Yesterday, Rapaport Law Firm secured a victory in Pinell v. Target Corporation, when the New York County Supreme Court denied Target’s motion to dismiss the case. Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges that Target engaged in defamation and unlawful public accommodation discrimination in violation of the New York State and City Human Rights Laws.
The lawsuit, filed by Rapaport Law Firm in July 2024, alleges that the plaintiffs, who are African American, were racially profiled when they were falsely accused of stealing while they were shopping at a Target retail store in Staten Island. The court held that “the allegations of racial discrimination stemming from Plaintiffs’ shopping experience at Target are sufficient” for plaintiffs’ race discrimination claims to proceed. The court also concluded that Plaintiffs presented sufficient facts to state viable claims for defamation, finding that “it remains an issue of fact whether Target was merely negligent in failing to properly investigate the alleged shoplifting or whether Target deliberately avoided any investigation into the truth.”
This decision sends a clear message to New York retailers: unlawful racial profiling of customers carries severe legal consequences. Rapaport Law Firm’s victory in this case is particularly important because it comes at a time when Target faces widespread criticism for dismantling DEI programs that were intended to promote racial equity.
Plaintiffs are represented by attorney Marc Rapaport.