Farid v. The City of New York

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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KAPPA FARID, :

:

Plaintiff, : MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

: 19-CV-03463 (DLI)(RLM)

-against- :

:

THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY :

POLICE DEPARTMENT (“NYPD”) DEPUTY :

INSPECTOR KENNETH NOONAN, individually, :

and in his capacity as NYPD Deputy Inspector, and :

NYPD SERGEANT JOHN TUSCANO, :

:

Defendants. :

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DORA L. IRIZARRY, United States District Judge:

On July 24, 2019, Plaintiff Kappa Farid (“Plaintiff”) filed an Amended Complaint against

the City of New York, New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) Deputy Inspector Kenneth

Noonan, individually, and in his capacity as NYPD Deputy Inspector, and NYPD Sergeant John

Tuscano (collectively, “Defendants”), alleging violations of the Age Discrimination and

Employment Act (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq., Older Workers Benefit Protection Act

(“OWBPA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), 42

U.S.C. § 2000 et seq., New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”), N.Y. Exec. Law § 296

et seq., New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”), N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-101 et seq.,

and New York common law tort claims for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

See generally, Amended Complaint (“Am. Compl.”), Dkt. Entry No. 6.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 12(b)(6), Defendants moved to dismiss

only Plaintiff’s age discrimination claims under the ADEA, OWBPA, NYSHRL and NYCHRL,

the related retaliation and hostile work environment claims, and the state law tort claims. See,

Defs.’ Mem. of Law in Supp. of Part. Mot. to Dism. (“Defs.’ Mot.), Dkt. Entry No. 19-1. Plaintiff

opposed the motion. See, Plf.’s Mem. of Law in Opp’n to Defs.’ Part. Mot. to Dism. (“Plf.’s Opp.),

Dkt. Entry No. 23. Defendants replied. See, Defs.’ Rep. Mem. of Law in Supp. of Part. Mot. to

Dism. (“Defs.’ Rep.), Dkt. Entry No 25. For the reasons set forth below, Defendants’ motion to

dismiss Plaintiff’s federal and state age related discrimination, retaliation and hostile work

environment claims, as well as Plaintiff’s New York common law tort claims for assault and

intentional infliction of emotional distress against Defendant City of New York, is granted.

Defendants’ motion to dismiss the New York common law tort claims for assault and intentional

infliction of emotional distress against Defendant Noonan is denied.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff included his Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) charge of

discrimination in his opposition to Defendants’ motion. See, EEOC Charge, Dkt. Entry No. 22-1.

The Court will consider Plaintiff’s factual allegations in the EEOC Charge as this document is

integral to the age discrimination claims. See, Pfizenmayer v. Hicksville Pub. Schs., Defendant

2017 WL 5468319, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2017) (“[T]he EEOC Intake Questionnaire and Charge

of Discrimination are properly considered in opposition to defendants’ motion [to dismiss], as,

inter alia, they are integral to plaintiff’s [age discrimination] claims.”) (citations omitted). For

purposes of deciding the instant motion, the Court also accepts as true, as it must, the factual

allegations contained in the Amended Complaint and draws all reasonable inferences in Plaintiff’s

favor. See, Dangler v. N.Y.C. Off Track Betting Corp., 193 F.3d 130, 138 (2d Cir. 1999).

Plaintiff is a fifty-four-year-old sergeant in the NYPD of Egyptian descent whose first

language is Arabic. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 7, 10. From about 2015 through 2016, Defendant John

Tuscano, also an NYPD sergeant, constantly and regularly called Plaintiff derogatory names and

mocked Plaintiff’s Arabic accent. Id. ¶ 19. Defendant Tuscano told Plaintiff that he could not

understand Plaintiff’s accent and said Plaintiff was “speaking gibberish.” Id. ¶ 20. He told

Plaintiff, “[y]ou have to learn how to speak English” and said that Plaintiff was “too old.” Id.;

EEOC Charge at 2. In or about 2016, another police officer named Gorman called Plaintiff a “sand

monkey” and told Plaintiff to “go back to where [he] belong[s].” Am. Compl. ¶ 21.

