Case ID: f-appx_645/html/0013-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael BARONE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. S & N AUERBACH MANAGEMENT, INC., Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 15-109.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    March 30, 2016.
    Michael Barone, pro se, Lake Grove, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    Timothy J. Domanick, Mark S. Mancher, Jackson Lewis P.C., Melville, NY, for Defendant-Appellee.
    PRESENT; DENNIS JACOBS, PETER W. HALL, and GERARD E. LYNCH, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Michael Barone, pro se, appeals from a district court judgment granting the defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and dismissing his complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Barone sued his former employer under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal.

We review de novo a district court’s dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim. Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d 297, 306 (2d Cir.2015); see Vega v. Hempstead Union Free School Dist., 801 F.3d 72, 78 (2d Cir.2015) (same for Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c) motion). We “accept[ ] all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and draw[ ] all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor.” Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc,, 282 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir.2002); see Vega, 801 F.3d at 78 (same for Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c) motion). The complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed,2d 929 (2007), and allow us “to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 566 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed,2d 868 (2009).

Under the ADEA, a plaintiff must allege that age was the “but for” cause — not merely a motivating factor — of the adverse employment action. Vega, 801 F.3d at 86 (citing Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 177, 129 S.Ct. 2343, 174 L.Ed.2d 119 (2009)). Therefore, while an ADEA plaintiff need not plead every element of a prima facie case to survive a motion to dismiss (or for judgment on the pleadings), the plaintiff must allege facts to plausibly suggest that (1) his employer took an adverse action against him and (2) age was the “but for” cause of that adverse action. See id. We have assumed without deciding that “but for” causation is also required under the NYSHRL. See Gorzynski v. JetBlue Airways Corp., 596 F.3d 93, 105 n. 6 (2d Cir.2010), The issue has not been definitively resolved in the New York courts. See, e.g., DeKenipp v. State, 97 A.D.3d 1068, 949 N.Y.S.2d 279, 282 (2012).

13 Upon de novo review of the record and relevant case law, we conclude that the district court properly dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim. Bar-one fails to allege facts “directly showing] discrimination or ... giving rise to a plausible inference” that he was terminated because of his age; therefore, he does not plausibly plead that his age was the “but-for” cause or a motivating factor of his termination. See Vega, 801 F.3d at 87. Barone’s complaint was filed with the assistance of counsel, so the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting dismissal with prejudice. Cf. J.S. v. T’Kach, 714 F.3d 99, 103 (2d Cir.2013) (“[District courts generally should not dismiss a pro se complaint without granting the plaintiff leave to amend.”). We therefore affirm, for substantially the reasons set forth in the district court’s well-reasoned opinion.

We have considered all of Barone’s remaining arguments and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. 
      
      . At the time the complaint was filed, Barone was represented by counsel. Counsel subsequently withdrew from the representation.
     
      
      . Barone's appellate brief raises arguments based on the New York City Human Rights Law ("NYCHRL”). However, the complaint does not assert any such claim; and in any event, the complaint does not allege any "act[] occurring within the boundaries of New York City,” which is necessary for application of the NYCHRL. Shah v. Wilco Sys., Inc., 27 A.D.3d 169, 806 N.Y.S.2d 553, 558 (2005) (citing, e.g., N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 239-s; N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 2-201).