UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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HELAL AHMED, PARVEZ ALI, MD.G. MIAH,

ENAMUL SHAKUR ANSWER

Plaintiffs,

07 CV 3512 (J.S.R)

v.

Jury Trial Demanded

DEVI RESTAURANT, LTD. , and RAKESH

AGGARWAL,

Defendants

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Defendants, 8 East 18th Street Restaurant, LLC, s/h/a Devi Restaurant, Ltd.,

(“Devi”),andRakeshAggarwal,bytheirattorneysMitchell&Incantalupo,asandfortheir

answer to the Complaint of the Plaintiffs, upon information and belief, allege and state

that they:

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

1. Deny the allegations set forth in paragraph“1”oftheComplaint,except

admit that Plaintiffs purport to proceed against Defendants as set forth therein.

2. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“2”oftheComplaint,except,

admit that the Plaintiffs have worked, and as of the date of this Answer, do work for

Defendant Devi.

3. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“3”oftheComplaint.

4. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“4”oftheComplaint,except

admit that Plaintiffs purport to proceed as set forth therein.

JURISDICTION

5. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“5”oftheComplaint,except

admit that the jurisdiction of this Court is purportedly invoked as set forth therein.

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6. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“6”oftheComplaint,except

admit that Plaintiffs purport to proceed as set forth therein.

7. Denythe truth ofthe allegationssetforth in paragraph “7”ofthe

Complaint, except admit that the venue of this court is purportedly invoked as set forth

therein, and that Devi is located in Manhattan.

PARTIES

8. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“8”oftheComplaint;except

admit that Plaintiffs work as Busser, Stocker, Waiter, and or Runner for Devi.

9. Deny that they possess knowledge or information sufficient to form a

beliefastothetruthorfalsityoftheallegationssetforthinparagraph“9”ofthe

Complaint.

10. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“10”oftheComplaint.

11. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“11”oftheComplaint,except

admit that Devi has annual gross sales in excess of $500,000.00. Defendants further

affirmatively respond that Devi is a limited liability corporation formed and organized

under the laws of the State of New York in 2002 under the name 8 East 18th Street

Restaurant, LLC.

12. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“12”oftheComplaint.

13. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“13”oftheComplaint.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

14. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“14”oftheComplaint.

15. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“15”oftheComplaint.

16. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“16”oftheComplaint.

17. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“17”oftheComplaint.

18. Deny the allegations set forthinparagraph“18”oftheComplaint.

19. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“19”oftheComplaint.

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20. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“20”oftheComplaint.

21. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“21”oftheComplaint.

22. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“22”oftheComplaint.

23. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“23”oftheComplaint.

24. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“24”oftheComplaint.

25. Deny the allegations set forthinparagraph“25”oftheComplaint.

26. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“26”oftheComplaint.

27. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“27”oftheComplaint.

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

28. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“27”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

29. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“29”oftheComplaint.

30. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“30”oftheComplaint.

31. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“31”oftheComplaint.

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

32. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“31”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

33. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“33”oftheComplaint.

34. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“34”oftheComplaint.

35. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“35”oftheComplaint.

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION

36. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“35”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

37. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“37”oftheComplaint.

38. Deny the allegations set forth in paragraph“38”oftheComplaint.

39. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“39”oftheComplaint.

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40. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“40”oftheComplaint.

FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION

41. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“40”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

42. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“42”oftheComplaint.

43. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“43”oftheComplaint.

44. Deny the allegationssetforthinparagraph“44”oftheComplaint.

FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION

45. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“44”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

46. Deny the allegations setforthinparagraph“46”oftheComplaint.

47. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“47”oftheComplaint.

48. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“48”oftheComplaint.

SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION

49. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“48”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

50. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“50”oftheComplaint.

51. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“51”oftheComplaint.

52. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“52”oftheComplaint.

SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION

53. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“52”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

54. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“54”oftheComplaint.

55. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“55”oftheComplaint.

56. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“56”oftheComplaint.

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EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION

57. Deny the allegationssetforthinparagraph“57”oftheComplaint.

58. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“58”oftheComplaint.

59. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“59”oftheComplaint.

NINTH CAUSE OF ACTION

60. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“59”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

61. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“61”oftheComplaint.

62. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“62”oftheComplaint.

63. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“63”oftheComplaint.

TENTH CAUSE OF ACTION

64. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“63”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein.

65. Deny that they possess knowledge or information sufficient to form a

beliefastothetruthorfalsityoftheallegationssetforthinparagraph“65”ofthe

Complaint.

66. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“66”oftheComplaint.

67. Deny theallegationssetforthinparagraph“67”oftheComplaint.

ELEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION

68. Defendants repeat, reiterate and reallege each and every answer

containedinparagraphs“1”through“67”asifmorefullysetforthatlengthherein

69. Deny the allegationssetforthinparagraph“69”oftheComplaint.

70. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“70”oftheComplaint.

71. Denytheallegationssetforthinparagraph“71”oftheComplaint.

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AS AND FOR A FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

72. The Complaint fails to state a claim, in whole or in part upon which relief

may be granted.

AS AND FOR A SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

73. Defendants had legitimate business reasons for taking any of the acts

alleged by the plaintiffs to have been retaliatory.

AS AND FOR A THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

74. Plaintiffs have failed to mitigate their alleged damages.

AS AND FOR A FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

75. All or part of the claims asserted herein by Plaintiffs are barred by the

applicable statute of limitations.

WHEREFORE, defendants request judgment dismissing the Complaint and

denying all relief requested therein, together with the costs of defending this action,

including reasonable attorney fees.

Dated: June 21, 2007

Forest Hills, New York

MITCHELL & INCANTALUPO

By: _________/S/______________

Arthur H. Forman (AF-9646)

98-20 Metropolitan Avenue

Forest Hills, New York 11375

Tel: 718-997-1000

Facsimile: 718-575-1600

Attorneys for Defendants

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