In or about 2016, Plaintiff intervened when he saw Defendant Tuscano hitting a civilian at

their precinct. Id. ¶ 23. Defendant Tuscano clenched his fist and ground his teeth at Plaintiff,

which led Plaintiff to believe that Defendant Tuscano intended to strike him imminently. Id. After

this incident, Plaintiff complained about the derogatory comments to supervisor Lieutenant

Gonzalez and reported the comments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Office of the NYPD

(“EEO-NYPD”). Id. ¶ 22. The EEO-NYPD gave Plaintiff the option to mediate the matter, which

he did; however, he never was informed of the outcome and there was no change in his workplace

environment. Id. ¶¶ 22, 24.

From September 2016 through November 2018, Defendant Noonan, an NYPD deputy

inspector, was one of Plaintiff’s supervisors. Id. ¶ 29. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Noonan

had supervisory authority over the personnel in Plaintiff’s precinct and was a key decision maker

with respect to personnel and staffing matters. Id. ¶ 15. On numerous occasions Defendant

Noonan called Plaintiff derogatory names and mocked Plaintiff’s Arabic accent. Id. ¶ 29.

Defendant Noonan told Plaintiff that he could not understand his accent and would not permit

Plaintiff to speak at team meetings, whereas younger, non-Egyptian participants were asked for

comments. Id. ¶ 30. In or about 2017, Defendant Noonan forced Plaintiff to give a homosexual

police officer in their precinct a negative evaluation and said, “Kappa, if this guy was in your

country they will take care of him right away, as killing him.” Id. ¶ 48. Plaintiff also alleges that

Defendant Noonan did not convey two command disciplines that Plaintiff wrote concerning an

officer named Borg who is not Egyptian. Id. ¶ 50.

In or about May 2018, Defendant Noonan stood behind Plaintiff and stated angrily to

“watch what he will do” to Plaintiff. Id. ¶ 31. Plaintiff interpreted Defendant Noonan’s comment

to be a threat of physical harm. Id. Plaintiff’s fellow employees who were younger and not of

Middle Eastern descent were not subjected to the same treatment by Defendant Noonan. Id. ¶ 32.

Defendant Noonan also changed Plaintiff’s shift from the afternoon midnight. Id. ¶ 33. Plaintiff

requested that his shift remain the same as the change would harm his marriage, but Defendant

Noonan denied his request stating that, “I am stubborn and I will do what I want.” Id. As a result,

Plaintiff’s wife requested a divorce. Id. ¶ 34. Defendant Noonan subsequently changed Plaintiff’s

midnight shift to the morning shift, causing Plaintiff to lose his night differential pay, and was not

allowed to return to his afternoon shift, even when there were two openings available. Id. ¶¶ 36,

55. The Amended Complaint is silent as to where there was a differential in pay between the

afternoon and morning shifts. Sergeants Vaiano and Nyhus, two younger, non-Egyptian officers,

were permitted to change their shifts for different personal reasons. Id. ¶ 35. Defendant Noonan

further told a supervisor, Lieutenant Hasler, “I don’t want to see (Plaintiff) on patrol,” which

prevented Plaintiff from working overtime. Id. ¶ 37. Plaintiff was the only person in his unit who

was excluded from working overtime. Id. Sergeants Vaiano, Pasynkov and Liter, all younger,

non-Egyptian officers, were allowed overtime hours. Id.

In or about 2018, Defendant Noonan told Plaintiff, “[i]f you ever park your car the way

you parked it in the [precinct] parking lot, I will f---ng tow it.” Id. ¶ 44. Plaintiff’s younger, non-

Egyptian counterparts, including Sergeants Cipolla, Regina, Vaiano, Fazal and Pasynkov, were

permitted to park in the lot. Id. ¶ 45. Younger, non-Egyptian sergeants also were granted time off

to study for the lieutenant exam, but Plaintiff was not. Id. ¶ 46.

On October 2, 2018, Defendant Noonan physically threatened Plaintiff by stating, “I will

come and f--- you up.” Id. ¶ 39. Plaintiff believed he was in immediate danger and that Defendant

Noonan intended to attack him. Id. Plaintiff’s counterparts, Sergeants Cipolla, Regina, Vaiano

and Pasynkov, who were younger and not of Middle Eastern descent, were not subjected to

physical threats. Id. ¶ 43. After Plaintiff reported the October 2, 2018 incident to the Internal

Affairs Bureau (“IAB”), Defendant Noonan gave Plaintiff a command discipline, forced a

lieutenant to downgrade Plaintiff’s performance evaluation and tried to demote Plaintiff from

sergeant to police officer. Id. ¶ 52; EEOC Charge at 4. Plaintiff alleges that the negative evaluation

disadvantaged him because promotions and raises are tied to performance evaluations. Am.

