IN RE: Wolfson Casing Corporation (2012)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

IN RE: Wolfson Casing Corporation, petitioner/ cross-respondent, v. Galen D. Kirkland, etc., respondent/ cross-petitioner, et al., respondent.

2011–04165 (Index No. 12568 /10)

Decided: February 07, 2012

PETER B. SKELOS, J.P. THOMAS A. DICKERSON LEONARD B. AUSTIN ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.

Litchfield Cavo LLP, New York, N.Y. (James M. Meaney and Daniel T. Hughes of counsel), for petitioner/cross-respondent. Caroline J. Downey, Bronx, N.Y. (Toni Ann Hollifield of counsel), for respondent/cross-petitioner. The complainant alleged that after 19 years of working for the petitioner, Wolfson Casing Corporation (hereinafter Wolfson), she was terminated from her employment because she had enrolled for the first time in Wolfson's health care plan, which caused Wolfson's premium to increase due to the complainant's pre-existing medical condition. Wolfson responded that the complainant was fired for insubordination. At the hearing, the complainant testified that she was terminated within one month of having enrolled in the health care plan. On cross-examination, the complainant acknowledged that she had occasional altercations with a coworker and that her supervisor had spoken with her concerning the altercations. Wolfson submitted the complainant's written performance evaluation as proof of her unsatisfactory performance, and its human resources manager testified that one week prior to the complainant's termination, she had refused a request to cover for the receptionist at the front desk. The manager further testified that Wolfson used a community-rated health care plan and that the insurance premium was based on Wolfson's geographic location, not on usage.

Argued—January 6, 2012

DECISION & JUDGMENT

Proceeding pursuant to Executive Law § 298 to review a determination of the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights dated March 11, 2010, which adopted the recommendation and findings of an administrative law judge dated March 12, 2009, made after a hearing, finding that the petitioner had discriminated against the complainant on the basis of disability and awarding the complainant the principal sums of $26,500 in damages for back pay, $25,000 in compensatory damages for mental anguish, and $29,307.62 for out-of-pocket expenses, and cross petition by the New York State Division of Human Rights pursuant to Executive Law § 298 to enforce the determination.

ADJUDGED that the petition is granted and the cross petition is denied, with costs, the determination is annulled, and the administrative complaint is dismissed.

Judicial review of a determination made by the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights (hereinafter the Commissioner) after a hearing under the Human Rights Law (Executive Law article 15) is limited to whether the determination is supported by substantial evidence (see Matter of MTA Trading, Inc. v Kirkland, 84 AD3d 811). Substantial evidence “does not [a]rise from bare surmise, conjecture, speculation or rumor” (300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 180), “nor from the absence of evidence supporting a contrary conclusion” (Matter of State Div. of Human Rights v RHS Mgt. Corp., 270 A.D.2d 426, 427). Substantial evidence “means such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact” (300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d at 180).

The Commissioner's conclusion that the petitioner discriminated against the complainant on the basis of her disability is not supported by substantial evidence. The petitioner provided legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for terminating the complainant's employment (see Matter of McEniry v. Landi, 84 N.Y.2d 554), and the complainant failed to show that the petitioner's proffered reasons constituted a pretext for discrimination (see Matter of Dawson v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 88 AD3d 705; Matter of McDonald v New York State Div. of Human Rights, 77 AD3d 668; Matter of Spuehler v. Pepsi–Cola Co., 239 A.D.2d 352; Matter of Friel v. McCall, 109 A.D.2d 741; see also Insurance Law § 3231[a], [e][1][A]; Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. v State of New York, 5 NY3d 327, 339). Accordingly, the petition must be granted, the cross petition must be denied, and the Commissioner's determination must be annulled.

SKELOS, J.P., DICKERSON, AUSTIN and MILLER, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court

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