c o m, I n c. , 8 3 4 F. 3 d 2 2 0, 2 3 0 – 3 1 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 6) ( h ol di n g c o urts m a y c o nsi d er o n a m oti o n t o dis miss “ a n y writt e n i nstr u m e nt att a c h e d t o [t h e c o m pl ai nt] as a n e x hi bit or a n y st at e m e nts or d o c u m e nts i n c or p or at e d i n it b y r ef er e n c e ” a n d ot h er d o c u m e nts “i nt e gr al ” t o t h e c o m pl ai nt ( cit ati o ns o mitt e d)); L- 7 D esi g ns, I n c. v. Ol d N a v y, L L C , 6 4 7 F. 3 d 4 1 9, 4 2 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 1) ( “ A c o m pl ai nt is [ als o] d e e m e d t o i n cl u d e a n y writt e n i nstr u m e nt att a c h e d t o it as a n e x hi bit, m at eri als i n c or p or at e d i n it b y r ef er e n c e, a n d d o c u m e nts t h at, alt h o u g h n ot i n c or p or at e d b y r ef er e n c e, ar e ‘i nt e gr al’ t o t h e c o m pl ai nt. ” ( q u oti n g Sir a v. M ort o n , 3 8 0 F. 3 d 5 7, 6 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 4))). 6 I n a s u p pl e m e nt t o t h e i niti al C o m pl ai nt, Pl ai ntiff st at e d t h at h e w as e m pl o y e d fr o m S e pt e m b er of 2 0 1 4 t o M a y 1 9, 2 0 1 6. ( S u p pl. C o m pl. 4, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 2 5.) ( B e c a us e t h e p a g es of t h e S u p pl e m e nt al C o m pl ai nt ar e n ot c o ns e c uti v el y p a gi n at e d, t h e C o urt r ef ers t o t h e p a g e n u m b ers assi g n e d b y t h e E C F s yst e m .) Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot m e nti o n t h es e d at es i n t h e S A C, i nst e a d e m p h asi zi n g t h at dis c o v er y is n e c ess ar y t o d et er mi n e t h e e x a ct d at es t h at e v e nts o c c urr e d. ( S A C 7 – 1 0.) T h e C o urt t h er ef or e d o es n ot ass u m e t h at Pl ai ntiff w as e m pl o y e d fr o m S e pt e m b er of 2 0 1 4 t o M a y 1 9, 2 0 1 6, f or p ur p os es of e v al u ati n g D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n. R at h er, it 3 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 4 of 29 PageID #: 1079 D e f e n d a nt’s i nfli g ht m a n a g ers. (I d. at 5.) H o w ell wit h h el d “ w or k- b as e d d uti es ” fr o m Pl ai ntiff a n d t o o k “ p u niti v e a cti o n ” a g ai nst hi m i n vi ol ati o n of “ c o m p a n y pr o c e d ur es w h e n it c o m es t o pl a ci n g a n e m pl o y e e o n ‘ wit h h el d fr o m s er vi c e st at us. ’ ” (I d.) As a r es ult of his “ o n b o ar d e x p eri e n c e wit h w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g, ” Pl ai ntiff i nt er a ct e d wit h m e m b ers of D ef e n d a nt’s m a n a g e m e nt t e a m. ( I d. at 6 .) Pl ai ntiff w as b ulli e d b y m e m b ers of t his m a n a g e m e nt t e a m , i n cl u di n g C h et W hit e, Vi vi a n R uti gli a n o, a n d F eli x Eli as- Ri v er a. (I d.) Eli as Ri v er a’s wif e “ w as e m pl o y e d a s a fli g ht att e n d a nt at t h e ti m e of t h e i n ci d e nt w h er e [ Pl ai ntiff] w as a vi cti m of w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g a n d w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n. ” ( I d. at 7 .) W hil e Pl ai ntiff w as still e m pl o y e d b y D ef e n d a nt, i n “[s]pri n g or [ e] arl y [s]u m m er 2 0 1 6, ” D ef e n d a nt’s t h e n -N e w Y or k B as e M a n a g er, C h et W hit e, “s u b mitt e d p a p er w or k . . . t o b a n [ Pl ai ntiff] fr o m fl yi n g o n A m eri c a n Airli n es. ” (I d. at 1 .) W hit e t h e n pl a c e d Pl ai ntiff o n a dir e ct fli g ht fr o m N e w Y or k t o C hi c a g o. (I d. at 1 – 2.) Pl ai ntiff r e m ai n e d e m pl o y e d b y D ef e n d a nt w e e ks af t er b ei n g b a n n e d fr o m all A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts. (I d.) H e w as “ n ot gi v e n a n e x pl a n ati o n r e g ar di n g w h y h e w as b ei n g b a n n e d. ” ( I d. at 5 .) Pl ai ntiff’s a c c ess t o t h e J et N et E m pl o y e e P ort al a n d c o m p a n y e m ail a c c o u nts w er e als o dis a bl e d b ef or e h e w as t er mi n at e d fr o m his e m pl o y m e nt wit h D ef e n d a nt. ( I d. at 5, 1 4.) W h e n W hit e s e nt Pl ai ntiff o n t h e fli g ht fr o m N e w Y or k t o C hi c a g o, Pl ai ntiff as k e d Ell e n E h erts, a n A m eri c a n Airli n e fli g ht att e n d a nt w h o als o a ct e d o n b e h alf of t h e Ass o ci ati o n of Pr of essi o n al Fli g ht Att e n d a nts ( “ A P F A ”) U ni o n, t o es c ort hi m t o his g at e. ( I d. at 6 – 7 .) E h erts r ef us e d t o d o s o b e c a us e s h e h a d a n u p c o mi n g fli g ht, e v e n t h o u g h Pl ai ntiff w as a d u es- p a yi n g m e m b er of t h e A P F A U ni o n a n d E h erts w as a w ar e t h at Pl ai ntiff “ris k e d i m mi n e nt t er mi n ati o n. ” a c c e pts as tr u e Pl ai ntiff’s ass erti o n i n t h e S A C t h at t h e r el e v a nt e v e nts o c c urr e d i n “ S pri n g or E arl y S u m m er 2 0 1 6. ” ( S A C 2, 1 6, 2 3.) 4 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 5 of 29 PageID #: 1080 (I d. at 6.) E h erts w as a fli g ht att e n d a nt w h o w as “ w or ki n g i n t h e s a m e e n vir o n m e nt a n d t h e s a m e pr of essi o n al r ol e w h er e s h e w as i nt er a cti n g wit h t h e fli g ht att e n d a nts w h o b ulli e d [ Pl ai ntiff] o n b o ar d fli g ht 4 5. ” ( I d.) Pl ai ntiff w as s u bs e q u e ntl y t er mi n at e d fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es i n s pri n g or e arl y s u m m er of 2 0 1 6. ( S e e i d. at 2 – 3, 2 3 .) B e c a us e D ef e n d a nt r e p ort e d t o t h e N e w Y or k D e p art m e nt of L a b or ( N Y D O L) t h at Pl ai ntiff w as t er mi n at e d d u e t o j o b a b a n d o n m e nt, Pl ai ntiff w as u n a bl e t o r e c ei v e u n e m pl o y m e nt i ns ur a n c e. (I d. at 2 – 4 .) D ef e n d a nt als o “ pr es e nt e d f als e d o c u m e nt ati o n ” t o N Y D O L a n d “f alsif[i e d] c o m p a n y d o c u m e nt ati o n ” i n or d er t o a v oi d t h e l e g al c o ns e q u e n c es of ill e g al ter mi n ati o n a n d w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n. ( I d. at 4. ) Pl ai ntiff r e p e at e dl y c o nt a ct e d D ef e n d a nt’s C E O a n d i nf or m e d hi m a b o ut Pl ai ntiff’s ill e g al t er mi n ati o n, ba n fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts, a n d l oss of a c c ess t o his J et N et a n d c o m p a n y e m ail a c c o u nts, b ut t h e C E O “ di d n ot m a k e a n y st e ps t o r es ol v e [ P]l ai ntiff’s iss u es or t o m a k e s ur e t h at [ P]l ai ntiff w as a bl e t o r et ur n t o w or k aft er b ei n g ill e g all y t er mi n at e d. ” (I d. at 4 – 5 .) W hil e tr yi n g t o g et his j o b b a c k, Pl ai ntiff s p o k e o n t h e p h o n e wit h D ef e n d a nt’s r e pr es e nt ati v e A m b er S a n d ers. (I d. at 2 – 3.) Pl ai ntiff as k e d S a n d ers h o w h e c o ul d h a v e a b a n d o n e d his j o b w h e n h e h a d b e e n b a n n e d fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts. ( I d.) S a n d ers “ w as u n a bl e t o a ns w er t his pr essi n g q u esti o n. ” ( I d. at 3 .) At t h e e n d of h er c o n v ers ati o n wit h Pl ai ntiffs, S a n d ers r e c o m m e n d e d t h at Pl ai ntiff “ c e as e fr o m c o nt a cti n g A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c. i n t h e f ut ur e. ” (I d.) B ef or e fili n g s uit, Pl ai ntiff “tri e d t o o bt ai n a f air r es ol uti o n f or o v er t w o y e ars b y g oi n g dir e ctl y t hr o u g h A m eri c a n Airli n es I n c., ” b ut w as u n a bl e t o d o s o. ( I d. at 1 0.) B e c a us e Pl ai ntiff 5 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 6 of 29 PageID #: 1081 w as t er mi n at e d fr o m his J et N et a c c o u nt, h e w as “ u n a bl e t o r ef er b a c k t o c o m p a n y r es o ur c es f or t h e p ur p os e of s a vi n g a n d pri nti n g e vi d e n c e s u p p orti n g [ his] cl ai m. ” (I d. at 7 .) II. Dis c ussi o n a. St a n d a r d of r e vi e w I n r e vi e wi n g a m oti o n t o dis miss u n d er R ul e 1 2( b)( 6) of t h e F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil Pr o c e d ur e, a c o urt m ust c o nstr u e t h e c o m pl ai nt li b er all y, “ a c c e pti n g all f a ct u al all e g ati o ns i n t h e c o m pl ai nt as tr u e, a n d dr a wi n g all r e as o n a bl e i nf er e n c es i n t h e pl ai ntiff’s f a v or. ” S a c er d ot e v. N. Y. U ni v. , 9 F. 4t h 9 5, 1 0 6 – 0 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1); V a u g h n v. P h o e ni x H o us e N. Y. I n c. , 9 5 7 F. 3 d 1 4 1, 1 4 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0) (s a m e). A c o m pl ai nt m ust pl e a d “ e n o u g h f a cts t o st at e a cl ai m t o r eli ef t h at is pl a usi bl e o n its f a c e. ” B ell Atl. C or p. v. T w o m bl y , 5 5 0 U. S. 5 4 4, 5 7 0 ( 2 0 0 7); B a c o n v. P h el ps , 9 6 1 F. 3 d 5 3 3, 5 4 0 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0) ( q u oti n g C h a m b ers v. Ti m e W ar n er, I n c. , 2 8 2 F. 3 d 1 4 7, 1 5 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 2)). A cl ai m is pl a usi bl e “ w h e n t h e pl ai ntiff pl e a ds f a ct u al c o nt e nt t h at all o ws t h e c o urt t o dr a w t h e r e as o n a bl e i nf er e n c e t h at t h e d ef e n d a nt is li a bl e f or t h e mis c o n d u ct all e g e d. ” M ats o n v. B d. of E d u c. , 6 3 1 F. 3 d 5 7, 6 3 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 1) ( q u oti n g As h cr oft v. I q b al , 5 5 6 U. S. 6 6 2, 6 7 8 ( 2 0 0 9)); C a v ell o B a y R ei ns ur a n c e Lt d. v. S h u bi n St ei n , 9 8 6 F. 3 d 1 6 1, 1 6 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1) ( q u oti n g I q b al, 5 5 6 U. S. at 6 7 8). Alt h o u g h all all e g ati o ns c o nt ai n e d i n t h e c o m pl ai nt ar e ass u m e d t o b e tr u e, t his t e n et is “i n a p pli c a bl e t o l e g al c o n cl usi o ns. ” I q b al, 5 5 6 U. S. at 6 7 8; V a u g h n , 9 5 7 F. 3 d at 1 4 5 (s a m e). b. W o r k pl a c e b ull yi n g a n d h ostil e w o r k e n vi r o n m e nt cl ai ms Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt “ k n o wi n gl y [t o o k] p art i n . . . w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g. ” ( S A C 1.) H e r ef ers t o b ei n g b ulli e d “ o n b o ar d fli g ht 4 5 ” a n d cl ai ms t h at C h et W hit e e n g a g e d i n “ w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g ” w h e n h e p ut Pl ai ntiff o n a fli g ht fr o m N e w Y or k t o C hi c a g o. ( I d. at 6 .) H e als o all e g es t h at D ef e n d a nt “ a cti v el y p arti ci p at[ e d] i n . . . cr e ati n g a h ostil e w or k 6 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 7 of 29 PageID #: 1082 e n vir o n m e nt. ” ( I d. at 1.) U nli k e t h e ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt, t h e S A C d o es n ot all e g e t h at D ef e n d a nt or its e m pl o y e es dis cri mi n at e d a g ai nst Pl ai ntiff d u e t o his a g e or a n y ot h er pr ot e ct e d c h ar a ct eristi c. (S e e C o m pl. 1 7.