The Town of Chester Clerk, Linda Zappala, terminated the employment of a deputy clerk, Nanette Batista-Perez, for political reasons in violation of the First Amendment. Watkins Law has filed suit on behalf of Ms. Perez in federal court. A story about the case can be found here: GOP infighting in Chester results in federal lawsuit - Mid Hudson News
Christopher Watkins represents a former EMT of the Goshen Ambulance Corps (GOVAC) in an important case. The young female EMT was sexually assaulted by a fellow EMT in the workplace - part of the assault was actually caught on the employer's surveillance camera.. The Ambulance Corps was not in compliance with New York state law, which requires that all employers provide employees with annual sexual harassment training. After her assault, and after her assailant pled guilty to criminal charges of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, the plaintiff pressed GOVAC's leadership to provide sexual harassment training. However, it refused, claiming it would cost too much to pay employees to attend the training. Instead, it fired the plaintiff, re-victimizing her. Her suit for sexual harassment and wrongful termination is pending in Orange County Supreme Court. A News 12 story about the case can be found here:
Lawsuit filed against ex-Goshen EMT, ambulance corps after on-duty sexual assault Watkins Law, with Risman & Risman, P.C., successfully represented an Accounts Payable associate who was terminated by Success Academy Charter School shortly after she gave notice that she needed medical leave for foot surgery. After S.D.N.Y. district judge Edgardo Ramos denied the defendant summary judgment, the case was settled before trial. A news story about the case can be found here: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/success-academy-settles-fmla-lawsuit-over-foot-surgery-request
Under New York's recently amended anti-SLAPP law, Sureme Court Justice Kevin Bryant granted a motion to dismiss defamation claims brought against two residents of a Fallsburg mobile home park by the park's operator. In addition, the court allowed the two residents to pursue counter-claims.
Christopher Watkins, the residents' lawyer, had this to say about the decision: “This kind of lawsuit is precisely why New York amended its anti-SLAPP law. My clients lived with raw sewage inside their homes for years due to the neglect of the owners and management of Foxcroft Village, and when they spoke out and sought help, they were slapped with a $2 million lawsuit for defamation. The new anti-SLAPP law levels the playing field. This decision should be a warning to other bullies: You can no longer use the courts as a weapon to silence your critics.” A story about the case may be found here: Foxcroft Village’s defamation claims dismissed - Mid Hudson News On May 26, 2022, a federal jury in White Plains returned a verdict totaling $3,260,000 in favor of two former members of the New York State Police, one a criminal investigator and the other a trooper, who claimed that their highly decorated careers were ended because of unlawful retaliation. The case was tried for plaintiffs .by Christopher Watkins and Michael Sussman. A news article about the case may be found at: Jury rules in favor of former state troopers in lawsuit over missing drug evidence
News story on verdict is here: Sleepy Hollow police officer wins $250,000 verdict on discrimination, retaliation claims
Watkins Law wins police misconduct trial for excessive force against the City of Middletown3/11/2020
News story about the case is here: https://www.recordonline.com/news/20180321/ex-tenant-sues-complex-over-bedbug-spraying
News story about the case is here: Nurse in wheelchair sues SUNY for alleged expulsion over disability
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