Compl. ¶ 53.

In or about the end of 2018, Plaintiff learned from Captain Timothy Wilson, his new

supervisor, that Defendant Noonan had “warned” him about Plaintiff. Id. ¶ 54. On January 29,

2019, Plaintiff filed a charge of age, race and national origin discrimination and retaliation against

Defendants with the EEOC. Id. ¶ 5; EEOC Charge at 1. On March 15, 2019, the EEOC issued

Plaintiff a right to sue letter. See, Exhibit 1 to Am. Compl, Dkt. Entry No. 6-1. In or about April

2019, Plaintiff complained to the IAB about Sergeant Faljean who pushed Plaintiff twice and sent

Plaintiff “insulting text messages based on his age.” Am. Compl. ¶ 27.

Plaintiff alleges the following claims: age discrimination against Defendant City of New

York pursuant to the ADEA and OWBPA; retaliation against Defendants pursuant to the ADEA,

OWBPA, NYSHRL and NYCHRL; age based discrimination and hostile work environment

against Defendants pursuant to the NYSHRL and NYCHRL; national origin discrimination against

Defendants pursuant to Title VII, NYSHRL and NYCHRL; hostile work environment, based on

national origin, against Defendants pursuant to the NYSHRL; and New York common law tort

claims for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Defendant City of New

York and Defendant Noonan. Id. ¶¶ 56-114.

Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiff’s age discrimination and related retaliation and

hostile work environment claims under federal and state law. Defendants also move to dismiss

Plaintiff’s New York common law tort claims for assault and intentional infliction of emotional

distress. Defendants are not seeking dismissal of any claims based on Plaintiff’s national origin.

LEGAL STANDARD FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM

Under Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, pleadings must contain a “short

and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Pleadings are to

give the defendants “fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Dura

Pharms., Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 346 (2005) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47

(1957), overruled in part on other grounds by Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554 (2007)).

“The pleading standard Rule 8 announces does not require ‘detailed factual allegations,’ but it

demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v.

Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). “A pleading that offers ‘labels

and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’” Id.

(quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).

Under Rule 12(b)(6), a defendant may move, in lieu of an answer, for dismissal of a

complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” To resolve such a motion,

courts “must accept as true all [factual] allegations contained in a complaint,” but need not accept

“legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. For this reason, “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements

of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice” to insulate a claim

against dismissal. Id. “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to

‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570).

Courts may only consider the complaint itself, documents that are attached to or referenced in the

complaint, documents that the plaintiff relied on in bringing suit, and that are either in the

plaintiff’s possession or that the plaintiff knew of when bringing suit, and matters of which judicial

notice may be taken. See, e.g., Roth v. Jennings, 489 F.3d 499, 509 (2d Cir. 2007).

DISCUSSION

I. ADEA and OWBPA Claims

The OWBPA “does not give rise to a cause of action separate from a violation of the

ADEA[.]” Jiggets v. United Parcel Service, 2017 WL 1164698, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2017).

Therefore, Plaintiff’s OWBPA claims against Defendants for retaliation and against Defendant

City of New York FOR age discrimination are dismissed. The ADEA also does not provide for

individual liability. See, Bahr v. City Univ. of New York, 2016 WL 8711060, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Dec.

9, 2016). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s ADEA claims for retaliation against individual Defendants

Noonan and Tuscano are dismissed. See, Cherry v. Toussaint, 50 F. App’x 476, 477 (2d Cir. 2002)

(affirming district court’s dismissal of ADEA claims against individual defendants).

A. ADEA Discrimination Claim against Defendant City of New York

Before bringing an ADEA claim, a plaintiff first must exhaust all administrative remedies.

See, Holtz v. Rockefeller & Co., Inc., 258 F.3d 62, 82-83 (2d Cir. 2001) (“Exhaustion of remedies

is a precondition to [a] suit” under the ADEA.). Plaintiff’s claims either must have been “included

in” or “reasonably related to the allegations contained in [his] EEOC charge.” Id. at 83 (internal

quotation marks omitted). Here, Plaintiff alleged age discrimination and retaliation in his EEOC

Charge. See, EEOC Charge at 1. The EEOC also issued Plaintiff a right to sue letter. See, Exhibit

1 to Am. Compl. Thus, Plaintiff properly exhausted his administrative remedies and timely filed

this action.