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u e s t h at t o t h e e xt e nt Pl ai ntiff’s b ull yi n g cl ai ms s o u n d i n dis cri mi n ati o n u n d er N e w Y or k St at e or Cit y l a w, t h e cl ai ms f ail b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff f ails t o pl e a d a n y “ dis cri mi n at or y a cts, o missi o ns, or a ni m us ” b y D ef e n d a nt. ( D ef.’s M e m . 1 5, 1 8 – 1 9.) 7 Si mil a rl y, D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntif f f ails t o “ pl e a d a n y c o m m e nts or a cts, ” i n p arti c ul ar a n y “ dis cri mi n at or y c o m m e nts, ” t h at w o ul d s h o w t h at h e w as s u bj e ct e d t o a h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt i n vi ol ati o n of N e w Y or k St at e or Cit y l a w. ( I d. at 1 6 – 1 9.) Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot cit e a n y st at ut or y a u t h orit y f or his w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g a n d h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt cl ai ms. S u c h cl ai ms ar e n or m all y g o v er n e d b y t h e r el e v a nt f e d er al, st at e, a n d l o c al l a ws g o v er ni n g w or k pl a c e dis cri mi n ati o n a n d h ar ass m e nt: Titl e VII of t h e Ci vil Ri g hts A ct, 4 2 U. S. C. § 2 0 0 0 e et s e q. ( “ Titl e VII ”); t h e N e w Y or k St at e H u m a n Ri g hts L a w ( “ N Y S H R L ”); a n d t h e N e w Y or k Cit y H u m a n Ri g hts L a w ( “ N Y C H R L ”). H o w e v er, a n y cl ai ms Pl ai ntiff s e e ks t o ass ert u n d er t h es e st at ut es f ail b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff h as n ot all e g e d a n y f a cts t o s u g g est t h at D ef e n d a nt dis cri mi n at e d a g ai nst hi m d u e t o a n y c h ar a ct eristi c pr ot e ct e d u n d er t h es e st at ut es. S e e Vill. of Fr e e p ort v. B arr ell a , 8 1 4 F. 3 d 5 9 4, 6 0 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 6) (st ati n g t h at Titl e VII pr o hi bits e m pl o y ers fr o m “t a k[i n g] a d v ers e a cti o n a g ai nst a n e m pl o y e e b e c a us e of t h at e m pl o y e e’s ‘r a c e, c ol or, r eli gi o n, s e x, or n ati o n al ori gi n’ ” ( q u oti n g 4 2 U. S. C. § 2 0 0 0 e- 2( a))) ; R o dri g u ez v. M etr o 7 D ef e n d a nt’s m e m or a n d u m a d dr ess es t h e pr o p os e d A m e n d e d C o m p l ai nt Pl ai ntiff fil e d wit h his A pril 2 4, 2 0 2 1 m oti o n t o “r es u b mit [ his] [ A]m e n d e d [ C]o m pl ai nt ” i n or d er t o c orr e ct s p elli n g a n d t y p o gr a p hi c al err ors. ( D ef.’s M e m. 3 n. 2; M ot. t o A m e n d/ C orr e ct/ S u p pl e m e nt, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 4 3.) T h e pr o p os e d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt is s u bst a nti v el y i d e nti c al t o t h e S A C. (C o m p ar e C orr e ct e d A m. C o m pl., a n n e x e d t o M ot. t o A m e n d/ C orr e ct/ S u p pl e m e nt, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 4 3- 1, wit h S A C.) 7 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 8 of 29 PageID #: 1083 El e c. C o ntr a ct ors, I n c. , N o. 1 8-C V - 5 1 4 0, 2 0 2 1 W L 8 4 8 8 3 9, at * 8 ( E. D. N. Y. M ar. 5, 2 0 2 1) ( n oti n g t h at t h e N Y S H R L “ m a k es it u nl a wf ul f or a n e m pl o y er t o dis cri mi n at e o n t h e b asis of a n ‘i n di vi d u al’s a g e, r a c e, cr e e d, c ol or, n ati o n al ori gi n, s e x u al ori e nt ati o n, g e n d er i d e ntit y or e x pr essi o n, milit ar y st at us, s e x, dis a bilit y, pr e dis p osi n g g e n eti c c h ar a ct eristi cs, f a mili al st a t us, m arit al st at us, or st at us as a vi cti m of d o m esti c vi ol e n c e’ ” ( q u oti n g N. Y. E x e c. L a w § 2 9 6( 1)( a))); S a n d ers o n v. L e g A p p ar el L L C , N o. 1 9-C V - 8 4 2 3, 2 0 2 0 W L 3 1 0 0 2 5 6, at * 6 ( S. D. N. Y. J u n e 1 1, 2 0 2 0) ( e x pl ai ni n g t h at t h e N Y C H R L “ pr o hi bits e m pl o y ers fr o m dis cri mi n ati n g ‘ b e c a us e of t h e a ct u al or p er c ei v e d a g e, r a c e, cr e e d, c ol or, n ati o n al ori gi n, g e n d er, dis a bilit y, m arit al st at us, p art n ers hi p st at us, c ar e gi v er st at us, s e x u al a n d r e pr o d u cti v e h e alt h d e cisi o ns, s e x u al ori e nt ati o n, u nif or m e d s er vi c e or ali e n a g e or citi z e ns hi p st at us of a n y p ers o n’ ” ( q u oti n g N. Y. C. A d mi n. C o d e § 8- 1 0 7( 1)( a))). B e c a us e t h er e ar e n o g e n er ali z e d c a us es of a cti o n pr o hi biti n g w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g or cr e ati o n of a h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt w h er e t h e p l ai ntiff h as n ot i d e ntifi e d t h at h e is a m e m b er of a pr ot e ct e d gr o u p, Pl ai ntiff’s w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g a n d h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt cl ai ms f ail. 8 S e e J o h ns o n v. Cit y U ni v. of N. Y. , 4 8 F. S u p p. 3 d 5 7 2, 5 7 4 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 4) ( “ B ull yi n g a n d h ar ass m e nt h a v e n o pl a c e i n t h e w or k pl a c e, b ut u nl ess t h e y ar e 8 I n t h e ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt, Pl ai ntiff alle g e d t h at h e w as b ulli e d, dis cri mi n at e d a g ai nst, a n d s u bj e ct e d t o a h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt d u e t o his a g e. ( C o m pl. 1 7). E v e n ass u mi n g t h at Pl ai ntiff is a g ai n all e gi n g a g e -b as e d dis cri mi n ati o n, his cl ai ms f ail f or t h e r e as o ns arti c ul at e d i n t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n dis missi n g t h e ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt – f or f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m f or a g e dis cri mi n ati o n or h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt u n d er t h e N Y S H R L a n d N Y C H R L, a n d f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m u n d er t h e A g e Dis cri mi n ati o n i n E m pl o y m e nt A ct b e c a us e h e w as b el o w t h e a g e of f ort y a n d h a d n ot all e g e d t h at h e fil e d a ti m el y c h ar g e wit h t h e E q u al E m pl o y m e nt O p p ort u nit y C o m missi o n . ( M e m. a n d Or d er d at e d S e pt. 4, 2 0 2 0 at 2 8 – 2 9, 3 4 – 3 5, 3 7, 4 1.) I n t h at d e cisi o n, t h e C o urt f o u n d t h at Pl ai ntiff di d n ot m a k e a n y “f a ct u al all e g ati o ns t o s u p p ort his cl ai m t h at ol d er e m pl o y e es w er e tr e at e d b ett er t h a n y o u n g er e m pl o y e es b e c a us e of t h eir a g e, ” ( i d. at 3 4), di d n ot “s et f ort h a n y f a ct u al all e g ati o ns t o s u g g est t h at Pl ai ntiff’s c oll e a g u es’ all e g e d b ull yi n g w as m oti v at e d b y dis cri mi n at or y i nt e nt or b e c a us e of Pl ai ntiff’s a g e or a n y ot h er pr ot e ct e d c h ar a ct eristi c, ” ( i d. at 3 6), a n d di d n ot “ pl a usi bl y all e g e t h at [ Pl ai ntiff] w as ‘tr e at e d “l ess w ell ” b e c a us e of a dis cri mi n at or y i nt e nt, ” ( i d. at 4 1 – 4 2 ). 8 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 9 of 29 PageID #: 1084 m oti v at e d b y t h e vi cti m’s m e m b ers hi p i n a pr ot e ct e d cl ass, t h e y d o n ot pr o vi d e t h e b asis f or a n a cti o n u n d er Titl e VII ”); D e L a Cr uz v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 7 8 3 F. S u p p. 2 d 6 2 2, 6 3 9 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 1) ( “ M er e ‘ w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g,’ . . . is n ot e n o u g h t o gi v e ris e t o a n a cti o n a bl e h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt cl ai m. R at h er, t h er e m ust b e a s h o wi n g t h at t h e c o n d u ct o c c urr e d b e c a us e of t h e e m pl o y e e’s m e m b ers hi p i n a p r ot e ct e d cl ass. ”); Vit o v. B a us c h & L o m b I n c. , 4 0 3 F. A p p’ x 5 9 3, 5 9 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 0) ( “[I]t is a xi o m ati c t h at i n or d er t o est a blis h a . . . h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt . . . a pl ai ntiff m ust d e m o nstr at e t h at t h e c o n d u ct o c c urr e d b e c a us e of h er [ m e m b ers hi p i n a pr ot e ct e d cl ass]. ” ( alt er ati o ns i n ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g Alf a n o v. C ost ell o , 2 9 4 F. 3 d 3 6 5, 3 7 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 2)). A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n a n d dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s b ull yi n g a n d h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt cl ai ms. c. R et ali ati o n cl ai m Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt e n g a g e d i n w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n i n vi ol ati o n of N e w Y or k L a b or L a w ( “ N Y L L ”) s e cti o n 2 1 5. (S A C 1.) H e all e g es t h at D ef e n d a nt’s e m pl o y e e C h arl e n e H o w ell r et ali at e d a g ai nst hi m w h e n s h e wit h h el d j o b d uti es fr o m hi m wit h o ut e x pl ai ni n g w h y, a n d t h at C h et W hit e p ut hi m o n a fli g ht fr o m N e w Y or k t o C hi c a g o “ b e c a us e of w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n a n d w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g. ” (I d. at 5, 6 .) Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at as a r es ult of e x p eri e n ci n g w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g, h e i nt er a ct e d wit h m e m b ers of D ef e n d a nt’s m a n a g e m e nt t e a m, w hi c h “r es ult e d i n hi m b e c o mi n g a vi cti m of w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n a n d b ei n g ill e g all y t er mi n at e d fr o m his p ositi o n as a fli g ht att e n d a nt. ” ( I d. at 6.) H e als o cl ai ms t h at his a c c ess t o J et N et w as d e ni e d “ d u e t o [ w]or k pl a c e [r]et ali a ti o n.” (I d. at 1 4.