495 F. App'x 171
2d Cir.2012Background
- Harte, a New York resident, sued Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for age discrimination under NY Executive Law § 296 and MA Gen. Laws ch. 151B.
- The alleged conduct occurred outside New York and Woods Hole is a foreign corporation.
- The district court dismissed Harte’s NY and MA discrimination claims.
- Second Circuit applied First Department’s rule denying NYSHRL private actions against foreign corporations for conduct outside New York.
- Massachusetts exhaustion requirement requires filing with the MA Commission Against Discrimination; Harte did not exhaust remedies and no tolling/waiver applied.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether NYSHRL allows a NY resident to sue a foreign employer for discrimination outside NY. | Harte argues NYSHRL covers extraterritorial discrimination. | Woods Hole argues NYSHRL does not permit extraterritorial claims against foreign corporations. | No; extraterritorial NYSHRL claims are not permitted. |
| Whether Harte exhausted MA FEPA remedies before filing suit. | Harte seeks tolling or waiver of exhaustion. | MA FEPA requires exhaustion before suit; no tolling recognized. | Exhaustion required; no tolling/waiver bars recognized. |
Key Cases Cited
- Sorrentino v. Citicorp, 302 A.D.2d 240 (N.Y. App. Div. 2003) (NYSHRL private action not available for discrimination outside NY by foreign corporations)
- Esposito v. Altria Grp., Inc., 67 A.D.3d 499 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009) (No private NYSHRL action against foreign conduct outside NY)
- Hoffman v. Parade Publ’ns, 15 N.Y.3d 285 (N.Y. 2010) (Non-resident must show NY impact of discriminatory conduct)
- Forest Park Pictures v. Universal Television Network, Inc., 683 F.3d 424 (2d Cir. 2012) (De novo review standard on summary order; familiarity with facts)
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of N.J., Inc. v. Philip Morris USA Inc., 344 F.3d 211 (2d Cir. 2003) (Persuasive precedent for applying local law interpretations)