Cortes v. William Goittlieb Management Co. LLC

District Court, S.D. New York

Cortes v. William Goittlieb Management Co. LLC

Trial Court Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK CAROLINE CORTES, Plaintiff, 23-CV-10551 (LTS) -against- ORDER TO AMEND WILLIAM GOTTLIEB MANAGEMENT CO. LLC, Defendant. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff Caroline Cortes, who is proceeding pro se, brings this action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act against Defendant William Gottlieb Management Company, asserting that the company discriminated against her based on a prior unrelated charge and her criminal history. By order dated December 8, 2023, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis, that is, without prepayment of fees. For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint within 60 days of the date of this order. STANDARD OF REVIEW The Court must dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint, or any portion of the complaint, that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e)(2)(B); see Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co.,

141 F.3d 434, 437

(2d Cir. 1998). The Court must also dismiss a complaint when the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction of the claims raised. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). While the law mandates dismissal on any of these grounds, the Court is obliged to construe pro se pleadings liberally, Harris v. Mills,

572 F.3d 66, 72

(2d Cir. 2009), and interpret them to raise the “strongest [claims] that they suggest,” Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons,

470 F.3d 471, 474

(2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted) (emphasis in original). But the “special solicitude” in pro se cases,

id. at 475

(citation omitted), has its limits – to state a claim, pro se pleadings still must comply with Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires a complaint to make a short and plain statement showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.

Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a complaint to include enough facts to state a claim for relief “that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,

550 U.S. 544, 570

(2007). A claim is facially plausible if the plaintiff pleads enough factual detail to allow the Court to draw the inference that the defendant is liable for the alleged misconduct. In reviewing the complaint, the Court must accept all well-pleaded factual allegations as true. Ashcroft v. Iqbal,

556 U.S. 662, 678-79

(2009). But it does not have to accept as true “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action,” which are essentially just legal conclusions. Twombly,

550 U.S. at 555

. After separating legal conclusions from well-pleaded factual allegations, the Court must determine whether those facts make it plausible – not merely

possible – that the pleader is entitled to relief.

Id.

BACKGROUND Plaintiff initiated this action by submitting her charge of discrimination, filed with the New York State Division of Human Rights (“DHR”), as her complaint. The following facts are taken from the DHR charge.1 In December 2022, Plaintiff applied for a staff accountant position with Defendant William Gottlieb Management Company, LLC (“William Gottlieb”), located in New York

1 The Court quotes from the charge verbatim. All spelling, grammar, and punctuation are as in the original. County. Plaintiff and an employee of William Gottlieb negotiated a salary, and a human resources employee, Sandra Droste, offered her a position. After the offer, Plaintiff disclosed to Droste that she had a 2020 conviction for driving under the influence and that her license had been revoked. Upon learning of this information, “Droste became very nervous and scare[d] and excused herself and stated that she was going to call an attorney and she walked out.” (ECF 1, at

1.) Droste returned and stated to Plaintiff, “I dont think this would be a problem, right? I think that people could have those charges.” (Id.) Plaintiff stated that she would provide William Gottlieb with any documents related to her conviction, and Droste stated that she would request a background check. Following this meeting, Plaintiff “never heard from anyone again in the entity and I was obviously discriminated against because of my previous conviction record.” (Id. at 2.) In Plaintiff’s DHR charge, she asserts that William Gottlieb discriminated against her based on a “prior charge unre[ ]lated to position,” and that the company violated Title VII. (Id. at 1.) She does not provide any additional information regarding this prior charge and whether it involves William Gottlieb, or is a reference to her conviction.