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es, first, t h at Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m u n d er s e cti o n 2 1 5 of t h e N Y L L is b arr e d b y t h e t w o-y e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns. ( D ef .’s M e m . 2 1.) S e c o n d, D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff f ails t o all e g e p arti ci p ati o n i n a pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y, as r e q uir e d u n d er s e cti o n 2 1 5. (I d.) I n 9 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 10 of 29 PageID #: 1085 a d diti o n, D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at t o t h e e xt e nt t h at Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m is t h at D ef e n d a nt r et ali at e d a g ai nst hi m aft er his e m pl o y m e nt h a d b e e n t er mi n at e d, Pl ai ntiff “ d o es n ot pl e a d a n y f a cts s h o wi n g his p ost-s e p ar ati o n c o m pl ai nts . . . ar e li n k e d t o t h e s e p ar ati o n its elf. ” ( I d. at 2 2.) N Y L L r et ali ati o n cl ai ms ar e a n al y z e d i n t h e s a m e m a n n er as F air L a b or St a n d ar ds A ct ( F L S A) r et ali ati o n cl ai ms. F o x v. St ar b u c ks C or p. , N o. 1 9-C V - 4 6 5 0, 2 0 2 1 W L 4 1 5 5 0 2 9, at * 5 ( S. D. N. Y. S e pt. 1 3, 2 0 2 1) ( “ F or pr es e nt p ur p os es, t h e el e m e nts of F L S A a n d N Y L L r et ali ati o n cl ai ms o v erl a p i n all m at eri al r es p e cts. ” ( q u oti n g C ort es e v. S k a ns k a K o c h, I n c. , N o. 1 9-C V 1 1 1 8 9, 2 0 2 1 W L 2 4 7 2 2 4 2, at * 1 0 ( S. D. N. Y. J u n e 1 7, 2 0 2 1))); S al az ar v. Br o w n e R e alt y Ass o c., L. L. C. , 7 9 6 F. S u p p. 2 d 3 7 8, 3 8 4 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 1) ( e x pl ai ni n g t h at t h e pl e a di n g r e q uir e m e nts f or a r et ali ati o n cl ai m u n d er t h e F L S A a n d t h e N Y L L ar e t h e s a m e ); s e e als o W u v. G o o d S a m arit a n H os p . M e d . Ctr. , 8 1 5 F. A p p’ x 5 7 5, 5 8 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0) (r ej e cti n g pl ai ntiff’s N Y L L r et ali ati o n cl ai m f or f ail ur e t o a d e q u at el y pl e a d c a us ati o n) ; M ulli ns v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 6 2 6 F. 3 d 4 7, 5 3 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 0) ( d es cri bi n g t h e el e m e nts of a pri m a f a ci e c as e of r et ali ati o n u n d er t h e F L S A). “[ A] pl ai ntiff all e gi n g r et ali ati o n u n d er F L S A m ust first est a blis h a pri m a f a ci e c as e of r et ali ati o n b y s h o wi n g ( 1) p arti ci p ati o n i n pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y k n o w n t o t h e d ef e n d a nt, li k e t h e fili n g of a F L S A l a ws uit; ( 2) a n e m pl o y m e nt a cti o n dis a d v a nt a gi n g t h e pl ai ntiff; a n d ( 3) a c a us al c o n n e cti o n b et w e e n t h e pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y a n d t h e a d v ers e e m pl o y m e nt a cti o n. ” M ulli ns , 6 2 6 F. 3 d at 5 3 ( citi n g Cr uz v. C o a c h St or es, I n c. , 2 0 2 F. 3 d 5 6 0, 5 6 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 0)); s e e als o Ki m v. L e e , N o. 2 1- C V - 3 5 5 2, 2 0 2 1 W L 6 0 5 2 1 2 2, at * 1 0 ( S. D. N. Y. D e c. 2 0, 2 0 2 1) (fi n di n g t h at a pri m a f a ci e cl ai m of r et ali ati o n is est a blis h e d b y “( 1) p arti ci p ati o n i n pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y k n o w n t o t h e d ef e n d a nt . . . ; ( 2) a n e m pl o y m e nt a cti o n dis a d v a nt a gi n g t h e pl ai ntiff; a n d ( 3) a c a us al c o n n e cti o n b et w e e n t h e pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y a n d t h e a d v ers e e m pl o y m e nt a cti o n.’ ” ( alt er ati o n i n 10 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 11 of 29 PageID #: 1086 ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g M ulli ns , 6 2 6 F. 3 d at 5 3)); H u m p hr e y v. R a v I n v esti g ati v e & S e c. S er vs. Lt d. , 1 6 9 F. S u p p. 3 d. 4 8 9, 5 0 0 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 6) (s a m e). First, t o t h e e xt e nt t h at Pl ai ntiff’s r et ali ati o n cl ai ms ar e b as e d o n c o n d u ct t h at o c c urr e d pri or t o M a y 1, 2 0 1 7, as t h e y a p p e ar t o b e, t h e y ar e b arr e d b y t h e r el e v a nt t w o- y e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns. S e e N. Y. L a b. L a w § 2 1 5( 2)( a); W a n g v. P al mis a n o , 1 5 7 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 0 6, 3 1 9 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 5) ( a p pl yi n g “ N e w Y or k’s t w o-y e ar li mit ati o ns p eri o d t o Pl ai ntiff’s r et ali at or y dis c h ar g e cl ai m ”) ; Es mill a v. C os m o p olit a n Cl u b , N o. 0 9- C V - 1 0 1 6 9, 2 0 1 1 W L 8 1 4 0 0 7, at * 3 ( S. D. N. Y. M ar. 3, 2 0 1 1) (“ Cl ai ms u n d er S e c ti o n 2 1 5 [ of t h e N Y L L] m ust b e ass ert e d wit hi n t w o y e ars of i nj ur y. ”); M c K e n n a e x r el U. S. v. S e ni or Lif e M g mt. , I n c., 4 2 9 F. S u p p. 2 d 6 9 5, 6 9 9 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 0 6) ( “ N e w Y or k L a b or L a w § 2 1 5 . . . pr o vi d es a t w o-y e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns f or r et ali at or y t er mi n ati o ns arisi n g o ut of e m pl o y e e c o m pl ai nts a b o ut e m pl o y er vi ol ati o ns of t h e st at e’s l a b or l a ws. ”).9 S e c o n d, e v e n ass u mi n g t h at Pl ai ntiff’s r et ali ati o n cl ai m w as ti m el y, Pl ai ntiff n e v ert h el ess f ails t o st at e a cl ai m f or r et ali ati o n u n d er s e cti o n 2 1 5 of t h e N Y L L b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot all e g e t h at D ef e n d a nt’s a d v ers e a cti o ns a g ai nst hi m o c c urr e d aft er h e p arti ci p at e d i n a pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y. 1 0 “ A n e m pl o y e e e n g a g es i n a pr ot e ct e d a cti vit y w h e n s h e c o m pl ai ns of a n e m pl o y m e nt 9 Pl ai ntiff r e p e at e dl y e m p h asi z es t h at h e d o es n ot k n o w t h e e x a ct d at es t h at e v e nts o c c u rr e d b e c a us e h e l a c ks a c c ess t o c o m p a n y r es o ur c es, i n cl u di n g a c c ess t o t h e o nli n e e m pl o y e e p ort al, a n d t h er ef or e s e e ks t o s u b p o e n a D ef e n d a nt f or a c c ess t o t h os e r es o ur c es. ( S A C 7– 1 0.) H o w e v er, Pl ai ntiff als o cl ai ms t h at h e w as b a n n e d fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n e fli g hts i n s pri n g or e arl y s u m m er of 2 0 1 6, ( i d. at 1 – 2, 1 6, 2 3), a n d w as t er mi n at e d fr o m his e m pl o y m e nt wit h D ef e n d a nt “ w e e ks ” l at er , (i d. at 1 – 2, 2 3). T h es e g e n er al ti m e r a n g es ar e s uffi ci e nt t o est a blis h t h at D ef e n d a nt’s all e g e d vi ol ati o n of N Y L L § 2 1 5 o c c urr e d pri or t o M a y 1, 2 0 1 7. 10 Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m als o f ails if e v al u at e d u n d er t h e r et ali ati o n pr o visi o ns of Titl e VII, t h e N Y S H R L, or t h e N Y C H R L. U n d er Titl e VII or t h e N Y S H RL , f or “ a r et ali ati o n cl ai m t o s ur vi v e a m oti o n f or j u d g m e nt o n t h e pl e a di n gs or a m oti o n t o dis miss, t h e pl ai ntiff m ust pl a usi bl y all e g e t h at: ( 1) d ef e n d a nts dis cri mi n at e d — or t o o k a n a d v ers e e m pl o y m e nt a cti o n — a g ai nst hi m, ( 2) 11 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 12 of 29 PageID #: 1087 pr a cti c e t h at s h e r e as o n a bl y b eli e v es vi ol at es t h e l a w. ” G uz m a n v. Cr ot h all H e alt h c ar e I n c. , N o. 1 7- C V - 4 3 0 6, 2 0 2 1 W L 5 0 4 8 9 9 3, at * 1 5 ( E. D. N. Y. S e pt. 2 9, 2 0 2 1) ( q u oti n g M a y ers v. E mi gr a nt B a n c or p, I n c. , 7 9 6 F. S u p p. 2 d 4 3 4, 4 4 8 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 1)). Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot all e g e t h at a n y of D ef e n d a nt’s a cti o ns — wit h h ol di n g Pl ai ntiff’s j o b d uti es, pl a ci n g hi m o n a fli g ht t o C hi c a g o, t er mi n ati n g his e m pl o y m e nt, or r e m o vi n g his a c c ess t o J et N et, (S A C 5 – 6, 1 4) — w er e t a k e n b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff c o m pl ai n e d of w h at h e b eli e v e d t o b e a n ill e g al e m pl o y m e nt pr a cti c e. Pl ai ntiff s e e ms t o all e g e t h at h e w as t er mi n at e d fr o m his e m pl o y m e nt aft er h e c o m pl ai n e d a b o ut w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g t o D ef e n d a nt’s m a n a g e m e nt t e a m, ( i d. at 6 ), b ut b e c a us e h e d o es n ot all e g e t h at h e w as b ulli e d d u e t o his m e m b ers hi p i n a pr ot e ct e d gr o u p, t h e S A C f ails t o cl ai m t h at D ef e n d a nt t o o k a n a d v ers e a cti o n a g ai nst Pl ai ntiff aft er Pl ai ntiff c o m pl ai n e d t h at D ef e n d a nt vi ol at e d t h e N Y L L. S e e F ar m er v. Fz o a d. c o m E nt er pris es I n c. , N o. 1 7-C V - 9 3 0 0, 2 0 2 0 W L b e c a us e h e h as o p p os e d a n y u nl a wf ul e m pl o y m e nt pr a cti c e. ” D u pl a n v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 8 8 8 F. 3 d 6 1 2, 6 2 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 8); s e e als o H ol c o m b v. St at e U ni v. of N. Y. at Fr e d o ni a , 6 9 8 F. A p p’ x 3 0, 3 1 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 7) ( e x pl ai ni n g t h at cl ai ms u n d er Titl e VII a n d t h e N Y S H R L a r e e v al u at e d t h e s a m e w a y). (I n J u n e of 2 0 1 9, N e w Y or k St at e L e gisl at ur e a m e n d e d t h e N Y S H R L, “t h e eff e ct of w hi c h is t o r e n d er t h e st a n d ar d f or cl ai ms [ br o u g ht u n d er t h e N Y S H R L] cl os er t o t h e st a n d ar d u n d er t h e N Y C H R L. ” W ell n er v. M o nt efi or e M e d. Ctr. , N o. 1 7-C V - 3 4 7 9, 2 0 1 9 W L 4 0 8 1 8 9 8, at * 5 n. 4 ( S. D. N. Y. A u g. 2 9, 2 0 1 9); s e e als o A 8 4 2 1/ S 6 5 7 7 ( as a m e n d e d b y S 6 5 9 4/ A 8 4 2 4). B e c a us e t h e a m e n d m e nts a p pl y t o cl ai ms a c cr ui n g aft er O ct o b er 1 1, 2 0 1 9, s e e W ell n er, 2 0 1 9 W L 4 0 8 1 8 9 8, at * 5 n. 4; A 8 4 