Under the ADEA, an employer shall not “discriminate against any individual with respect

to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s

age[.]” 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1). To establish a prima facie case of age discrimination, Plaintiff

must show “(1) that [h]e was within the protected age group, (2) that [h]e was qualified for the

position, (3) that [h]e experienced adverse employment action, and (4) that such action occurred

under circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination.” Gorzynski v. JetBlue Airways

Corp., 596 F.3d 93, 107 (2d Cir. 2010). “[A]t the motion to dismiss stage, an ADEA plaintiff need

not plead every element of a prima facie case, only facts which plausibly suggest that (1) the

employer took an adverse [employment] action and (2) age was the ‘but for’ cause of that adverse

action.” Boonmalert v. City of New York, 721 F. App’x 29, 32 (2d Cir. 2018) (citing Vega v.

Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d 72, 86-87 (2d Cir. 2015)).

The employer’s adverse action must be a “materially adverse change” in the terms and

conditions of employment and “more disruptive than a mere inconvenience or an alteration of job

responsibilities.” Id. at 32 (quoting Kasner v. 2nd Ave. Delicatessen, Inc., 496 F.3d 229, 238 (2d

Cir. 2007)). “A materially adverse change might be indicated by a termination of employment, a

demotion evidenced by a decrease in wage or salary, a less distinguished title, a material loss of

benefits, significantly diminished material responsibilities, or other indices . . . unique to a

particular situation.” Galabya v. New York City Bd. of Educ., 202 F.3d 636, 640 (2d Cir. 2000).

(internal citation omitted). The ADEA does not set forth a “general civility code[.]” Almontaser

v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., 2014 WL 3110019, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. July 8, 2014) (quoting

Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 68 (2006)). “Everyday workplace

grievances, disappointments, and setbacks do not constitute adverse employment actions[.]” La

Grande v. DeCrescente Distributing Co., Inc., 370 F. App’x 206, 211 (2d Cir. 2010).

Plaintiff is above the age of forty and within the protected age group of the ADEA. See,

29 U.S.C. § 631(a). Many of Plaintiff’s allegations include everyday workplace grievances that

are not plausible adverse employment actions. These include Plaintiff’s dispute with Defendant

Noonan over a parking space, Defendant Noonan excluding Plaintiff from participating in team

meetings, and Defendant Noonan’s comments, which Plaintiff allegedly found threatening and

abusive. See, Phillip v. Dep’t of Sanitation, 2019 WL 1004588, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2019)

(“V]erbal abuse is typically insufficient to constitute an adverse employment action because

[negative] or otherwise insulting statements are hardly even actions, let alone adverse actions.”)

(internal citation and quotation marks omitted); Davis v. Verizon Wireless, 389 F. Supp.2d 458,

478 (W.D.N.Y. 2005) (“Menacing looks, name calling, or being shunned by co-workers does not

constitute an adverse employment action. Nor does exclusion from meetings.”) (internal citation

omitted). The denial of Plaintiff’s request to take time off to study for the Lieutenant exam also

is not a plausible adverse employment action. See, Cousar v. New York-Presbyterian/Queens,

2019 WL 4015440, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2019) (“[D]enial of a plaintiff’s request for time off,

absent a complete prohibition, does not rise to the level of an adverse employment action.”)

The Amended Complaint includes three allegations that, under certain circumstances,

might be construed as adverse employment actions. First, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Noonan

changed Plaintiff’s shift from the afternoon to the midnight shift, which purportedly harmed

Plaintiff’s marriage, and from the midnight to the morning shift, which caused Plaintiff to lose

night differential pay. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 33-34, 36. Second, Defendant Noonan told Lieutenant

Hasler that he did not want Plaintiff on patrol, which prevented Plaintiff from working overtime.

Id. ¶ 37. Third, Defendant Noonan gave Plaintiff a command discipline and forced a lieutenant to

give Plaintiff a negative performance evaluation, which Plaintiff alleges hindered his prospects of

receiving promotions and raises Id. ¶¶ 52-53; EEOC Charge at 4.

With respect to Plaintiff’s first allegation, typically “shift changes without a loss of pay or

other material changes in working conditions do not constitute an adverse employment action.”

