Volmar v. Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Volmar v. Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 395 F. App'x 795 (2d Cir. 2010)

Volmar v. Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation

Opinion

Pro se plaintiff Myrlande Volmar, who sued defendant Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation under federal and state law for disability discrimination in employment, appeals that part of a summary judgment award that dismissed her New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”) disability discrimination claims. See N.Y. Exec. Law § 296. 1 Specifically, Volmar argues that the district court should have declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction and dismissed her NYSHRL claims without prejudice. We review the district court’s award of summary judgment de novo, and we will affirm only if the record, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, reveals no genuine issue of material fact. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Redd v. Wright, 597 F.3d 532, 535-36 (2d Cir. 2010). We review a district court’s decision to exercise supplemental jurisdiction for abuse of discretion. See Spiegel v. Schulmann, 604 F.3d 72, 78 (2d Cir. 2010). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts and record of prior proceedings, which we reference only as necessary to explain our decision to affirm.

Volmar contends that the district court erred by granting summary judgment on her NYSHRL claims without comment. The district court thoroughly analyzed Vol-mar’s Title VII and Americans with Dis *796 abilities Act (“ADA”) claims without discussing those raised under the NYSHRL, No matter. On appeal, we may “affirm the district court’s judgment on any ground appearing in the record.” ACE-quip Ltd. v. Am. Eng’g Corp., 315 F.3d 151, 155 (2d Cir. 2003). Here, Volmar concedes that the district court correctly determined that her ADA claims fail because she did not adduce evidence raising a material issue of fact regarding defendant’s knowledge of her disability. Her NYSHRL claims necessarily fail for the same reason. See Kinneary v. City of New York, 601 F.3d 151, 158 (2d Cir. 2010) (noting that “same elements” must be proved to establish ADA or NYSHRL disability claims); see also Raytheon Co. v. Hernandez, 540 U.S. 44, 54 n. 7, 124 S.Ct. 513, 157 L.Ed.2d 357 (2003) (noting the impossibility of an employer basing an adverse employment decision on disability if it were “truly unaware that [ ] a disability existed”); Brown v. Pension Bds., 488 F.Supp.2d 395, 406 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (granting summary judgment on NYSHRL and ADA claims when defendant was unaware of plaintiffs disability). 2 Accordingly, we identify no error in the district court’s decision to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the NYSHRL claims and to enter summary judgment in favor of defendant.

We have considered Volmar’s other arguments on appeal and conclude that they are without merit. Accordingly, the September 16, 2009 judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

1

. As Volmar does not appeal the district court's grant of summary judgment on her Title VII and Americans with Disabilities Act claims, we deem all arguments with respect to these causes of action waived. See, e.g., Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Mortensen, 606 F.3d 22, 28-29 (2d Cir. 2010).

2

. Volmar’s assertions regarding the timeliness of her NYSHRL claims are misplaced as the district court did not base its decision on statute of limitations grounds.

Reference

Full Case Name
Myrlande VOLMAR, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COLD SPRING HILLS CENTER FOR NURSING AND REHABILITATION, Defendant-Appellee
Cited By
4 cases
Status
Unpublished