2 1/ S 6 5 7 7 ( as a m e n d e d b y S 6 5 9 4/ A 8 4 2 4), t h e d at e t h at t h e a m e n d m e nts g o i nt o eff e ct, t h e y d o n ot a p pl y t o Pl ai ntiff’s N Y S H R L cl ai ms.) Pl ai ntiff all e g es t h at h e w as fir e d aft er c o m pl ai ni n g a b o ut w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g, b ut b e c a us e h e d o es n ot cl ai m t h at h e w as b ulli e d d u e t o his m e m b ers hi p i n a pr ot e ct e d gr o u p, h e f ails t o all e g e t h at h e w as fir e d f or o p p osi n g a n u nl a wf ul e m pl o y m e nt pr a cti c e u n d er Tit l e VII or t h e N Y S H R L. Si mil arl y, t o pr e v ail o n a r et ali ati o n cl ai m u n d er t h e N Y C H R L, “t h e pl ai ntiff m ust s h o w t h at s h e t o o k a n a cti o n o p p osi n g h er e m pl o y er’s dis cri mi n ati o n, a n d t h at, as a r es ult, t h e e m pl o y er e n g a g e d i n c o n d u ct t h at w as r e as o n a bl y li k el y t o d et er a p ers o n fr o m e n g a gi n g i n s u c h a cti o n. ” Mi h ali k v. Cr e dit A gri c ol e C h e u vr e u x N ort h A m eri c a, I n c. , 7 1 5 F. 3 d 1 0 2, 1 1 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 3) (first citi n g Al b u ni o v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 1 6 N. Y. 3 d 4 7 2, 4 7 9 ( 2 0 1 1); a n d t h e n citi n g Willi a ms v. N. Y. C. H o us. A ut h. , 8 7 2 N. Y. S. 2 d 2 7, 3 8 ( A p p. Di v. 2 0 0 9)). Pl ai ntiff all e g es t h at h e w as fir e d aft er c o m pl ai ni n g a b o ut w or k pl a c e b ull yi n g, b ut n ot t h at h e w as fir e d aft er c o m pl ai ni n g a b o ut dis cri mi n ati o n t h at vi ol at e d t h e N Y C H R L. H e t h er ef or e f ails t o st at e a cl ai m f or r et ali ati o n u n d er Titl e VII, t h e N Y S H R L, or t h e N Y C H R L. 12 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 13 of 29 PageID #: 1088 6 5 3 0 7 8 7, at * 5 ( S. D. N. Y. A u g. 5, 2 0 2 0) ( “ T o est a blis h a pri m a f a ci e c as e [ u n d er N Y L L § 2 1 5], ‘t h e pl ai ntiff m ust a d e q u at el y pl e a d t h at w hil e e m pl o y e d b y t h e d ef e n d a nt, s h e m a d e a c o m pl ai nt a b o ut t h e e m pl o y er’s vi o l ati o n of t h e [ N Y L L].’ ” ( alt er ati o ns i n ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g Hi g u er os v. N. Y. St at e C at h oli c H e alt h Pl a n, I n c. , 6 3 0 F. S u p p. 2 d 2 6 5, 2 6 9 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 0 9))). 1 1 A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n a n d dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s r et ali ati o n cl ai m. d. B r e a c h of c o nt r a ct cl ai m Pl ai ntiff all e g es t h at s e v er al of D ef e n d a nt’s e m pl o y e es br e a c h e d a c o ntr a ct a n d D ef e n d a nt is t h er ef or e li a bl e f or t h es e br e a c h es. First, Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at C h arl e n e H o w ell, t h e A m eri c a n Airli n es e m pl o y e e h e cl ai m e d wr o n gf ull y wit h h el d his j o b d uti es, “is r es p o nsi bl e f or . . . br e a c h of c o ntr a ct. ” (S A C 5.) S e c o n d, Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at Ell e n E h erts “is r es p o nsi bl e f or br e a c hi n g ” Pl ai ntiff’s c o ntr a ct wit h D ef e n d a nt “ b e c a us e t h o u g h [ Pl ai ntiff] p a ys u ni o n d u es o n a m o nt hl y b asis f or t h e i nt er v e nti o n of [ a n] A P F A U ni o n R e pr es e nt ati v e, h e w as n ot r e pr es e nt e d, d ef e n d e d, a n d s u p p ort[ e d] ” d uri n g a sit u ati o n i n w hi c h h e “ m a d e it k n o w n t o Ell e n E h erts t h at h e ris k e d i m mi n e nt t er mi n ati o n. ” (I d. at 6 .) T hir d, Pl ai ntiff r ef ers t o F eli x Eli as -Ri v er a as 11 I n t h e ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt, Pl ai ntiff all e g e d t h at h e w as b ull i e d, dis cri mi n at e d a g ai nst, a n d s u bj e ct e d t o a h ostil e w or k e n vir o n m e nt d u e t o his a g e, a n d u nl a wf ull y t er mi n at e d aft er h e c o m pl ai n e d a b o ut t his dis cri mi n at or y tr e at m e nt. ( C o m pl. 2, 1 7). E v e n ass u mi n g t h at Pl ai ntiff is a g ai n all e gi n g r et ali ati o n aft er c o m pl ai ni n g a b o ut a g e dis cri mi n ati o n, his cl ai ms f ail u n d er t h e N Y S H R L a n d N Y C H R L f or t h e r e as o ns arti c ul at e d i n t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n dis missi n g t h e ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt. ( M e m. a n d Or d er d at e d S e pt. 4, 2 0 2 0.) B e c a us e t h e C o urt f o u n d t h at Pl ai ntiff m a d e “ n o all e g ati o n s t o s u g g est t h at h e i n di c at e d i n a n y w a y t o his e m pl o y er t h at h e w as b ei n g mistr e at e d b as e d o n his a g e or a n y ot h er pr ot e ct e d c h ar a ct eristi c, ” a n y N Y L L r et ali ati o n cl ai m pr e mis e d o n a g e dis cri mi n ati o n als o f ails. ( I d. at 4 2 – 4 3. ) 13 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 14 of 29 PageID #: 1089 “f a cilit ati n g t h e br e a c h i n c o ntr a ct b et w e e n ” Pl ai ntiff a n d D ef e n d a nt. ( I d. at 7 .) F o urt h, Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at C h et W hit e is g uilt y of br e a c h of c o ntr a ct. ( I d. at 1 6.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms ar e pr e e m pt e d a n d t h at Pl ai ntiff f ails t o all e g e t h e el e m e nts of a br e a c h of c o ntr a ct cl ai m. I n s u p p ort of its pr e e m pti o n ar g u m e nt, D ef e n d a nt c o nt e n ds t h at its “st at us as a p ass e n g er air c arri er s u b mits it wit hi n t h e a m bit of t h e [ R ail w a y L a b or A ct ( “ R L A ”) ], w hi c h gri e v a n c e a n d ar bitr ati o n s yst e ms m ust b e us e d e x cl usi v el y f or r es ol vi n g l a b or cl ai ms arisi n g u n d er t h e [ c oll e cti v e b ar g ai ni n g a gr e e m e nt]. ” ( D ef.’s M e m. 9 – 1 0.) S p e cifi c all y, D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at t h e R L A r e q uir es air c arri ers t o n e g oti at e wit h e m pl o y e es’ c oll e cti v e b ar g ai ni n g r e pr es e nt ati v es a n d “ e xti n g uis h es Pl ai ntiff’s p o w er t o n e g oti at e his o w n r el ati o ns wit h ” D ef e n d a nt, a n d as a r es ult, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms ar e s u bj e ct t o pr e e m pti o n u n d er S a n Di e g o B uil di n g Tr a d es C o u n cil v. G ar m o n , 3 5 9 U. S. 2 3 6 ( 1 9 5 9) “ a n d s h o ul d b e dis miss e d. ” ( I d. at 1 0.) As t o t h e el e m e nts of a c o ntr a ct cl ai m, D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff f ails t o pl e a d t h e e xist e n c e of a n a gr e e m e nt, his a d e q u at e p erf or m a n c e of t h e all e g e d c o ntr a ct, D ef e n d a nt’s br e a c h of t h at c o ntr a ct, a n d d a m a g es. ( I d. at 1 1.) T h e C o urt d e cli n es t o a d dr ess D ef e n d a nt ’s pr e e m pti o n ar g u m e nt b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff f ail s t o pl e a d t h e el e m e nts of a br e a c h of c o ntr a ct. “ T h e el e m e nts of a br e a c h - of-c o ntr a ct -cl ai m u n d er N e w Y or k l a w ar e ‘( 1) t h e e xist e n c e of a n a gr e e m e nt, ( 2) a d e q u at e p erf or m a n c e of t h e c o ntr a ct b y t h e pl ai ntiff, ( 3) br e a c h of c o ntr a ct b y t h e d ef e n d a nt, a n d ( 4) d a m a g es.’ ” Fr y e v. L a g erstr o m , N o. 2 0-C V - 3 1 3 4, 2 0 2 1 W L 4 0 2 2 6 9 5, 14 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 15 of 29 PageID #: 1090 at * 4 ( 2 d Cir. S e pt. 3, 2 0 2 1) ( q u oti n g H ars c o C or p. v. S e g ui , 9 1 F. 3 d 3 3 7, 3 4 8 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 6)); H u ds o n & Br o a d, I n c. v. J. C. P e n n e y C or p., I n c. , 5 5 3 F. A p p’ x 3 7, 3 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 4) (s a m e). i. Cl ai ms b as e d o n t h e c o n d u ct of H o w ell, Eli as - Ri v e r a, a n d W hit e T h e C o urt u n d erst a n ds Pl ai ntiff t o b e ar g ui n g t h at t h e a cti o ns of H o w ell, Eli as -Ri v er a, a n d W hit e vi ol at e d c o m p a n y r e g ul ati o ns a n d t h er ef or e c o nstit ut e d a br e a c h i n Pl ai ntiff’s c o ntr a ct wit h D ef e n d a nt. H o w e v er, e v e n if Pl ai ntiff’s br e a c h of c o ntr a ct cl ai m is n ot pr e e m pt e d b y t h e R L A — w hi c h t h e C o urt d o es n ot d e ci d e — Pl ai ntiff’s c o n cl us or y all e g ati o ns t h at D ef e n d a nt vi ol at e d c o m p a n y r e g ul ati o ns b y pl a ci n g hi m o n “ wit h h el d fr o m s er vi c e st at us, ” ( S A C 5 ), “r et a li ati n g a g ai nst ” hi m, ( i d. at 7 ), dis a bli n g his a c c ess t o t h e e m pl o y e e p ort al, (i d. at 1 4), a n d b a n ni n g hi m fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts, ( i d. at 1 6), ar e i ns uffi ci e nt t o st at e a br e a c h of c o ntr a ct cl ai m b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff f ails t o pr o vi d e a n y i nf or m ati o n a b o ut t h e all e g e d c o ntr a ct. S e e C urr y -M al c ol m v. R o c h est er Cit y S c h. Dist. , 8 3 5 F. A p p’ x 6 2 3, 6 2 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0) ( affir mi n g dis miss al of cl ai m t h at pl ai ntiff’s t er mi n ati o n a m o u nt e d “t o a br e a c h of t h e c oll e cti v e b ar g ai ni n g a gr e e m e nt or a n ot h er u ns p e cifi e d c o ntr a ct ” b e c a us e “ h er c o m pl ai nt f ail[ e d] t o s p e cifi c all y all e g e w hi c h pr o visi o n of w hi c h c o ntr a ct w as vi ol at e d ”); C a m bri d g e C a p. L L C v. R u b y H as L L C , --- F. S u p p. 3 d ---, ---, 2 0 2 1 W L 4 4 8 1 1 8 3, at * 1 7 ( S. D. N. Y. S e pt. 3 0, 2 0 2 1) ( “[ A] c o m pl ai nt f ails t o s uffi ci e ntl y pl e a d t h e e xist e n c e of a c o ntr a ct if it d o es n ot pr o vi d e f a ct u al all e g ati o ns r e g ar di n g, i nt er ali a, t h e f or m ati o n of t h e c o ntr a ct, t h e d at e it t o o k pl a c e, a n d t h e c o ntr a ct’s m aj or t er ms. C o n cl us or y all e g ati o ns t h at a c o ntr a ct e xist e d or t h at it w as br e a c h e d d o n ot s uffi c e. ” ( q u oti n g E b o m w o n yi v. S e a S hi p pi n g Li n e , 4 7 3 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 3 8, 3 4 7 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 2 0))); H ar b or Distri b. C or p. v. G T E O p er ati o ns S u p p. I n c., 1 7 6 F. S u p p. 3 d 