DISCUSSION Title VII provides that “[i]t shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a). This discrimination includes “‘not only overt discrimination but also practices that are fair in form, but discriminatory in operation’ – that is, practices that have a ‘disparate impact’” on members of a class of people protected by the statute. Mandala v. NTT Data, Inc.,

975 F.3d 202

, 207 (2d Cir. 2020) (quoting Griggs v. Duke Power Co.,

401 U.S. 424, 431

(1971)). Individuals with a prior criminal history are not protected under Title VII because having a conviction is not a protected characteristic under Title VII, see e.g., Booker v. City of New York,

2017 WL 151625

, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 13, 2017) (collecting cases), but an employer’s denial of employment based on an applicant’s prior criminal history may be the basis of a disparate impact claim if an employer’s use of such history has a disparate impact on an employee who is a

member of a protected class, see Mandala, 975 F.3d at 208 (dismissing action, filed by African American applicants asserting that the use of criminal history had a disparate impact on them, for failure to state a claim). Title VII also prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who has opposed any practice made unlawful by those statutes, or who has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under the statutes. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). These antidiscrimination provisions prohibit employers from mistreating an individual because of the individual’s protected characteristics, Patane v. Clark,

508 F.3d 106, 112

(2d Cir.

2007), or retaliating against an employee who has opposed any practice made unlawful by that statute, see Crawford v. Metro. Gov’t,

555 U.S. 271, 276

(2009) (holding that conduct is protected when it “confront[s],” “resist[s],” or “withstand[s]” unlawful actions). Mistreatment at work that occurs for a reason other than an employee’s protected characteristic or opposition to unlawful conduct is not actionable under Title VII. See Chukwuka v. City of New York,

513 F. App’x 34, 36

(2d Cir. 2013) (quoting Brown v. Henderson,

257 F.3d 246, 252

(2d Cir. 2001)). At the pleading stage in a Title VII employment discrimination action, “a plaintiff must plausibly allege that (1) the employer took adverse employment action against him, and (2) his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was a motivating factor in the employment decision.” Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist.,

801 F.3d 72, 86

(2d Cir. 2015). The plaintiff “may do so by alleging facts that directly show discrimination or facts that indirectly show discrimination by giving rise to a plausible inference of discrimination.”

Id. at 87

. Still, the plaintiff need only provide “minimal support for the proposition that the [defendant] was motivated by discriminatory intent.”

Id. at 85

(quotation marks omitted). “In making the plausibility

determination, the court must be mindful of the ‘elusive’ nature of intentional discrimination.”

Id. at 86

(citation omitted). In Plaintiff’s DHR charge, she asserts that William Gottlieb discriminated against her based on her conviction for driving under the influence and for her “prior charge unre[ ]lated to position.” (ECF 1, at 1.) These two allegations do not state a claim under Title VII. First, Plaintiff’s criminal history is not a characteristic protected under Title VII, and therefore, Defendant’s alleged use of this history during Plaintiff’s application process does not violate Title VII. Second, the complaint does not suggest that Plaintiff can assert a disparate impact claim under Title VII because she does not assert that she is a member of a class protected under

Title VII and that the use of her criminal history disparately affects members of her protected class. Third, Plaintiff’s assertion that Defendant discriminated against her based on a prior charge does not include any facts describing the nature of this prior charge or suggesting that Defendant was aware of her prior charge and then retaliated against her by not hiring her. The Court therefore grants Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint to plead facts in support of her Title VII claims. To the extent Plaintiff seeks to assert a disparate impact claim, she must plead facts describing her protected characteristics and the disparate impact caused by the use of criminal history on her protected class. To the extent Plaintiff is alleging retaliation based on her filing a prior charge, she must describe the prior charge and allege facts connecting the charge to Defendant’s decision not to hire her. LEAVE TO AMEND Plaintiff proceeds in this matter without the benefit of an attorney. District courts generally should grant a self-represented plaintiff an opportunity to amend a complaint to cure its

defects, unless amendment would be futile. See Hill v. Curcione,

657 F.3d 116, 123-24

(2d Cir. 2011); Salahuddin v. Cuomo,

861 F.2d 40, 42

(2d Cir. 1988). Indeed, the Second Circuit has cautioned that district courts “should not dismiss [a pro se complaint] without granting leave to amend at least once when a liberal reading of the complaint gives any indication that a valid claim might be stated.” Cuoco v. Moritsugu,

