Hughes v. Lillian Goldman Family, LLC, 00 CIV. 2388(JGK).

Citation153 F.Supp.2d 435
Decision Date25 July 2001
Docket NumberNo. 00 CIV. 2388(JGK).,00 CIV. 2388(JGK).
PartiesEva HUGHES, Plaintiff, v. THE LILLIAN GOLDMAN FAMILY, LLC, et al., Defendants.
CourtUnited States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. Southern District of New York

Rita Sethi, Mary Marsh Zulack, Michael A. Nicodema, Dreier & Baritz LLP, Conrad A. Johnson, New York City, for Plaintiff.

Judith M. Brener, Joan Marie Campbell, Joan M. Campbell, John J. Flynn, III, Goldstein, Zucker & Flynn, John J. Flynn, New York City, for Defendants.

OPINION AND ORDER

KOELTL, District Judge.

Plaintiff Eva Hughes ("Hughes") brings this action against the Lillian Goldman Family, L.L.C., Lillian Goldman, Solil Management Corp. (collectively the "Solil defendants"),1 J.M.G. Properties ("JMG"), and Richard Marks ("Marks"). The plaintiff, who is African-American, alleges that the defendants unlawfully discriminated against her in housing because of her race or color in violation of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. (the "Fair Housing Act"), the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law § 296 et seq. ("HRL"), and the New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code. § 8-107 et seq. ("NYCHRL").

The plaintiff alleges the following six claims: (1) that the defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a), N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(5)(a)(1), and N.Y.C. Admin. Code. § 8-107(5)(a)(1) by refusing to rent a dwelling or housing accommodation to the plaintiff because of her race or color (First Cause of Action); (2) that the defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 3604(b), N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(5)(a)(2), and N.Y.C. Admin. Code. § 8-107(5)(a)(2) by discriminating against the plaintiff in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the rental or lease of a dwelling or housing accommodation because of her race or color (Second Cause of Action); (3) that the defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 3604(d) and N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(5)(c)(1) by, among other things, representing to the plaintiff because of her race or color that a dwelling or housing accommodation was not available for inspection or rental when such a dwelling was in fact so available (Third Cause of Action); (4) that the defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 3605, N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(5)(c)(1), and N.Y.C. Admin. Code. § 8-107(5)(c)(1) by, among other things, discriminating against the plaintiff in making available a residential real estate-related transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, because of race or color (Fourth Cause of Action); (5) that JMG has violated N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(8) by violating the terms of a Pre-Determination Conciliation Agreement and Order after Conciliation entered into between the plaintiff and JMG and ordered by the New York State Division of Human Rights (the "Conciliation Agreement") (Fifth Cause of Action); and (6) that JMG fraudulently induced the plaintiff to enter into the Conciliation Agreement rendering the agreement null and void (Sixth Cause of Action).

Three motions are now pending before the Court:

1. Defendant JMG moves to dismiss the Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or for summary judgment pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 56; to dismiss the Amended Complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff is estopped by the Conciliation Agreement from pursuing her claims; and, in the alternative, to strike from the Amended Complaint all damages as demanded as to JMG, and to limit any damages against JMG to those for violation of the Conciliation Agreement.

2. Defendant Marks moves to dismiss the Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(c).

3. The Solil defendants move for summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56.

I.