2 0 4, 2 1 5 – 1 6 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 6) ( c oll e cti n g c as es) ( e x pl ai ni n g t h at “[ c] o n cl us or y all e g ati o ns t h at a d ef e n d a nt br e a c h e d a n a gr e e m e nt ar e 15 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 16 of 29 PageID #: 1091 i ns uffi ci e nt t o s u p p ort a br e a c h of c o ntr a ct cl ai m ” ( q u oti n g Fr o ntli n e Pr o c essi n g C or p. v. M erri c k B a n k C or p. , N o. 1 3-C V - 3 9 5 6, 2 0 1 4 W L 8 3 7 0 5 0, at * 2 ( S. D. N. Y. M ar. 3, 2 0 1 4))). ii. Cl ai ms b as e d o n E h e rts ’ c o n d u ct T h e C o urt u n d erst a n ds Pl ai ntiff t o b e all e gi n g t h at E h erts br e a c h e d Pl ai ntiff’s c o ntr a ct wit h D ef e n d a nt a n d wit h A P F A w h e n s h e f ail e d t o “r e pr es e nt[], d ef e n d[], a n d s u p p ort ” Pl ai ntif f e v e n t h o u g h s h e “ w as a ct[i n g] o n b e h alf of t h e A P F A U ni o n. ” ( S A C at 7 .) Pl ai ntiff t h er ef or e a p p e ars t o b e ass erti n g cl ai ms n ot o nl y a g ai nst D ef e n d a nt b ut als o a g ai nst A P F A f or br e a c hi n g t h e d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n. “ T h e d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n is a ‘st at ut or y o bli g ati o n’ u n d er t h e N L R A, r e q uiri n g a u ni o n ‘t o s er v e t h e i nt er ests of all m e m b ers wit h o ut h ostilit y or dis cri mi n ati o n . . . , t o e x er cis e its dis cr eti o n wit h c o m pl et e g o o d f ait h a n d h o n est y, a n d t o a v oi d ar bitr ar y c o n d u ct.’ ” F o wl k es v. Ir o n w or k ers L o c. 4 0 , 7 9 0 F. 3 d 3 7 8, 3 8 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 5) ( q u oti n g V a c a v. Si p es , 3 8 6 U. S. 1 7 1, 1 7 7 ( 1 9 6 7)). “ A u ni o n br e a c h es its d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n if its a cti o ns wit h r es p e ct t o a m e m b er ar e ar bitr ar y, dis cri mi n at or y, or t a k e n i n b a d f a it h. ” Fi g u er o a v. F ost er , 8 6 4 F. 3 d 2 2 2, 2 2 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 7) ( q u oti n g F o wl k es , 7 9 0 F. 3 d at 3 8 8); s e e als o Gr e e n v. D e p’t of E d. , 1 6 F. 4t h 1 0 7 0, 1 0 7 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1); Fli g ht Att e n d a nts i n R e u ni o n v. A m. Airli n es, I n c. , 8 1 3 F. 3 d 4 6 8, 4 7 3 – 7 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 6). N e it h er c o n cl us or y all e g ati o ns n or “ m er e n e gli g e n c e ” b y t h e u ni o n i n its e nf or c e m e nt of a c oll e cti v e b ar g ai ni n g a gr e e m e nt is s uffi ci e nt t o st at e a cl ai m. M a n c us v. T h e Pi err e H ot el , 4 5 F. A p p ’ x 7 6, 7 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 2) ( q u oti n g U nit e d St e el w or k ers of A m. v. R a ws o n , 4 9 5 U. S. 3 6 2, 3 7 2 – 7 3 ( 1 9 9 0)). Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a b o ut E h erts’ c o n d u ct ar e i ns uffi ci e nt t o st at e a cl ai m t h at A P F A br e a c h e d its d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n or t h at D ef e n d a nt br e a c h e d its c o ntr a ct wit h Pl ai ntiff . W h e n W hit e p ut Pl ai ntiff o n a fli g ht fr o m N e w Y or k t o C hi c a g o, E h erts d e cli n e d t o es c ort 16 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 17 of 29 PageID #: 1092 Pl ai ntiff t o his g at e. ( S A C 6.) Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at E h erts f ail e d t o “r e pr es e nt[], d ef e n d[], a n d s u p p ort ” hi m e v e n t h o u g h s h e k n e w h e w as f a ci n g “i m mi n e nt t er mi n ati o n, ” t h at s h e w as “i n c a p a bl e a n d i n eff e cti v e at h el pi n g ” hi m, a n d t h at s h e h a d a “ m oti v e f or n ot h el pi n g [ Pl ai ntiff] ” b e c a us e h er j o b as a fli g ht att e n d a nt i n v ol v e d “i nt er a cti n g wit h t h e fli g ht att e n d a nts w h o b ulli e d ” Pl ai ntiff. ( I d.) N o n e of t h es e c o n cl us or y all e g ati o ns st at e a cl ai m u n d er eit h er br e a c h of c o ntr a ct or br e a c h of t h e d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n. G u err er o v. F J C S e c. S er vs. I n c. , 4 2 3 F. A p p’ x 1 4, 1 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 1) ( h ol di n g d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n cl ai m f ail e d w h er e pl ai ntiff f ail e d t o all e g e t h at u ni o n’s i n a cti o n w as “s o f ar o utsi d e a wi d e r a n g e of r e as o n a bl e n ess as t o b e irr ati o n al ” ( q u oti n g Air Li n e Pil ots Ass’ n I nt’l v. O’ N eil , 4 9 9 U. S. 6 5, 6 7 ( 1 9 9 1))); Willi a ms v. M etr o - N ort h R. R. , N o. 1 7-C V - 3 0 9 2, 2 0 2 0 W L 1 4 8 9 8 3 2, at * 1 3 ( S. D. N. Y. M ar. 2 7, 2 0 2 0) ( dis missi n g d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n cl ai m w h er e pl ai ntiff’s all e g ati o ns eit h er “l a c k[ e d] f a ct u al c o nt e nt ” or di d “ n ot s u g g est irr ati o n al or dis cri mi n at or y c o n d u ct ”); Xi e v. N. Y. C. D e p’t of E d. , N o. 1 9-C V - 4 0 9 7, 2 0 2 0 W L 3 2 4 6 2, at * 5 ( E. D. N. Y. J a n. 2, 2 0 2 0) ( dis missi n g d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n cl ai m b e c a us e pl ai ntiff f ail e d t o all e g e t h at u ni o n’s a cti o ns “ w er e ar bitr ar y, dis cri mi n at or y, or i n b a d f ait h, or all e g e f a cts fr o m w hi c h t his C o urt c o ul d i nf er s u c h c o n d u ct ”). A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s br e a c h of c o ntr a ct a n d a n y d ut y of f air r e pr es e nt ati o n cl ai ms. e. T o rt cl ai ms D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff’s t ort cl ai ms s o u n di n g i n d ef a m ati o n a n d n e gli g e n c e, ( S A C 1, 2 – 3, 4 – 5, 2 1), m ust b e dis miss e d f or f ail ur e t o st at e a cl ai m , ( D ef.’s M e m . 1 1 – 1 2). i. D ef a m ati o n Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt c o m mitt e d “li b el a n d sl a n d er. ” ( S A C 1, 2 1.) T his cl ai m a p p e ars t o b e gr o u n d e d i n Pl ai ntiff’s all e g ati o n t h at D ef e n d a nt “f alsif[i ed] c o m p a n y 17 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 18 of 29 PageID #: 1093 d o c u m e nt ati o n ” t o a v oi d b ei n g h el d a c c o u nt a bl e f or w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n a n d ill e g al t er mi n ati o n, r es ulti n g i n Pl ai ntiff b ei n g “ u n a bl e t o o bt ai n u n e m pl o y m e nt b e n efits w hi c h h e s h o ul d h a v e q u alifi e d f or. ” 1 2 (I d. at 4 .) Pl ai ntiff als o cl ai ms t h at C h et W hit e f alsifi e d d o c u m e nt ati o n i n b a n ni n g Pl ai ntiff fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n e fli g hts , (i d. at 1 6, 2 3), a n d “ pr o vi d[ e d] a f als e r e p ort t o a p oli c e offi c er i n or d er t o t a k e p art i n w or k pl a c e r et ali ati o n a g ai nst ” Pl ai ntiff. ( I d. at 1 6.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at ( 1) “ Pl ai ntiff’s p ur p ort e d d ef a m ati o n cl ai ms ar e b arr e d b y t h e o n ey e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns a p pli c a bl e t o s u c h cl ai ms , ” a n d ( 2) Pl ai ntiff “f ails t o i d e ntif y a si n gl e f als e st at e m e nt s p o k e n or writt e n b y a n y A m eri c a n [ Airli n es] e m pl o y e e or r e pr es e nt ati v e i n s u p p ort of his d ef a m ati o n cl ai m u n d er N e w Y or k l a w. ” ( D ef.’s M e m. 1 1.) “ D ef a m ati o n . . . is t h e i n v asi o n of t h e i nt er est i n a r e p ut ati o n a n d g o o d n a m e ” a n d “ c o nsist[s] of t h e t wi n t orts of li b el a n d sl a n d er. ” Al b ert v. L o ks e n , 2 3 9 F. 3 d 2 5 6, 2 6 5 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 1) ( cit ati o ns o mitt e d); G ol d m a n v. R e d di n gt o n , 4 1 7 F. S u p p. 3 d 1 6 3, 1 7 1 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 9) (s a m e). “ G e n er all y, s p o k e n d ef a m at or y w or ds ar e sl a n d er; writt e n d ef a m at or y w or ds ar e li b el. ” Al b ert , 2 3 9 F. 3 d at 2 6 5 ( cit ati o ns o mitt e d); s e e als o Gr o g a n v. Bl o o mi n g Gr o v e V ol u nt e er A m b ul a n c e C or p. , 9 1 7 F. S u p p. 2 d 2 8 3, 2 8 9 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 3) (s a m e); Bir o v. C o n d e N ast , 8 8 3 F. S u p p. 2 d 4 4 1, 4 5 6 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 2) ( “ D ef a m ati o n is t h e i nj ur y t o o n e’s r e p ut ati o n eit h er b y 12 T o t h e e xt e nt t h at Pl ai ntiff s e e ks t o a p p e al his d e ni al of u n e m pl o y m e nt b e n efits, t his C o ur t is n ot t h e pr o p er f or u m f or s u c h cl ai ms. “ T h e h a n dli n g of u n e m pl o y m e nt i ns ur a n c e b e n efits cl ai ms w as c o m mitt e d t o t h e a d mi nistr ati v e pr o c ess b y t h e N e w Y or k L e gisl at ur e. ” W al k er v. C o m m’r of t h e N Y S D e p’t of L a b or & U n e m pl o y m e nt , N o. 1 4-C V - 6 9 7 6, 2 0 1 5 W L 1 2 8 0 2 8, at * 6 ( E. D. N. Y. J a n. 8, 2 0 1 5) ( citi n g t o N. Y. L a b or L a w § § 6 2 0 – 2 6). O nl y aft er a d e cisi o n b y t h e a d mi nistr ati v e a g e n c y m a y “ a n a d v ers e d e cisi o n . . . b e a p p e al e d t o t h e c o urts of t h e st at e. ” I d.; s e e als o M o or e v. R oss , 6 8 7 F. 2 d 6 0 4, 6 0 6 n. 1, 2, 3 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 8 2) ( d es cri bi n g t h e pr o c ess b y w hi c h a cl ai m a nt diss atisfi e d wit h t h e d et er mi n ati o n of his u n e m pl o y m e nt cl ai m m a y r e q u est a n a d mi nistr ati v e h e ari n g, a p p e al t o t h e a p p e al b o ar d, a n d o nl y t h e n a p p e al t o N e w Y or k st at e c o urt). 