222 F.3d 99, 112

(2d Cir. 2000) (quoting Gomez v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank,

171 F.3d 794, 795

(2d Cir. 1999)). Because Plaintiff may be able to allege additional facts to state valid Title VII claims, the Court grants Plaintiff 60 days’ leave to amend her complaint to detail her claims. In the “Statement of Claim” section of the amended complaint form, Plaintiff must provide a short and plain statement of the relevant facts supporting each claim against each

defendant. If Plaintiff has an address for any named defendant, Plaintiff must provide it. Plaintiff should include all of the information in the amended complaint that Plaintiff wants the Court to consider in deciding whether the amended complaint states a claim for relief. That information should include: a) the names and titles of all relevant people; b) a description of all relevant events, including what each defendant did or failed to do, the approximate date and time of each event, and the general location where each event occurred; c) a description of the injuries Plaintiff suffered; and d) the relief Plaintiff seeks, such as money damages, injunctive relief, or declaratory relief. Essentially, Plaintiff’s amended complaint should tell the Court: who violated her federally protected rights and how; when and where such violations occurred; and why Plaintiff is entitled to relief. Because Plaintiff’s amended complaint will completely replace, not supplement, the original complaint, any facts or claims that Plaintiff wants to include from the original complaint must be repeated in the amended complaint. Plaintiff may consider contacting the New York Legal Assistance Group’s (“NYLAG”) Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the Southern District of New York, which is a free legal clinic staffed by attorneys and paralegals to assist those who are representing themselves in civil

lawsuits in this court. The clinic is run by a private organization; it is not part of, or run by, the court. It cannot accept filings on behalf of the court, which must still be made by any pro se party through the Pro Se Intake Unit. A copy of the flyer with details of the clinic is attached to this order. CONCLUSION Plaintiff is granted leave to file an amended complaint that complies with the standards set forth above. Plaintiff must submit the amended complaint to this Court’s Pro Se Intake Unit within sixty days of the date of this order, caption the document as an “Amended Complaint,” and label the document with docket number 23-CV-10551 (LTS). An Amended Complaint for Employment Discrimination form is attached to this order. No summons will issue at this time. If

Plaintiff fails to comply within the time allowed, and she cannot show good cause to excuse such failure, the complaint will be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. A copy of NYLAG’S flyer with details of its clinic is attached to this order. Plaintiff may receive court documents by email by completing the attached form, Consent to Electronic Service.2 The Court certifies under

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an

appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States,

369 U.S. 438, 444-45

(1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: January 29, 2024 New York, New York

/s/ Laura Taylor Swain LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN Chief United States District Judge

2 If Plaintiff consents to receive documents by email, Plaintiff will no longer receive court documents by regular mail. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Write the full name of each plaintiff. CV. (Include case number if one has been assigned) “against: Do you want a jury trial? Ll1Yes LINo

Write the full name of each defendant. The names listed above must be identical to those contained in Section I.

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT

NOTICE The public can access electronic court files. For privacy and security reasons, papers filed with the court should therefore not contain: an individual's full social security number or full birth date; the full name of a person known to be a minor; or a complete financial account number. A filing may include only: the last four digits of a social security number; the year of an individual’s birth; a minor’s initials; and the last four digits of a financial account number. See Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2.

Rev. 3/24/17

I. PARTIES A. Plaintiff Information Provide the following information for each plaintiff named in the complaint. Attach additional pages if needed.

