Plaintiff, a former detective with the New York City Police Department [NYPD], commenced this action against the defendants [Defendants] alleging a number of tort claims and claims under the New York City Human Rights Law and alleged that Defendants' conduct forced him to retire from the NYPD.
Citing General Municipal Law §50-e and Umeh v New York City Health & Hosps. Corp., 205 AD3d 599, the Appellate Division held that Plaintiff's tort claims were properly dismissed as untimely as he failed to file a notice of claim within 90 days of their accrual.
In contrast, the Appellate Division held that Plaintiff "has sufficiently alleged that Defendants failed to accommodate his disability under the New York City Human Rights Law in that his complaint alleges that Defendants were aware of Plaintiff's medical problems after his being hospitalized for COVID-19, but failed to engage him in a good-faith interactive process to assess his needs and consider his request to work from home.
These allegations, said the court, coupled with his allegation that he would have continued working if his request for reasonable accommodation was granted, are sufficient to state a cognizable claim for failure to accommodate his disability under the City's Human Rights Law.
Notwithstanding this, the Appellate Division held that Plaintiff's discrimination claim was properly dismissed, explaining "the complaint fails to allege that 'Plaintiff' was 'treated less well' or 'disadvantaged' because of his disability".
Addressing Plaintiff's retaliation claim, the court said "vague, generalized complaints" about a NYPD physician's treatment of him to an unspecified person or authority do not constitute protected activity nor did Plaintiff allege facts showing that Defendants "took an action that disadvantaged [him]" after his complaining about alleged discriminatory conduct.
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