18 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 19 of 29 PageID #: 1094 writt e n e x pr essi o n, w hi c h is li b el, or b y or al e x pr essi o n, w hi c h is sl a n d er. ” ( cit ati o n o mitt e d)). “ U n d er N e w Y or k l a w a d ef a m ati o n pl ai ntiff m ust est a blis h fi v e el e m e nts: ( 1) a . . . d ef a m at or y st at e m e nt of a n d c o n c er ni n g t h e pl ai ntiff, ( 2) p u bli c ati o n t o a t hir d p art y, ( 3) f a ult, ( 4) f alsit y of t h e d ef a m at or y st at e m e nt, a n d ( 5) s p e ci al d a m a g es or p er s e a cti o n a bilit y. ” P ali n v. N. Y. Ti m es C o. , 9 4 0 F. 3 d 8 0 4, 8 0 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 9); C ell e v. Fili pi n o R e p. E nt ers. I n c. , 2 0 9 F. 3 d 1 6 3, 1 7 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 0); T a n n erit e S p orts L L C v. N B C U ni v ers al M e di a L L C , 1 3 5 F. S u p p. 3 d 2 1 9, 2 3 2 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 5); L a n S a n g v. Mi n g H ai , 9 5 1 F. S u p p. 2 d 5 0 4, 5 1 7 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 3) ( “ T h e el e m e nts of a c a us e of a cti o n t o r e c o v er d a m a g es f or d ef a m ati o n ar e a f als e st at e m e nt, p u blis h e d wit h o ut pri vil e g e or a ut h ori z ati o n t o a t hir d p art y, f a ult a n d eit h er c a usi n g s p e ci al h ar m or c o nstit uti n g d ef a m ati o n p er s e. ” ( alt er ati o ns a n d cit ati o ns o mitt e d)); T h o m ps o n v. B oss wi c k , 8 5 5 F. S u p p. 2 d 6 7, 7 6 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 2) ( “ N e w Y or k l a w all o ws a pl ai ntiff t o r e c o v er f or d ef a m ati o n b y pr o vi n g t h at t h e d ef e n d a nt p u blis h e d t o a t hir d p art y a d ef a m at or y st at e m e nt of f a ct t h at w as f als e, w as m a d e wit h t h e a p pli c a bl e l e v el of f a ult, a n d eit h er w as d ef a m at or y p er s e or c a us e d t h e pl ai ntiff s p e ci al h ar m. ” ( citi n g C h a n d o k v. Kl essi g , 6 3 2 F. 3 d 8 0 3, 8 1 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 1))). A d ef a m at or y st at e m e nt is o n e t h at e x p os es t h e pl ai ntiff “t o p u bli c h atr e d, s h a m e, o bl o q u y, c o nt u m el y, o di u m, c o nt e m pt, ri di c ul e, a v ersi o n, ostr a cis m, d e gr a d ati o n, or dis gr a c e, or . . . i n d u c es a n e vil o pi ni o n of o n e i n t h e mi n ds of ri g ht-t hi n ki n g p ers o ns, a n d . . . d e pri v es o n e of . . . c o nfi d e n c e a n d fri e n dl y i nt er c o urs e i n s o ci et y. ” Bir o , 8 8 3 F. S u p p. 2 d at 4 5 6 ( alt er ati o ns i n ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g K ar e d es v. A c k erl e y Gr p., I n c. , 4 2 3 F. 3 d 1 0 7, 1 1 3 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 5)). “ A st at e m e nt t h at t e n ds t o i nj ur e a n ot h er i n his or h er tr a d e, b usi n ess or pr of essi o n is d ef a m at or y p er s e. ” I d. ( cit ati o n o mitt e d). “ Or di n aril y, o pi ni o n st at e m e nts h a v e a bs ol ut e pr ot e cti o n, a n d ar e n o n- a cti o n a bl e si n c e t h e y ar e ‘ n ot c a p a bl e of b ei n g o bj e cti v el y c h ar a ct eri z e d as tr u e or f als e.’ ” 19 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 20 of 29 PageID #: 1095 M est e c k y v. N. Y. C. D e p ’t of E d u c. , 7 9 1 F. A p p ’ x 2 3 6, 2 3 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 9) ( q u oti n g C ell e , 2 0 9 F. 3 d at 1 7 8). “ [ C]o m m u ni c ati o ns wit h t h e D O L ar e s u bj e ct t o a n a bs ol ut e pri vil e g e u n d er N e w Y or k l a w. ” Bli g e v. Cit y U ni v. of N e w Y or k , 1 5-C V - 8 8 7 3, 2 0 1 7 W L 4 9 8 5 8 0, at * 1 1 ( S. D. N. Y. J a n. 1 9, 2 0 1 7) ( citi n g All e n v. St. C a bri ni N ursi n g H o m e, I n c. , N o. 0 0-C V - 8 5 5 8, 2 0 0 1 W L 2 8 6 7 8 8, at * 6 ( S.D. N. Y. M ar. 9, 2 0 0 1)); s e e als o J e a n- J os e p h v. W al gr e e ns, I n c., N o. 1 0-C V - 4 6 3 5, 2 0 1 1 W L 5 0 2 5 2 6 6, at * 3 ( E. D. N. Y. O ct. 2 1, 2 0 1 1) ( “ T h e pl ai ntiff c o n c e d es t h at t h e st at e m e nts t h at ar e all e g e d t o h a v e b e e n m a d e t o t h e u n e m pl o y m e nt i ns ur a n c e b o ar d e nj o y a bs ol u t e i m m u nit y. ”); P a p p as v. Air Fr a n c e , 6 5 2 F. S u p p. 1 9 8, 2 0 2 ( E. D. N. Y. 1 9 8 6) ( “ N e w Y or k l a w ‘is cl e ar t h at w h e n a d ef e n d a nt- e m pl o y er writ es t o t h e D e p art m e nt of L a b or c o n c er ni n g a f or m er e m pl o y e e’s ri g ht t o u n e m pl o y m e nt b e n efits, t h at writi n g is pri vil e g e d a n d c a n n ot b e t h e b asis f or a li b el a cti o n b y t h e cl ai m a nt - e m pl o y e e.’ ” ( q u oti n g Cl e g g v. B o n T e m ps, Lt d. , 4 5 2 N. Y. S. 2 d 8 2 5, 8 2 8 ( Ci v. Ct. N. Y. C o u nt y 1 9 8 2))). First, t o t h e e xt e nt t h at Pl ai ntiff’s d ef a m ati o n cl ai ms ar e b as e d o n c o n d u ct t h at o c c urr e d pri or t o M a y 1, 2 0 1 8, as t h e y a p p e ar t o b e, t h e y ar e b arr e d b y t h e o n e- y e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns g o v er ni n g d ef a m ati o n cl ai ms u n d er N e w Y or k l a w. S e e N. Y. C. P. L. R. § 2 1 5( 3); H y u n g Ji n M o o n v. H a k J a H a n M o o n , 4 3 1 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 9 4, 4 1 2 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 9) (fi n di n g d ef a m ati o n cl ai m “ti m e - b arr e d u n d er N e w Y or k’s o n e-y e ar st at ut e of li mit ati o ns ”). S e c o n d, wit h r e g ar d t o Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m t h at D ef e n d a nt d ef a m e d hi m w h e n it r ep ort e d t o N Y D O L t h at Pl ai ntiff h a d b e e n t er mi n at e d d u e t o j o b a b a n d o n m e nt, a n y r e pr es e nt ati o ns m a d e b y D ef e n d a nt t o t h e N e w Y or k D e p art m e nt of L a b or c a n n ot b e t h e b asis of a d ef a m ati o n cl ai m b y Pl ai ntiff. S e e All e n , 2 0 0 1 W L 2 8 6 7 8 8, at * 6 ( dis missi n g t h e pl ai ntiff’s d ef a m ati o n cl ai m b e c a us e “[ w] h e n a n e m pl o y er writ es t o t h e D e p art m e nt of L a b or c o n c er ni n g a f or m er e m pl o y e e’s ri g ht t o 20 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 21 of 29 PageID #: 1096 u n e m pl o y m e nt b e n efits, t h at writi n g is s u bj e ct t o a n a bs ol ut e pri vil e g e a n d c a n n ot s er v e as t h e b asis f or a li b el a cti o n br o u g ht b y t h e cl ai m a nt e m pl o y e e ”) . I n a d diti o n, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m t h at D ef e n d a nt d ef a m e d hi m w h e n C h et W hit e b a n n e d Pl ai ntiff fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts, a pr o c ess t h at Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms i n v ol v e d f alsif yi n g d o c u m e nt ati o n a n d m a ki n g a f als e r e p ort t o a p oli c e offi c er , (S A C 1 6, 2 3), f ails t o st at e a cl ai m f or d ef a m ati o n b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot i d e ntif y t h e all e g e d f als e st at e m e nts at iss u e, eit h er t o t h e p oli c e offi c er or i n t h e all e g e dl y f alsifi e d d o c u m e nts. S e e P arri n o v. S u n G ar d A v ail a bilit y S er vs. L P , N o. 1 1-C V - 3 3 1 5, 2 0 1 3 W L 1 1 2 0 8 2 5, at * 3 ( E. D. N. Y. F e b. 2 7, 2 0 1 3) ( “ T h e S e c o n d Cir c uit h as f o u n d a cl ai m f or d ef a m ati o n t h at ‘f ail[ e d] t o pl e a d a d e q u at el y t h e a ct u al w or ds s p o k e n’ f ail e d as a m att er of l a w. ” ( alt er ati o n i n ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g B o b al v. R e nss el a er P ol yt e c h ni c I nst. , 9 1 6 F. 2 d 7 5 9, 7 6 3 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 0))), r e p ort a n d r e c o m m e n d ati o n a d o pt e d , N o. 1 1- C V - 3 3 1 5, 2 0 1 3 W L 1 1 0 4 7 8 4 ( E. D. N. Y. M ar. 1 8, 2 0 1 3); i d. ( “[I] n li b el a n d sl a n d er c as es t h e p arti c ul ar w or ds c o m pl ai n e d of s h all b e s et f ort h i n t h e c o m pl ai nt. ” ( q u oti n g G ol d b er g v. Sit o m er, Sit o m er & P or g es , 4 6 9 N. Y. S. 2 d 8 1, 8 3 ( A p p. Di v. 1 9 8 3))). F urt h er , t o t h e e xt e nt t h e all e g e d d ef a m at or y st at e m e nts ar e e v al u ati o ns of Pl ai ntiff ’s p erf or m a n c e, s u c h st at e m e nts ar e li k el y st at e m e nts of o pi ni o n a n d t h us n o n- a cti o n a bl e. S e e M est e c k y , 7 9 1 F. A p p’x at 2 3 9 ( “ St at e m e nts . . . t h at a c o- e m pl o y e e’s w or k is d a n g er o us a n d his e m pl o y m e nt s h o ul d t h er ef or e b e t er mi n at e d, if arti c ul at e d as a n e v al u ati o n of his p erf or m a n c e, w o ul d li k el y b e pr ot e ct e d as a st at e m e nt of o pi ni o n. ” ( alt er ati o n i n ori gi n al) ( q u oti n g Al b ert , 2 3 9 F. 3 d at 2 5 6)). ii. N e gli g e n c e Pl ai ntiff ass erts t h at D ef e n d a nt c o m mitt e d “ n e gli g e n c e ( m alf e as a n c e a n d n o nf e as a n c e) ” a n d “ gr oss n e gli g e n c e. ” ( S A C 1.) I n s u p p ort, Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt’s r e pr es e nt ati v e 21 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 22 of 29 PageID #: 1097 A m b er S a n d ers w as n e gli g e nt b e c a us e w h e n s h e “ w as c o nfr o nt e d wit h t h e f a ct t h at a n e m pl o y e e c a n n ot b e g uilt y of [j o b a b a n d o n m e nt] w h e n t h e e m pl o y e e is b a n n e d fr o m t h e w or k pl a c e, s h e s h o ul d h a v e d o n e m or e r es e ar c h i n or d er t o pr o vi d e a q u alit ati v e e x pl a n ati o n f or w h y t h er e w as c o ntr a di ct or y d at a i n [ Pl ai ntiff’s] e m pl o y e e fil e. ” ( I d. at 2 – 3 .) Pl ai ntiff als o cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt’s C E O D o u gl as P ar k er is “ g uilt y of m alf e as a n c e [ a n d] n o nf e as a n c e ” b e c a us e alt h o u g h Pl ai ntiff m a d e P ar k er “ a w ar e of [ P]l ai ntiff’s sit u ati o n, ” P ar k er “ di d n ot m a k e a n y st e ps t o r es ol v e [ P]l ai ntiff’s iss u es or t o m a k e s ur e t h at [ P]l ai ntiff w as a bl e t o r et ur n t o w or k aft er b ei n g ill e g all y t er mi n at e d. ” (I d. at 4 – 5.