First Name Middle Initial Last Name

Street Address

County, City State Zip Code

Telephone Number Email Address (if available) B. Defendant Information To the best of your ability, provide addresses where each defendant may be served. If the correct information is not provided, it could delay or prevent service of the complaint on the defendant. Make sure that the defendants listed below are the same as those listed in the caption. (Proper defendants under employment discrimination statutes are usually employers, labor organizations, or employment agencies.) Attach additional pages if needed. Defendant 1: Name

Address where defendant may be served

County, City State Zip Code

Defendant 2: Name

Address where defendant may be served

County, City State Zip Code Defendant 3: Name

Address where defendant may be served

County, City State Zip Code II. PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT The address at which I was employed or sought employment by the defendant(s) is:

Name Address County, City State Zip Code Il. CAUSE OF ACTION A. Federal Claims This employment discrimination lawsuit is brought under (check only the options below that apply in your case): L] Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e to 2000e-17, for employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin The defendant discriminated against me because of my (check only those that apply and explain): L] race: CL] color: L] religion: Ll sex: L] national origin:

Page 3

L] 42U.S.C. § 1981, for intentional employment discrimination on the basis of race My race is: [] Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,

29 U.S.C. §§ 621

to 634, for employment discrimination on the basis of age (40 or older) I was born in the year: L] Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

29 U.S.C. §§ 701

to 796, for employment discrimination on the basis of a disability by an employer that constitutes a program or activity receiving federal financial assistance My disability or perceived disability is: [] Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,

42 U.S.C. §§ 12101

to 12213, for employment discrimination on the basis of a disability My disability or perceived disability is: L] Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993,

29 U.S.C. §§ 2601

to 2654, for employment discrimination on the basis of leave for qualified medical or family reasons B. Other Claims In addition to my federal claims listed above, I assert claims under: L] New York State Human Rights Law,

N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 290

to 297, for employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status L] New York City Human Rights Law,

N.Y. City Admin. Code §§ 8-101

to 131, for employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, alienage, citizenship status L] Other (may include other relevant federal, state, city, or county law):

Page 4

IV. STATEMENT OF CLAIM A. Adverse Employment Action The defendant or defendants in this case took the following adverse employment actions against me (check only those that apply): L] didnot hire me [] terminated my employment L] did not promote me L] did not accommodate my disability L] provided me with terms and conditions of employment different from those of similar employees L] retaliated against me □□ harassed me or created a hostile work environment L] other (specify):

B. Facts State here the facts that support your claim. Attach additional pages if needed. You should explain what actions defendants took (or failed to take) because of your protected characteristic, such as your race, disability, age, or religion. Include times and locations, if possible. State whether defendants are continuing to commit these acts against you.

As additional support for your claim, you may attach any charge of discrimination that you filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, or any other government agency.

Page 5

V. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES For most claims under the federal employment discrimination statutes, before filing a lawsuit, you must first file a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and receive a Notice of Right to Sue. Did you file a charge of discrimination against the defendant(s) with the EEOC or any other government agency? L] Yes (Please attach a copy of the charge to this complaint.) When did you file your charge? [1] No Have you received a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC? L] Yes (Please attach a copy of the Notice of Right to Sue.) What is the date on the Notice? When did you receive the Notice? [1] No VI. RELIEF The relief I want the court to order is (check only those that apply): L] direct the defendant to hire me L] direct the defendant to re-employ me L] direct the defendant to promote me L] direct the defendant to reasonably accommodate my religion L] direct the defendant to reasonably accommodate my disability L] direct the defendant to (specify) (if you believe you are entitled to money damages, explain that here)

Page 6

VII. PLAINTIFF’S CERTIFICATION By signing below, I certify to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief that: (1) the complaint is not being presented for an improper purpose (such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation); (2) the claims are supported by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument to change existing law; (3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and (4) the complaint otherwise complies with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. I agree to notify the Clerk's Office in writing of any changes to my mailing address. I understand that my failure to keep a current address on file with the Clerk's Office may result in the dismissal of my case.

Each Plaintiff must sign and date the complaint. Attach additional pages if necessary. If seeking to proceed without prepayment of fees, each plaintiff must also submit an IFP application.

Dated Plaintiff’s Signature

First Name Middle Initial Last Name

Street Address

County, City State Zip Code

Telephone Number Email Address (if available)

Ihave read the attached Pro Se (Nonprisoner) Consent to Receive Documents Electronically: LlYes LINo If you do consent to receive documents electronically, submit the completed form with your complaint. If you do not consent, please do not attach the form.