Booker v. Fed. Res. Bank of New York, 2003 WL 1213148, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 17, 2003). A

shift change that “makes a normal life difficult for the employee” can constitute an adverse

employment action. Little v. Nat’l Broadcasting Co., Inc., 210 F. Supp.2d 330, 377 (S.D.N.Y.

2002). Plaintiff alleges that the shift changes negatively impacted his marriage, caused his wife

to request a divorce, and deprived Plaintiff of night differential pay. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 33-34, 36.

While the Court accepts these allegations as true, Plaintiff does not plead any facts to support a

finding that Defendant Noonan would not have changed Plaintiff’s shifts but for his age.

Plaintiff baldly alleges that Defendant Noonan changed Plaintiff’s shifts in or about May

of 2018 “after Plaintiff had complained about the comments pertaining to his . . . age.” Id. ¶ 33.

Plaintiff presumably refers to his complaints to Lieutenant Gonzalez and the EEO-NYPD in or

about 2016 about Sergeant Tuscano’s isolated comment that he was “too old.” Id. ¶ 22; EEOC

Charge at 1. Plaintiff does not allege that Defendant Noonan made any discriminatory comments

about his age or that Defendant Noonan was aware of Plaintiff’s complaint to Lieutenant Gonzalez

and the EEO-NYPD. Thus, Defendant Noonan’s decision to change Plaintiff’s shifts does not

appear to have any nexus to Sergeant Tuscano’s comment that Plaintiff complained about nearly

two years earlier and does not support an inference of age discrimination.

Plaintiff additionally claims that two younger officers, Sergeants Vaiano and Nyhus, each

were permitted to change their shifts. Am. Compl. ¶ 35. “[S]howing that the employer treated

plaintiff ‘less favorably than a similarly situated employee outside his protected group’ [is] a

recognized method of raising an inference of discrimination[.]” Mandell v. Cnty. of Suffolk &

John Gallagher, 316 F.3d 368, 379 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Graham v. Long Island R.R., 230 F.3d

34, 39 (2d Cir. 2000)). A plaintiff must show he was “similarly situated in all material respects to

the individuals with whom [h]e seeks to compare [him]self.” Id. “To be similarly situated and

qualify as a comparator, even at the motion to dismiss stage, ‘other employees must have reported

to the same supervisor as the plaintiff, must have been subject to the same standards governing

performance evaluation and discipline, and must have engaged in conduct similar to plaintiff’s,

without such differentiating or mitigating circumstances that would distinguish their conduct[.]’”

Campbell v. Correctional Medical Care Inc., 2014 WL 2608334, at *4 (W.D.N.Y. June 11, 2014)

(quoting Mazella v. RCA Global Comms, 642 F. Supp. 1531, 1547 (S.D.N.Y. 1986)).

Plaintiff has not demonstrated that he is similarly situated to Sergeants Vaiano and Nyhus.

Plaintiff only generally alleges that Defendant Noonan had supervisory authority over the

personnel in the precinct and was a “key decision maker” on staffing matters. Am. Compl. ¶ 15.

However, Plaintiff does not plead any facts about the ages of these sergeants, apart from calling

them “younger,” to demonstrate that they fall outside his protected age group. Plaintiff is fifty-

four years old. Id. ¶ 7. His younger sergeant colleagues may very well be over the age of forty

and within his protected age group. See, Ndremizara v. Swiss Re America Holding Corp., 93 F.

Supp.3d 301, 316-317 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (dismissing ADEA discrimination claim when plaintiff

failed to plead ages of “younger” individuals treated more favorably); Bohnet v. Valley Stream

Union Free School Dist. 13, 30 F.Supp.3d 174, 180-181 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (same). Plaintiff also

does not indicate if these sergeants received night differential pay due to their shift changes.

Accordingly, Plaintiff has not raised a plausible inference based on comparator evidence that his

shift changes and loss of night differential pay would not have occurred but for his age.

Plaintiff’s claim that Defendant Noonan played a role in denying him the opportunity to

work overtime may constitute an adverse employment action but not under the circumstances

presented here. See, Castillo v. Time Warner Cable of New York City, 2011 WL 3475419, at *5

(S.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2011) (noting that denial of requested overtime is a well established adverse

employment action). Plaintiff again references comparators, specifically Sergeants Vaiano,

Pasynkov and Liter, as examples of his “younger” colleagues who were permitted to work

overtime, but he does not demonstrate that he was similarly situated to these individuals. Am.

