Victoria Reznik
How Judge Reznik rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Reznik decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In an employment-discovery dispute, Reznik required the party asserting attorney-client privilege to show that obtaining legal advice was the predominant purpose of the disputed executive-session communications.
“the mere presence of counsel during a discussion, even one allegedly protected by the attorney-client privilege, does not automatically preclude disclosure of the discussion's underlying facts.”
In Social Security review, she upheld the administrative decision where the administrative law judge permissibly resolved conflicting educational and medical evidence and any arguable error concerning school absences was harmless.
“Plaintiff may disagree with how the ALJ weighed the conflicting academic sources and medical opinions, but this disagreement does not amount to legal error.”
Procedural preferences
In FLSA settlement review, Reznik calculated the one-third contingency benchmark after subtracting costs and used the lodestar as a reasonableness cross-check.
“Plaintiff's counsel erroneously calculated the fee using the total settlement inclusive of costs ... rather than the settlement net of costs”
Cautions
She rejected a proposed wage-and-hour settlement where fees and costs would consume roughly seventy percent of the fund, while inviting a corrected agreement.
“Such a large allocation to counsel, as compared to Plaintiff, is neither reasonable nor fair absent special circumstances”
Privilege objections remained available for specific questions directed to counsel, but did not justify shielding all underlying factual discussions among school-board members.
“Defendant may still raise attorney-client objections to specific questions if appropriate.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiffs' request to depose witnesses on the matters discussed during the executive meetings at issue.”
“Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings is DENIED”
“the Commissioner's cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED”
“the parties' application for approval of the proposed settlement agreement is DENIED without prejudice.”
“Defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The following claims are DISMISSED: (1) Plaintiff's hostile work environment claims under Title VII (Count 3) and Section 1983 (Count 7) against all Defendants; and (2) Plaintiff's discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment claims under the NYSHRL against all Defendants (Counts 4, 5, and 6). The following claims may proceed: (1) Plaintiff's discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII (Counts 1 and 2) and (2) Plaintiff's discrimination and retaliation claims under Section 1983 against Defendant K. Veronica Smith (Count 7). Plaintiff may file an amended complaint within 30 days of this Opinion and Order.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The targeted sample contains two wage-and-hour matters, three employment cases, two personal-injury actions, and one Social Security appeal; three were terminated and five remained pending at review.
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