Page 7

ARTES Disrp, Sy EB 5 XO Wee 4\ United States District Court $\ □□□ cS '2/ Southern District of New York OND LS ict of

Pro Se (Nonprisoner) Consent to Receive Documents Electronically Parties who are not represented by an attorney and are not currently incarcerated may choose to receive documents in their cases electronically (by e-mail) instead of by regular mail. Receiving documents by regular mail is still an option, but if you would rather receive them only electronically, you must do the following: 1. Sign up for a PACER login and password by contacting PACER! at www.pacer.uscourts.gov or 1-800-676-6856; 2. Complete and sign this form. If you consent to receive documents electronically, you will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing by e-mail each time a document is filed in your case. After receiving the notice, you are permitted one “free look” at the document by clicking on the hyperlinked document number in the e-mail.* Once you click the hyperlink and access the document, you may not be able to access the document for free again. After 15 days, the hyperlink will no longer provide free access. Any time that the hyperlink is accessed after the first “free look” or the 15 days, you will be asked for a PACER login and may be charged to view the document. For this reason, you should print or save the document during the “free look” to avoid future charges. IMPORTANT NOTICE Under Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Local Civil Rule 5.2, and the Court’s Electronic Case Filing Rules & Instructions, documents may be served by electronic means. If you register for electronic service: 1. You will no longer receive documents in the mail; 2. Ifyou do not view and download your documents during your “free look” and within 15 days of when the court sends the e-mail notice, you will be charged for looking at the documents; 3. This service does not allow you to electronically file your documents; 4. It will be your duty to regularly review the docket sheet of the case.

1 Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) (www.pacer.uscourts.gov) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, and the PACER Case Locator over the internet. 2 You must review the Court's actual order, decree, or judgment and not rely on the description in the email notice alone. See ECF Rule 4.3 3 The docket sheet is the official record of all filings in a case. You can view the docket sheet, including images of electronically filed documents, using PACER or you can use one of the public access computers available in the Clerk’s Office at the Court. 500 PEARL STREET | NEW YORK, NY 10007 300 QUARROPAS STREET | WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601

CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC SERVICE I hereby consent to receive electronic service of notices and documents in my case(s) listed below. I affirm that: 1. I have regular access to my e-mail account and to the internet and will check regularly for Notices of Electronic Filing; 2. I have established a PACER account; 3. I understand that electronic service is service under Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 5.2 of the Local Civil Rules, and that I will no longer receive paper copies of case filings, including motions, decisions, orders, and other documents; 4. I will promptly notify the Court if there is any change in my personal data, such as name, address, or e-mail address, or if I wish to cancel this consent to electronic service; 5. I understand that I must regularly review the docket sheet of my case so that I do not miss a filing; and 6. I understand that this consent applies only to the cases listed below and that if I file additional cases in which I would like to receive electronic service of notices of documents, I must file consent forms for those cases. Civil case(s) filed in the Southern District of New York: Note: This consent will apply to all cases that you have filed in this court, so please list all of your pending and terminated cases. For each case, include the case name and docket number (for example, John Doe v. New City, 10-CV-01234).

Name (Last, First, MI)

Address City State Zip Code

Telephone Number E-mail Address

Date Signature

Return completed form to: Pro Se Intake Unit (Room 200) 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007 SS le Pew Since 1990, NYLAG has provided free civil legal services New York MEE Legal Assistance Group to New Yorkers who cannot afford private attorneys.

Free Legal Assistance for Self-Represented Civil Litigants in District Court for the Southern District Of New □□□□

NYLAG Legal Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the Southern District of New York is a fre: clinic staffed by attorneys, law students and paralegals to assist those who are themselves or planning to represent themselves in civil lawsuits in the outhern District of New York. The clinic does not provide full representation. The clinic, is not part of or run by the court, assists litigants with federal civil cases including involving civil rights, employment discrimination, labor law, social security benefit: and tax.