Compl. ¶ 37. Plaintiff fails to plead facts about the sergeants’’ ages to demonstrate that they fall

outside his protected age group and does not state if Defendant Noonan, Lieutenant Hasler or

another colleague was responsible for deciding their collective overtime requests. Therefore,

Plaintiff has not raised a plausible inference based on comparator evidence that his denial of

overtime opportunities would not have occurred but for his age.

Lastly, Plaintiff’s allegations that Defendant Noonan gave him a command discipline and

forced a lieutenant to give him a negative evaluation may constitute adverse employment actions,

but not under the circumstances presented here. See, Smith v. City of New York, 2018 WL

3392872, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 12, 2018); Bowen-Hooks v. City of New York, 13 F. Supp.3d 179,

217 (E.D.N.Y. 2014). Plaintiff baldly alleges that the negative evaluation disadvantaged him

because promotions and raises are tied to his performance evaluations. Am. Compl. ¶ 53.

However, Plaintiff does not plead any facts to support that he would not have received the negative

evaluation or command discipline but for his age. For all these reasons, Plaintiff’s claim for age

discrimination against Defendant City of New York is dismissed.

B. ADEA Retaliation Claim against Defendant City of New York

The ADEA prohibits employers from retaliating against their employees for opposing age

discrimination in the workplace. See, 29 U.S.C. § 623(d). To establish a prima facie case of

retaliation, a plaintiff must establish that “(1) [he] engaged in protected activity; (2) the employer

was aware of that activity; (3) the employee suffered a materially adverse action; and (4) there was

a causal connection between the protected activity and that adverse action.” Ehrbar v. Forest Hills

Hosp., 131 F. Supp.3d 5, 33 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (quoting Kelly v. Howard I. Shapiro & Assocs.

Consulting Engineers, P.C., 716 F.3d 10, 14 (2d Cir. 2013) (per curiam)). A “materially adverse

action” in an ADEA retaliation claim refers to one that “might have dissuaded a reasonable worker

from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.” Cerni v. J.P. Morgan Secs. LLC, 208 F.

Supp.3d 533, 539 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) (quoting Kessler v. Westchester County Dep’t of Soc. Servs.,

461 F.3d 199, 207 (2d Cir. 2006)). As with Plaintiff’s ADEA discrimination claim, Plaintiff’s

ADEA retaliation claim “may survive a motion to dismiss without establishing a prima facie case.”

Ingrasia v. Health and Hosp. Corp., 130 F. Supp.3d 709, 723 (E.D.N.Y. 2015).

Plaintiff alleges that he was subjected to retaliation in that “negative actions were taken

against him as a result of his participation in protected activity.” Am. Compl. ¶ 95. In or about

2016, Plaintiff complained to Lieutenant Gonzalez and the EEO-NYPD about Defendant

Tuscano’s comment that he was “too old.” Id. ¶ 22; EEOC Charge at 1. His complaint went to

mediation, though Plaintiff claims he was not informed of the result. Id. As stated previously,

Plaintiff did not allege that Defendant Noonan knew of this complaint when he changed Plaintiff’s

shifts nearly two years later. Plaintiff also does not claim that his employer was aware he was

claiming age discrimination under the ADEA when he made his complaint.

Plaintiff engaged in protected activity when he complained of age discrimination in the

EEOC complaint he filed on January 29, 2019 and reported Sergeant Faljean’s “insulting text

messages based on his age” to the IAB in or about April 2019. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 5, 27; See, Jones

v. Target Corp., 2016 WL 50779, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 4, 2016) (“Filing either a formal or informal

complaint challenging discrimination is considered protected activity for purposes of retaliation

claims” under the ADEA.). Plaintiff does not allege that any adverse action was taken against him

for making these complaints. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s retaliation claim premised on his reports of

age discrimination against Defendant City of New York is dismissed.

II. NYSHRL and NYCHRL Claims

As the Court has dismissed Plaintiff’s ADEA and OWBPA claims for age discrimination

and retaliation, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s age related

discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environment claims under the NYSHRL and

NYCHRL. See, 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); Oneida Indian Nation of New York v. Madison County,

665 F.3d 408, 437 (2d Cir. 2011) (“[W]e have repeatedly said that ‘if a plaintiff’s federal claims

are dismissed before trial, ‘the state law claims should be dismissed as well.’”) (quoting Brzak v.

