469 F. App'x 66
2d Cir.2012Background
- Desir sued BOCES and individuals in a Title VII race-discrimination suit, along with NY Executive Law and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims.
- The district court granted summary judgment for defendants on Desir's Title VII claim.
- Court applied the prima facie case framework: membership in a protected class, qualification, adverse action, and inference of discrimination.
- If prima facie shown, defendant must proffer a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason; plaintiff must show pretext.
- Court reviews de novo a district court's grant of summary judgment and affirms where there are no genuine issues of material fact.
- Judgment against Desir on the Title VII claim, district court decision affirmed on appeal.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Desir established a prima facie Title VII case | Desir—Weinstein standard applied by courts | BOCES—no discriminatory inference | Prima facie not shown (no discrimination inferred) |
| Whether defendants’ reasons were legitimate and nondiscriminatory | Plaintiff contends pretext | Defendants proffer legitimate reasons | Defendant's reason deemed legitimate at summary judgment |
| Whether Desir can show pretext to defeat summary judgment | Desir argues pretext | No evidence of pretext | No pretext demonstrated; judgment affirmed |
| What is standard of review for district court’s summary judgment | De novo review favors reversal | De novo review supports affirmance | Court affirms under de novo standard |
| Relation of NY Exec. Law and § 1983 claims to Title VII | Claims align with Title VII standards | Same tests apply | Tests align and support affirmation of judgment |
Key Cases Cited
- Weinstock v. Columbia Univ., 224 F.3d 33 (2d Cir. 2000) (establishing minimal prima facie burden and discrimination framework)
- Collins v. N.Y. City Transit Auth., 305 F.3d 113 (2d Cir. 2002) (describes minimal burden and shift to defendant)
- Norville v. Staten Island Univ. Hosp., 196 F.3d 89 (2d Cir. 1999) (describes burden-shifting framework in discrimination cases)
- Song v. Ives Labs., Inc., 957 F.2d 1041 (2d Cir. 1992) (tests for discrimination under NY law and § 1983 align with Title VII)
- Miller v. Wolpoff & Abramson, L.L.P., 321 F.3d 292 (2d Cir. 2003) (affirms de novo review standard for summary judgment)