Contact the Clinic: (212) 659-6190 or complete our online intake form (found here: A staff member will contact you within a few days.

looking for assistance can also contact the clinic at the kiosk located across the hall the pro se clinic office in the courthouse.

this time, the clinic offers remote consultations only. Requests for in- appointments will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis. and Hours: Marshall United States Courthouse

Room LL22 40 Foley Square New York, NY 10007 (212) 659 6190 Open weekdays 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Closed on federal and court holidays

nade."

= = eee 14 SEE ° . New York MES Legal Assistance Group District of New York

The NYLAG Legal Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the Southern District of New York provides free limited legal assistance to individuals who are representing themselves or planning to represent themselves in civil lawsuits in federal court in Manhattan and White Plains. The clinic is staffed by attorneys, law students, and paralegals. Information given to clinic staff is confidential.

Clinic Staff Can: Clinic Staff Cannot: ° Advise on filing cases in federal court e Assist with federal civil cases that belong in a including on the issue of whether a case different federal court, such as the Eastern District of should be filed in □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ New York, which covers of New York, which covers New York or somewhereclsd Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Nassau and e Provide legal advice in response to questions Suffolk Counties; that come up at any stage of litigation; e Assist with an appeal of your federal case; Assist in getting additional information or e Assist with state court cases, bankruptcy court cases, research into the legal issue in your case; or criminal cases; oo. » Review and explain court orders and filings e Pay any of the costs associated with filing or by your opponent, and provide an overview of defending a lawsuit in federal court; the federal legal process in civil cases e File documents with the court on your behalf; generally; e Appear on your behalf other than representation at a ° Assist with motions, discovery, and strategy; mediation through the Southern District’s Alternative Assist with getting ready for depositions, Dispute Resolution Program, a court-ordered pretrial conferences, mediations, and court settlement conference, or, in appropriate cases, a appearances; deposition; e Provide forms and instructions manuals; ¢ Write court documents for you, or Inappropriate cases, help you retain probono Conduct an investigation into the facts of your case. counsel; e Inappropriate cases, represent you in a Clinic Staff May Decline Assistance If: mediation through the Southern District’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, ora ° NYLAG has already given advice to your opponent; court-ordered settlement conference; e Your legal problem is beyond the scope of matters e Inappropriate cases, represent you at a handled by the clinic; deposition; and e Providing assistance would conflict with the New York e Inappropriate cases, provide referrals to Rules of Professional Conduct; other agencies and organizations that provide e Your income and/or assets are high enough to allow you civil legal services and/or social services. to retain private counsel; or e NYLAG determines, in its professional legal judgement, that (i) you have refused to cooperate with the Clinic’s counsel or follow the Clinic’s advice; (ii) any assistance would be unreasonably difficult for NYLAG to carry out; or (iii) your case is or will become frivolous, unreasonable, groundless, or without merit.

¢ a ben https://nylagoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=|42&h=cea984& □□ □ □□□□

CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC SERVICE I hereby consent to receive electronic service of notices and documents in my case(s) listed below. I affirm that: 1. I have regular access to my e-mail account and to the internet and will check regularly for Notices of Electronic Filing; 2. I have established a PACER account; 3. I understand that electronic service is service under Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 5.2 of the Local Civil Rules, and that I will no longer receive paper copies of case filings, including motions, decisions, orders, and other documents; 4. I will promptly notify the Court if there is any change in my personal data, such as name, address, or e-mail address, or if I wish to cancel this consent to electronic service; 5. I understand that I must regularly review the docket sheet of my case so that I do not miss a filing; and 6. I understand that this consent applies only to the cases listed below and that if I file additional cases in which I would like to receive electronic service of notices of documents, I must file consent forms for those cases. Civil case(s) filed in the Southern District of New York: Please list all your pending and terminated cases to which you would like this consent to apply. For each case, include the case name and docket number (for example, John Doe v. New City, 10- CV-01234).

Name (Last, First, MI)

Address City State Zip Code

Telephone Number E-mail Address

Date Signature

Click Here to Save

Reference

Status
Unknown