United Nations, 597 F.3d 107, 113-114 (2d Cir. 2010)). Accordingly, these state law claims are

dismissed.

III. Assault and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims

Plaintiff alleges New York common law tort claims for assault and intentional infliction of

emotional distress against Defendants City of New York and Noonan that are related to Plaintiff’s

claims for national origin discrimination under Title VII. Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s claims

should be dismissed because Plaintiff did not file a notice of claim under New York General

Municipal Law § 50-e. Defs.’ Mot. at 12.

“As a ‘condition precedent’ to commencing a tort action against New York municipalities,

or any of their officers, agents, or employees, New York General Municipal Law § 50-e requires

plaintiffs to file a notice of claim within ninety days after the claim arises.” Olsen v. Cnty. of

Nassau, 2008 WL 4838705, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 4, 2008) (citing Chesney v. Valley Stream Union

Free Sch. Dist., 2006 WL 2713934, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2006)). “[I]n a federal court, state

notice-of-claim statutes apply to state-law claims.” Hardy v. New York City Health & Hosp. Corp.,

164 F.3d 789, 793 (2d Cir. 1999) (emphasis omitted). “A federal court lacks the jurisdiction to

waive the notice requirements of Gen. Mun. Law [§] 50-e . . . or to grant leave to file a late notice

of claims for pendent state tort claims.” Roberts v. New York City Dep’t of Corrections, 1998 WL

391815, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 30, 1998). Notice of claim requirements are strictly construed, and

“failure to comply with the requirements typically results in dismissal due to failure to state a cause

of action.” Chesney, 2006 WL 2713934, at *9 (citing Hardy, 164 F.3d at 793-794). “[T]he burden

is on Plaintiff to demonstrate compliance with the notice of claim requirements.” Peritz v. Nassau

County Board of Cooperative Educ. Servs., 2019 WL 2410816, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. June 7, 2019).

Plaintiff has not filed a notice of claim but argues that his EEOC charge of discrimination

and Complaint in this action satisfy the notice of claim requirement. See, Plf.’s Opp. at 13.

Numerous courts in the Second Circuit have rejected the argument that an EEOC charge of

discrimination is sufficient to comply with New York General Municipal Law § 50-e. See, Olsen,

2008 WL 4838705 at *2 (collecting cases). The notice of claim requirement also is a condition

precedent to commencing a tort action against a municipality. See, N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 50-

e(1)(a). The Complaint initiating this action does not satisfy the notice of claim requirement.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims against

Defendant City of New York are dismissed for failure to file a notice of claim.

The Court declines to dismiss Plaintiff’s tort claims against Defendant Noonan at this

juncture. With respect to these claims, service of a notice of claim upon the City of New York is

required, “only if the [City] has a statutory obligation to indemnify” Defendant Noonan. McGrath

v. Arroyo, 2019 WL 3754459, at *18 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 8, 2019) (quoting Hardy v. Daly, 748 F.

App’x 379, 381 (2d Cir. 2018)). The City must indemnify Defendant Noonan “only if his liability

arose from conduct within the scope of his employment.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).

“To be indemnified, [Defendant Noonan] must not have been acting in violation of any rule or

regulation of his agency and the [Plaintiff’s alleged] injury [must not have resulted] from

intentional wrongdoing[.]” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).

Plaintiff’s assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims against Defendant

Noonan are intentional torts that are unlikely to be indemnified by Defendant City of New York.

See, Hardy, 748 F. App’x at 382 (finding that individual defendants would not have a right to

indemnification for intentional torts). Whether Defendant Noonan acted within the scope of his

employment also is a question of fact that cannot be resolved on a motion to dismiss the pleadings.

Accordingly, Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s tort claims against Defendant Noonan for

failure to file a notice of claim is denied without prejudice. See, Kavazanjian v. Rice, 2008 WL

5340988, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 22, 2008) (plaintiff’s claims for assault and intentional infliction

of emotional distress were “not procedurally barred” by his failure to file a notice of claim).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s federal and state

age related discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environment claims, as well as Plaintiff’s

New York common law tort claims for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress

against Defendant City of New York, is granted. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the New York

common law tort claims for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress against

Defendant Noonan is denied.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: Brooklyn, New York

May 20, 2021

/s/

DORA L. IRIZARRY

United States District Judge