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff’s n e gli g e n c e cl ai m is b arr e d b y t h e e x cl usi v e r e m e d y pr o visi o ns of t h e N e w Y or k W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n l a w. 13 ( D ef.’s M e m. 1 2 – 1 3.) T h e C o urt a gr e es wit h D ef e n d a nt t h at Pl ai ntiff ’s n e gli g e n c e cl ai m s ar e b arr e d b y t h e e x cl usi v e r e m e d y pr o visi o ns of t h e N e w Y or k W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n L a w, N. Y. W or k ers’ C o m p. L a w § 2 9( 6), a n d dis miss es t h es e cl ai ms. S e e Br o w n v. M o nt efi or e M e d. Ctr. , N o. 1 8C V - 3 8 6 1, 2 0 1 9 W L 4 4 5 4 2 3 0, at * 1 2 ( S. D. N. Y. M a y 8, 2 0 1 9) ( “[ T] h e N e w Y or k W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n L a w pr o vi d es t h e e x cl usi v e r e m e d y a g ai nst a n e m pl o y er f or a n i nj ur y c a us e d b y t h e n e gli g e n c e or wr o n g of a n ot h er e m pl o y e e . . . [ a n d] n e gli g e n c e cl ai ms ar e r o uti n el y dis miss e d o n t his b asis. ”), r e p ort a n d r e c o m m e n d ati o n a d o pt e d , N o. 1 8-C V - 3 8 6 1, 2 0 1 9 W L 3 2 8 2 9 2 7 ( S.D. N. Y. J ul y 2 2, 2 0 1 9); I n gr a m v. N ass a u H e alt h C ar e C or p., N o. 1 7-C V - 5 5 5 6, 2 0 1 9 W L 1 3 3 2 8 5 7, at * 9 ( E. D. N. Y. M ar. 2 5, 2 0 1 9) ( “It is w ell s ettl e d wit hi n t h e S e c o n d Cir c uit t h at 13 D ef e n d a nt als o ar g u e s t h at Pl ai ntiff’s n e gli g e n c e cl ai m is s u bj e ct t o a t hr e e-y e a r st at ut e of li mit ati o ns a n d t h er ef or e ti m e - b arr e d t o t h e e xt e nt t h at it is b as e d o n all e g ati o ns t h at a c cr u e d pri or t o M a y 1, 2 0 1 6. ( D ef.’s M e m. 1 2.) It is u n cl e ar fr o m t h e S A C w h et h er t h e all e g e dl y n e gli g e nt a cts o c c urr e d b ef or e or aft er M a y 1, 2 0 1 6. Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at h e w as b a n n e d fr o m A m eri c a n Airli n es fli g hts i n s pri n g or e arl y s u m m er of 2 0 1 6, ( S A C 1 – 2, 1 6, 2 3), a n d s e e m s t o h a v e c o m m u ni c at e d wit h S a n d ers a n d P ar k er s o m eti m e aft er t h at. B e c a us e Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m f ails r e g ar dl ess, t h e C o urt d o es n ot d e ci d e w h et h er it is als o b arr e d b y t h e st at ut e of li mit ati o ns. 22 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 23 of 29 PageID #: 1098 c o m m o n l a w n e gli g e n c e cl ai ms ar e b arr e d b y t h e N e w Y or k[ ] W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n L a w. ” ( alt er ati o n i n ori gi n al) (i nt er n al q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d) (q u oti n g C orr a d o v. N. Y. U nifi e d C t. S ys. , 1 6 3 F. S u p p. 3 d 1, 2 6 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 6))). 1 4 A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n a n d dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s t ort cl ai ms. f. C ri mi n al l a w cl ai ms Pl ai ntiff cl ai ms t h at D ef e n d a nt’s C E O D o u gl as P ar k er is “ g uilt y of . . . ai d[i n g] a n d a b etti n g ” b e c a us e h e f ail e d t o t a k e a cti o n t o r es ol v e Pl ai ntiff’s sit u ati o n a n d t h at C h arl e n e H o w ell “is r es p o nsi bl e f or ai d [i n g] a n d a b etti n g ” f or pl a ci n g hi m o n “ wit h h el d fr o m s er vi c e st at us ” i n vi ol ati o n of c o m p a n y p oli c y. ( S A C 4 – 5 .) H e als o a c c us es D ef e n d a nt of “ a cti n g i n c o n c ert ” i n vi ol ati o n of s e cti o n 2 0. 0 0 of t h e N e w Y or k St at e P e n al L a w ( “ N Y S P L ”) a n d of 14 E v e n if Pl ai ntiff w as n o l o n g er e m pl o y e d at t h e ti m e of his i nt er a cti o ns wit h S a n d ers a n d P ar k er, a n d t h er ef or e t h e N e w Y or k W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n L a w d o es n ot b ar t his cl ai m, Pl ai ntiff n e v ert h el ess f ails t o st at e a n e gli g e n c e cl ai m b e c a us e h e f ails t o all e g e t h at eit h er S a n d ers or P ar k er o w e d hi m a d ut y of c ar e. T o est a blis h a pri m a f a ci e c as e of n e gli g e n c e u n d er N e w Y or k l a w, “ a pl ai ntiff m ust pr o v e ( 1) t h at t h e d ef e n d a nt o w e d h er a d ut y; ( 2) t h at t h e d ef e n d a nt br e a c h e d t h at d ut y; a n d ( 3) t h at s h e s uff er e d i nj uri es pr o xi m at el y r es ulti n g fr o m t h at br e a c h. ” C o yl e v. U nit e d St at es , 9 5 4 F. 3 d 1 4 6, 1 4 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0) ( q u oti n g S ol o m o n e x r el. S ol o m o n v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 6 6 N. Y. 2 d 1 0 2 6, 1 0 2 7 ( 2 0 1 6)). Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot all e g e f a cts gi vi n g ris e t o a d ut y or e x pl ai n w h y D ef e n d a nt’s r e pr es e nt ati v e w o ul d h a v e a d ut y t o “[ d o] m or e r es e ar c h i n or d er t o pr o vi d e a q u alit ati v e e x pl a n ati o n f or w h y t h er e w as c o ntr a di ct or y d at a i n [ a f or m er e m pl o y e e’s ] fil e, ” ( S A C 3), or w h y D ef e n d a nt’s C E O w o ul d h a v e a d ut y t o “r es ol v e [ a f or m er e m pl o y e e’s] iss u es or t o m a k e s ur e t h at [ h e] w as a bl e t o r et ur n t o w or k aft er b ei n g ill e g all y t er mi n at e d, ” (i d. at 5). B e c a us e t h er e is n o d ut y, Pl ai ntiff f ails t o st at e a cl ai m r e g ardl ess of w h et h er t h e cl ai m is b arr e d b y t h e N e w Y or k W or k ers’ C o m p e ns ati o n L a w. S e e C h a c k o v. C ost c o W h ol es al e C or p. , --- F. S u p p. 3 d ---, ---, 2 0 2 1 W L 4 9 2 7 7 3 3, at * 7 ( S. D. N. Y. O ct. 2 2, 2 0 2 1) ( “[ U] n d er N e w Y or k l a w, ‘ a fi n di n g of n e gli g e n c e m ust b e b as e d o n t h e br e a c h of a d ut y,’ a n d t h us a ‘t hr es h ol d q u esti o n i n t ort c as es is w h et h er t h e all e g e d t ortf e as or o w e d a d ut y of c ar e t o t h e i nj ur e d p art y.’ ” ( q u oti n g Es pi n al v. M el vill e S n o w C o ntr a ct ors , 9 8 N. Y. 2 d 1 3 6, 1 3 8 ( 2 0 0 2))); W o o H e e C h o v. O q u e n d o , N o. 1 6-C V - 4 8 1 1, 2 0 1 8 W L 9 9 4 5 7 0 1, at * 1 1 ( E. D. N. Y. A u g. 2 5, 2 0 1 8) ( dis missi n g cl ai m w h er e “ N e w Y or k c o m m o n l a w d o es n ot gi v e ris e t o a d ut y ”) ; P ul k a v. E d el m a n , 4 0 N. Y. 2 d 7 8 1, 7 8 2 – 8 6 ( 1 9 7 6) ( “It is w ell est a blis h e d t h at b ef or e a d ef e n d a nt m a y b e h el d li a bl e f or n e gli g e n c e it m ust b e s h o w n t h at t h e d ef e n d a nt o w es a d ut y t o t h e pl ai ntiff. I n t h e a bs e n c e of d ut y, t h er e is n o br e a c h a n d wit h o ut a br e a c h t h er e is n o li a bilit y. ” ( cit ati o ns o mitt e d)). 23 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 24 of 29 PageID #: 1099 a cti n g as a n “ a c c ess or y aft er t h e f a ct. ” ( I d. at 1.) Fi n all y, h e cl ai ms t h at C h et W hit e vi ol at e d s e cti o n 2 1 0. 4 5 of t h e N Y S P L b y m a ki n g a f als e r e p ort t o a p oli c e offi c er. ( I d. at 1 6.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms t h at ar e “ b as e d o n t h e ori es of cri mi n al l a w[] m ust . . . b e dis miss e d. ” ( D ef.’s M e m . 1 3.) T h e y cit e t o t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n dis missi n g Pl ai ntiff’s ori gi n al C o m pl ai nt, w hi c h h el d t h at t h er e w as n o pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n f or Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms b as e d i n cri mi n al l a w. ( M e m. a n d Or d er d at e d S e pt. 4, 2 0 2 0.) T h er e is n o pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n f or ai di n g a n d a b etti n g, a cti n g i n c o n c ert, a c c ess or y aft er t h e f a ct, or f als e r e p ort . S e e Hil o w v. R o m e Cit y S c h. Dist. , N o. 1 4-C V - 2 8 8, 2 0 1 5 W L 8 9 3 0 5 0, at * 8 ( N. D. N. Y. M ar. 2, 2 0 1 5) ( n o pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n f or a c c ess or y aft er t h e f a ct or ai di n g a n d a b etti n g); O n g v. P ar k M a n or ( Mi d dl et o w n P ar k) R e h a b. a n d H e alt h c ar e C tr., 5 1 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 1 9, 3 4 8 n. 1 9 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 4) (st ati n g t h at s e cti o n 2 1 0. 4 5 of t h e N Y S P L “ c a n n ot f or m t h e b asis of a ci vil cl ai m ”); P et er e c v. Hilli ar d , N o. 1 2-C V - 3 9 4 4, 2 0 1 3 W L 5 1 7 8 3 2 8, at * 8 ( S. D. N. Y. S e pt. 1 6, 2 0 1 3) ( dis missi n g a f als e r e p ort cl ai m b e c a us e “ pri v at e citi z e ns d o n ot h a v e a pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n f or cri mi n al vi ol ati o ns ” ( q u oti n g Al e x a n d er v. T ys o n , N o. 1 1-C V - 7 1 0, 2 0 1 3 W L 1 7 9 8 8 9 6, at * 2 n. 2 ( D. C o n n. A pr. 2 9, 2 0 1 3))); s e e als o Hil o w , 2 0 1 5 W L 8 9 3 0 5 0, at * 8 ( “ C o urts ar e cl e ar t h at ‘t h e f a ct t h at a f e d er al st at ut e h as b e e n vi ol at e d a n d s o m e p ers o n h ar m e d d o es n ot a ut o m ati c all y gi v e ris e t o a pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n .’ . . . T h e st at ut es h er e ar e si m pl e cri mi n al st at ut es; t h e y d o n ot e x pr essl y or b y i m pli c ati o n d e p uti z e a n y o n e t o e nf or c e t h os e st at ut es. ” ( q u oti n g T o u c h e R oss & C o. v. R e di n gt o n , 4 4 2 U. S. 5 6 0, 5 6 8, ( 1 9 7 9))); S mit h v. N. Y. C. P oli c e D e p ’t, N o. 0 6-C V - 1 5 4 3 6, 2 0 1 0 W L 4 2 3 0 3 9, at * 5 ( S. D. N. Y. F e b. 4, 2 0 1 0) ( “[ A] n i n di vi d u al c a n n ot bri n g a pri v at e c a us e of a cti o n f or all e g e d cri mi n al vi ol ati o ns. ”). A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n a n d dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s cri mi n al l a w cl ai ms. 24 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 25 of 29 PageID #: 1100 g. Le a ve t o a me n d Pl ai ntiff s e e ks l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e S A C, cl ai mi n g t h at “[t] h er e h a v e b e e n n e w d e v el o p m e nts. ” ( Pl.’s M ot. f or L e a v e t o Fil e D o c.) H e h as fil e d a pr o p os e d t hir d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt f or t h e C o urt’s c o nsi d er ati o n. ( S e e T A C.