By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 23 – Back in December 2020, with a legal filing full of misspellings asking to enjoin an election or its results, a dozen constituents of ousted New York City Council member Andy King asked a Federal judge for a restraining order. It was denied.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Valerie E. Caproni, in a proceeding covered by Inner City Press, asked how the plaintiffs had standing. (King's own lawsuit against the City Council for ousting him 48-2 for misconduct had already failed).
Judge Caproni declined to issue a preliminary injunction in Marchant et al v. De Blasio et al., 20-cv-10544 (Caproni).
Then on April 12, fellow SDNY Judge Paul A. Crotty held a proceeding in the case King v. City of New York, 20-cv-8283 (Crotty). He gave King's lawyer Pamela Hayes two weeks to file more papers. She asked for three.
Judge Crotty said he was not inclined, but then relented. He gave three weeks but said if the papers are not in, he will dismiss the case. That case is King v. City of New York, 20-cv-8283 (Crotty).
On May 27, SDNY Judge Edgardo Ramos held a proceeding in a case against King, by former staffer Shana Melius for retaliation. The NYC City Council was refusing to produce documents unless ordered by a court. So ordered.
On October 28, 2021 Judge Ramos held another proceeding in this case. He was amazed that some discovery remained to be done, but gave a brief extension for it to happen.
Jump cut to March 23, 2022 when Judge Ramos held another conference. Inner City Press again covered it. The defense argued that ordering Melius to report to work in the North Bronx and not 250 Broadway was not an adverse employment action. Her lawyer said it added two and a half hours to her commute, and precluded IVF. The defense argued she'd like on her application for employment and so lost rights to sue. Judge Ramos disagreed and said he doubted he would grant these motions. So the case proceeds.
This case is Melius v. New York City Council et al., 20-cv-5237 (Ramos)
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