IN RE: BASIL SZLAPAK (2017)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum:  Petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to Executive Law § 298 challenging the determination of respondent New York State Division of Human Rights (SDHR), which dismissed, after an investigation, petitioner's employment discrimination complaint against respondent Ford Motor Company (Ford).  SDHR determined that there was no probable cause to believe that Ford engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice against petitioner.  Supreme Court denied the relief sought by petitioner, thereby upholding SDHR's determination, and we affirm.

We conclude that SDHR conducted a proper investigation and afforded petitioner a full and fair opportunity to present evidence on his behalf and to rebut the evidence presented by Ford (see Matter of Witkowich v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 56 AD3d 1170, 1170, lv denied 12 NY3d 702), and we further conclude that the determination “is supported by a rational basis and is not arbitrary or capricious” (Matter of Majchrzak v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 151 AD3d 1856, 1857;  see Matter of Napierala v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 140 AD3d 1746, 1747;  see also Matter of McDonald v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 147 AD3d 1482, 1483).

Mark W. Bennett

Clerk of the Court