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es t h at t h e C o urt s h o ul d d e n y Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o a m e n d b e c a us e t h e pr o p os e d T A C is “ virt u all y i d e nti c al ” t o t h e S A C. ( R es p. i n O p p’ n r e M ot. t o R e m a n d, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 6 2.) W hil e “[ a] pr o s e c o m pl ai nt s h o ul d n ot b e dis miss e d wit h o ut [ a c o urt] gr a nti n g l e a v e t o a m e n d at l e ast o n c e w h e n a li b er al r e a di n g of t h e c o m pl ai nt gi v es a n y i n di c ati o n t h at a v ali d cl ai m mi g ht b e st at e d, ” Gr ull o n v. Cit y of N e w H a v e n , 7 2 0 F. 3 d 1 3 3, 1 3 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 3) ( alter ati o ns o mitt e d) ( q u oti n g C h a vis v. C h a p pi us , 6 1 8 F. 3 d 1 6 2, 1 7 0 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 0)), “[l] e a v e t o a m e n d m a y pr o p erl y b e d e ni e d if t h e a m e n d m e nt w o ul d b e f util[ e] , ” i d. at 1 4 0 ( q u oti n g F o m a n v. D a vis , 3 7 1 U. S. 1 7 8, 1 8 2 ( 1 9 6 2)). “ F utilit y is a d et er mi n ati o n, as a m att er of l a w, t h at pr o p os e d a m e n d m e nts w o ul d f ail t o c ur e pri or d efi ci e n ci es or t o st at e a cl ai m u n d er R ul e 1 2( b)( 6) of t h e F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil Pr o c e d ur e. ” J a n g v. Trs. of St. J o h ns b ur y A c a d. , 7 7 1 F. A p p’ x 8 6, 8 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 9) ( q u oti n g P a nt h er P art n ers I n c. v. I k a n os C o m m c’ ns, I n c. , 6 8 1 F. 3 d 1 1 4, 1 1 9 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 2)); s e e als o C h u n n v. A mtr a k , 9 1 6 F. 3 d 2 0 4, 2 0 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 9) ( “[ A n] [ a] m e n d m e nt is f util e if it f ails ‘t o c ur e pri or d efi ci e n ci es.’ ” (q u oti n g P a nt h er P art n ers I n c. , 6 8 1 F. 3 d at 1 1 9)). “ T h us, t h e st a n d ar d f or d e n yi n g l e a v e t o a m e n d b as e d o n f utilit y is t h e s a m e as t h e st a n d ar d f or gr a nti n g a m oti o n t o dis miss. ” I B E W L o c. U ni o n N o. 5 8 P e nsi o n Tr. F u n d & A n n uit y F u n d v. R o y al B a n k of S c otl a n d Gr p., P L C , 7 8 3 F. 3 d 3 8 3, 3 8 6 ( 2 d. Cir. 2 0 1 5). “If t h e pr o bl e ms wit h a cl ai m ar e ‘s u bst a nti v e’ r at h er t h a n t h e r es ult of a n ‘i n a d e q u at el y or i n artf ull y pl e a d e d’ c o m pl ai nt, a n o p p ort u nit y t o r e pl e a d w o ul d b e ‘f util e’ a n d ‘s h o ul d b e d e ni e d.’ ” J or d a n v. C h as e M a n h att a n 25 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 26 of 29 PageID #: 1101 B a n k , 9 1 F. S u p p. 3 d 4 9 1, 5 1 0 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 0 5) ( q u oti n g C u o c o v. M orits u g u , 2 2 2 F. 3 d 9 9, 1 1 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 0)). Pl ai ntiff’s pr o p os e d T A C is ess e nti all y i d e nti c al t o t h e S A C e x c e pt t h at Pl ai ntiff h as alt er e d t h e d a m a g es t h at h e s e e ks. ( C o m p ar e T A C wit h S A C .) T h e C o urt h as t wi c e gr a nt e d Pl ai ntiff l e a v e t o a m e n d his C o m pl ai nt. ( S e e Or d er d at e d M ar. 1 8, 2 0 2 1, D o c k et E ntr y. N o 3 7; Or d er d at e d M a y 2 1, 2 0 2 1, D o c k et E ntr y N o. 5 0.) H a vi n g r e vi e w e d t h e pr o p os e d T A C, t h e C o urt d et er mi n es t h at a m e n d m e nt w o ul d b e f util e b e c a us e t h e pr o p os e d T A C s uff ers fr o m t h e s a m e d efi ci e n ci es as t h e S A C. It t h er ef or e d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o a m e n d. h. M oti o n t o r e m a n d Pl ai ntiff s e e ks t o r e m a n d t his a cti o n t o t h e S u pr e m e C o urt of N e w Y or k, Q u e e ns C o u nt y, w h er e it w as ori gi n all y fil e d . ( Pl.’s M ot. t o R e m a n d.) I n M a y of 2 0 1 9, D ef e n d a nt r e m o v e d t h e a cti o n t o t h e E ast er n Distri ct of N e w Y or k o n t h e b asis of di v ersit y j uris di cti o n. ( N oti c e of R e m o v al.) Pl ai ntiff ar g u es t h at r e m a n d is n o w pr o p er b e c a us e t h e T A C s e e ks l ess t h a n $ 7 5, 0 0 0 i n d a m a g es, w hi c h is b el o w t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y t hr es h ol d f or di v ersit y j uris di cti o n. ( Pl.’s M ot. t o R e m a n d.) D ef e n d a nt ar g u es, first, t h at t h e pr o p os e d T A C s e e ks m or e t h a n $ 7 5, 0 0 0 i n d a m a g es. ( R es p. i n O p p’ n r e M ot. t o R e m a n d.) S e c o n d, e v e n if Pl ai ntiff pr o p erl y r e d u c e d t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y b el o w $ 7 5, 0 0 0, f e d er al j uris di cti o n is n ot aff e ct e d b y a r e d u cti o n i n t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y aft er t h e c as e h as b e e n r e m o v e d. ( I d. at 1 – 2.) F e d er al c o urts ar e c o urts of li mit e d j uris di cti o n a n d m a y n ot h e ar c as es if t h e y l a c k s u bj e ct m att er j uris di cti o n o v er t h e iss u es pr es e nt e d . L y n d o n vill e S a v. B a n k & Tr. C o. v. L ussi er, 2 1 1 F. 3 d 6 9 7, 7 0 0 – 0 1 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 0). “I n 2 8 U. S. C. § § 1 3 3 1 a n d 1 3 3 2( a), C o n gr ess gr a nt e d f e d er al c o urts j uris di cti o n o v er t w o g e n er al t y p es of c as es: c as es t h at ‘ aris[ e] u n d er’ f e d er al l a w, 26 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 27 of 29 PageID #: 1102 § 1 3 3 1, a n d c as es i n w hi c h t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y e x c e e ds $ 7 5, 0 0 0 a n d t h er e is di v ersit y of citi z e ns hi p a m o n g t h e p arti es, § 1 3 3 2( a). ” H o m e D e p ot U. S. A., I n c. v. J a c ks o n , 1 3 9 S. Ct. 1 7 4 3, 1 7 4 6 ( 2 0 1 9) ( alt er ati o n i n ori gi n al). U n d er t h e di v ersit y j uris di cti o n st at ut e, all pl ai ntiffs a n d all d ef e n d a nts m ust b e of di v ers e citi z e ns hi p. 2 8 U. S. C. § 1 3 3 2( a); s e e als o B artl ett v. H o n e y w ell I nt’l I n c., 7 3 7 F. A p p ’ x 5 4 3, 5 4 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 8) ( “ Di v ersit y j uris di cti o n is pr es e nt w h e n t h er e is c o m pl et e di v ersit y b et w e e n t h e p arti es. . . . ” (q u oti n g 2 8 U. S. C. § 1 3 3 2( a))); P a. P u b. S c h. E m ps.’ R et. S ys. v. M or g a n St a nl e y & C o. , 7 7 2 F. 3 d 1 1 1, 1 1 7 – 1 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 4) ( “ S u bj e ct m att er j uris di cti o n is b as e d o n 2 8 U. S. C. § 1 3 3 2, w hi c h r e q uir es ‘ c o m pl et e di v ersit y,’ i. e.[,] all pl ai ntiffs m ust b e citi z e ns of st at es di v ers e fr o m t h os e of all d ef e n d a nts. ” (f o ot n ot e o mitt e d)). I n a d diti o n, “[f] e d er al di v ersit y j uris di cti o n r e q uir es a n a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y of at l e ast $ 7 5, 0 0 0 . . . [ a n d] t his a m o u nt is m e as ur e d as of t h e ti m e t h at a c o m pl ai nt is fil e d, ” L a p a gli a v. Tr a ns a m eri c a C as. I ns. C o., 1 5 5 F. S u p p. 3 d 1 5 3, 1 5 4 – 5 5 ( D. C o n n. 2 0 1 6) (first citi n g 2 8 U. S. C. § 1 3 3 2 ( a); a n d t h e n citi n g H all v. E art h Li n k N et w or k, I n c. , 3 9 6 F. 3 d 5 0 0, 5 0 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 5)), “ an d it is est a blis h e d b y t h e f a c e of t h e c o m pl ai nt a n d t h e d oll ar a m o u nt a ct u all y cl ai m e d, ” i d. at 1 5 5 (first citi n g H ort o n v. Li b ert y M ut. I ns. C o. , 3 6 7 U. S. 3 4 8, 3 5 3, ( 1 9 6 1); a n d t h e n citi n g S c h er er v. E q uit a bl e Lif e Ass ur a n c e S o c’ y of U. S. , 3 4 7 F. 3 d 3 9 4, 3 9 7 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 3)); s e e als o H all , 3 9 6 F. 3 d at 5 0 6 ( n oti n g t h at “[ g] e n er all y, f or p ur p os es of di v ersit y j uris di cti o n, t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y is est a blis h e d as of t h e d at e of t h e c o m pl ai nt a n d is n ot r e e v al u at e d b as e d o n p ostfili n g e v e nts ”). E v e n if t h e C o urt w er e t o a c c e pt t h e pr o p os e d T A C as t h e o p er ati v e C o m pl ai nt, a n d e v e n ass u mi n g t h at t h e pr o p os e d T A C s e e ks l ess t h a n $ 7 5, 0 0 0 i n d a m a g es, r e m a n d w o ul d n ot b e pr o p er. “[ T] h e pr es e n c e of di v ersit y j uris di cti o n — i n cl u di n g t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y r e q uir e m e nt — is m e as ur e d at t h e ti m e a c o m pl ai nt is fil e d. ” W as hi n gt o n N at’l I ns. C o. v. O B E X 27 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 28 of 29 PageID #: 1103 Gr p. L L C. , 9 5 8 F. 3 d 1 2 6, 1 3 5 n. 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 0); s e e als o P e nsi o n v ers i c h er u n gs a nst alt v. Gr e e n bl att , 5 5 6 F. A p p’ x 2 3, 2 6 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 4) ( “ T o d et er mi n e w h et h er t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y r e q uir e m e nt is m et, ‘ w e m e as ur e t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y as of t h e d at e of t h e c o m pl ai nt.’ ” ( q u oti n g S c h er er , 3 4 7 F. 3 d at 3 9 7)); H all , 3 9 6 F. 3 d at 5 0 6 ( “ G e n er all y, f or p ur p os es of di v ersit y j uris di cti o n, t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y is est a blis h e d as of t h e d at e of t h e c o m pl ai nt a n d is n ot r e e v al u at e d b as e d o n p ost-fili n g e v e nts. ”); E M A Fi n. , L L C v. 5 B arz I nt’l, I n c., N o. 1 8C V - 4 9 9 5, 2 0 1 9 W L 8 5 0 3 3 5 7, at * 1 ( E. D. N. Y. S e pt. 1 8, 2 0 1 9) ( d e cli ni n g t o r e e v al u at e s u bj e ct m att er j uris di cti o n w h er e t h e d ef e n d a nts cl ai m e d t h at dis c o v er y s h o w e d t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y w as l ess t h a n $ 7 5, 0 0 0). Pl ai ntiff h as n ot all e g e d t h at t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y i n t h e S A C r efl e ct e d a mist a k e or w as pl e d i n b a d f ait h. S e e H all , 3 9 6 F. 3 d at 5 0 7 ( e x pl ai ni n g t h at t h e c o urt “ will l o o k t o p ost-fili n g e v e nts i n e v al u ati n g t h e a m o u nt i n c o ntr o v ers y f or j uris di cti o n al p ur p os es ” w h er e t h e c o m pl ai nt c o nt ai n e d a mist a k e or w as m a d e i n b a d f ait h ). T h e C o urt t h er ef or e d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o r e m a n d. 28 Case 1:19-cv-03110-MKB-CLP Document 71 Filed 02/17/22 Page 29 of 29 PageID #: 1104 III. C o n cl usi o n F or t h e f or e g oi n g r e as o ns, t h e C o urt gr a nts D ef e n d a nt’s m oti o n t o dis miss , d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o a m e n d, a n d d e ni es Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n t o r e m a n d. Pl ai ntiff’s J a n u ar y 2 0 2 2 m oti o n t o r e m a n d, his a m e n d e d c o m pl ai nt, a n d r e q u est f or l e a v e t o s u b mit a U S B dri v e ar e d e ni e d as m o ot. D at e d: F e br u ar y 1 7, 2 0 2 2 Br o o kl y n, N e w Y or k S O O R D E R E D: s/ M K B M A R G O K. B R O DI E U nit e d St at es Distri ct J u d g e 29

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.