The same standards apply to a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings and to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. See Burnette v. Carothers, 192 F.3d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1999); Narvarte v. Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., 969 F.Supp. 10, 11 (S.D.N.Y.1997). The Court "must view the pleadings in the light most favorable to, and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party." Davidson v. Flynn, 32 F.3d 27, 29 (2d Cir.1994); see also Madonna v. United States, 878 F.2d 62, 65 (2d Cir.1989); National Ass'n of Pharmaceutical Mfrs., Inc. v. Ayerst Labs., 850 F.2d 904, 909 n. 2 (2d Cir.1988) (indicating that the Court treats a motion for judgment on the pleadings as if it were a motion to dismiss); Slavsky v. New York City Police Dep't, 967 F.Supp. 117, 118 (S.D.N.Y.1997), aff'd, 159 F.3d 1348 (2d Cir.1998). A court should not dismiss a complaint unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle the plaintiff to relief. See Valmonte v. Bane, 18 F.3d 992, 998 (2d Cir.1994) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). In deciding the motion, the Court can consider documents referenced in the complaint and documents that are in the plaintiff's possession or that the plaintiff knew of and relied on in bringing suit. See Brass v. American Film Technologies, Inc., 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir.1993); Cortec Indus., Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 47-48 (2d Cir.1991); I. Meyer Pincus & Assoc., P.C. v. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., 936 F.2d 759, 762 (2d Cir.1991); Skeete v. IVF America, Inc., 972 F.Supp. 206, 208 (S.D.N.Y.1997).

The standard for granting summary judgment is also well established. Summary judgment may not be granted unless "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs. Ltd. Partnership, 22 F.3d 1219, 1223 (2d Cir.1994). "The trial court's task at the summary judgment motion stage of the litigation is carefully limited to discerning whether there are genuine issues of material fact to be tried, not to deciding them. Its duty, in short, is confined at this point to issue-finding; it does not extend to issue-resolution." Gallo, 22 F.3d at 1224. The moving party bears the initial burden of "informing the district court of the basis for its motion" and identifying the matter that "it believes demonstrate[s] the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The substantive law governing the case will identify those facts which are material and "only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

In determining whether summary judgment is appropriate, a court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the moving party. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (citing United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962)); see also Gallo, 22 F.3d at 1223. If the moving party meets its burden, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to come forward with "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). With respect to the issues on which summary judgment is sought, if there is any evidence in the record from any source from which a reasonable inference could be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party, summary judgment is improper. See Chambers v. TRM Copy Ctrs. Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 37 (2d Cir.1994).

II.

The following facts are not in dispute, except as otherwise indicated.2 The plaintiff is an African-American woman. Marks is a licensed real estate sales agent employed by JMG, which is a real estate brokerage company engaged in renting residential apartments in Manhattan, New York. (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶¶ 1, 4; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶¶ 1, 4; Affidavit of Joan M. Campbell dated July 17, 2000 ("Campbell Aff."), ¶¶ 2-3.) Lillian Goldman and the Lillian Goldman Family L.L.C. are the owners and landlords of a building at 145 West 55th Street, New York, New York ("145 West 55th Street"). (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 6; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 6.) Solil is a New York State corporation engaged in the business of real estate management and participates in the management and rental of 145 West 55th Street. (Am.Compl.¶ 7.)

On March 30, 1998, the plaintiff called JMG in response to an advertisement in the March 18, 1998 issue of Loot Magazine advertising "best deal in town, 1 bedroom, doorman building new renovation, over 700 sq. ft., full services, in west 50's." (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 2; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 2; Affidavit of Eva Hughes sworn to August 10, 2000 ("Hughes Aff."), Ex. A.) The Loot advertisement provided a telephone number, and directed interested parties to call Marks at JMG. (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 3; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 3; Hughes Aff. Ex. A.) During a telephone conversation between the plaintiff and Marks, Marks told the plaintiff that the advertised apartment was 12A at 145 West 55th Street ("12A"), and that the plaintiff should see the building superintendent if she was interested in seeing 12A. (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 5; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 5.) The plaintiff alleges that Marks also informed her that the rent for 12A was $900 per month. (Hughes Aff. ¶ 5.)

That same day, the plaintiff went to 145 West 55th Street and found the superintendent who showed her 12A. (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 7; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 7.) When the plaintiff asked the superintendent whether there were any other vacant apartments in the building, the superintendent showed her apartment 6G ("6G"). (Solil Defs.' 56.1 St. ¶ 8; Pl.'s Solil 56.1 Counter-St. ¶ 8.)...

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