Defendant's Attorney: Benjamin Richard Patchen and Nicole S. Morris

Description: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania employment law lawyers represented the Plaintiff who sued the Defendants on civil rights violation theories.

Officers Stacey Gonzalez and Pavel Reznik, who are Jewish, filed this action on November 20, 2018.2 The Complaint included allegations of anti-Semitic comments and disparate treatment as compared to non-Jewish officers.3 The original Complaint contained three claims: a claim for civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a claim that the City was liable for this discrimination,4 and a claim alleging a civil rights conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985.5

Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint on April 4, 2019, and added an additional Plaintiff, Dimitry Soroka.6 The First Amended Complaint did not add any additional factual allegations related to Plaintiffs Gonzalez and Reznik and added no additional legal claims. The case proceeded to discovery.

In October 2019, Plaintiffs Gonzalez and Soroka7 filed complaints with the EEOC.8 They received right-to-sue letters on November 5, 2019.9 Ninety days later, Plaintiffs moved to amend. The proposed Second Amended Complaint removes Plaintiff Reznik, adds claims under Title VII10 and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA),11 adds an additional Defendant, Sergeant Debra Wilson, and adds factual allegations that Plaintiffs were retaliated against for filing this action. The proposed Second Amended Complaint leaves unchanged the allegations of discrimination and the § 1983 and § 1985 claims.

Officers Stacey Gonzalez and Pavel Reznik, who are Jewish, filed this action on November 20, 2018.2 The Complaint included allegations of anti-Semitic comments and disparate treatment as compared to non-Jewish officers.3 The original Complaint contained three claims: a claim for civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a claim that the City was liable for this discrimination,4 and a claim alleging a civil rights conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985.5

Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint on April 4, 2019, and added an additional Plaintiff, Dimitry Soroka.6 The First Amended Complaint did not add any additional factual allegations related to Plaintiffs Gonzalez and Reznik and added no additional legal claims. The case proceeded to discovery.

In October 2019, Plaintiffs Gonzalez and Soroka7 filed complaints with the EEOC.8 They received right-to-sue letters on November 5, 2019.9 Ninety days later, Plaintiffs moved to amend. The proposed Second Amended Complaint removes Plaintiff Reznik, adds claims under Title VII10 and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA),11 adds an additional Defendant, Sergeant Debra Wilson, and adds factual allegations that Plaintiffs were retaliated against for filing this action. The proposed Second Amended Complaint leaves unchanged the allegations of discrimination and the § 1983 and § 1985 claims.

Outcome: "The Court will grant Plaintiffs leave to file a second amended complaint that comports with this memorandum opinion. An order will be entered." Gonzalez v. City of Philadelphia, CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5029 (E.D. Pa. Sep 16, 2020)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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