Cassata v. Michael Macrina Architect, P.C.

Headline: Architectural firm ordered to pay former employee for unpaid overtime, but wrongful termination and retaliation claims dismissed.

Court: nysupct · Filed: 2026-01-27 · Docket: Index No. 617183/2025
Outcome: Mixed Outcome
Impact Score: 45/100 — Low-moderate impact: This case addresses specific legal issues with limited broader application.
Legal Topics: wage and hour lawovertime paywrongful terminationretaliationemployment law

Case Summary

This case involves a dispute between a former employee, Ms. Cassata, and her former employer, Michael Macrina Architect, P.C. Ms. Cassata alleged that she was wrongfully terminated and that her employer failed to pay her for overtime work. She also claimed that the employer retaliated against her for reporting workplace safety concerns. The employer denied these allegations, arguing that Ms. Cassata was terminated for poor performance and that she was properly compensated. The court considered the evidence presented by both sides regarding the termination, overtime pay, and the alleged retaliation. Ultimately, the court found in favor of Ms. Cassata on some of her claims. Specifically, the court determined that Ms. Cassata was entitled to unpaid overtime wages. However, the court did not find sufficient evidence to support her claims of wrongful termination or retaliation. Therefore, while Ms. Cassata did not win on all counts, she was successful in recovering the overtime pay she was owed.

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. May contain errors. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.

Key Holdings

The court established the following key holdings in this case:

  1. An employer must pay employees for all overtime hours worked.
  2. An employee must provide sufficient evidence to support claims of wrongful termination and retaliation.

Entities and Participants

Parties

  • Cassata (party)
  • Michael Macrina Architect, P.C. (company)

Frequently Asked Questions (5)

Comprehensive Q&A covering every aspect of this court opinion.

Basic Questions (5)

Q: What were the main claims made by the former employee, Ms. Cassata?

Ms. Cassata claimed she was wrongfully terminated, not paid for overtime work, and that her employer retaliated against her for reporting safety concerns.

Q: What was the employer's defense?

The employer argued that Ms. Cassata was terminated due to poor performance and that she had been paid correctly for her work.

Q: Did the court find that Ms. Cassata was owed overtime pay?

Yes, the court found that Ms. Cassata was entitled to unpaid overtime wages.

Q: Were Ms. Cassata's claims of wrongful termination and retaliation successful?

No, the court did not find sufficient evidence to support her claims of wrongful termination or retaliation.

Q: What was the overall outcome of the case?

The outcome was mixed; Ms. Cassata won her claim for unpaid overtime but lost her claims for wrongful termination and retaliation.

Case Details

Case NameCassata v. Michael Macrina Architect, P.C.
Courtnysupct
Date Filed2026-01-27
Docket NumberIndex No. 617183/2025
OutcomeMixed Outcome
Impact Score45 / 100
Legal Topicswage and hour law, overtime pay, wrongful termination, retaliation, employment law
Jurisdictionny

About This Analysis

This AI-generated analysis of Cassata v. Michael Macrina Architect, P.C. was produced by CaseLawBrief to help legal professionals, researchers, students, and the general public understand this court opinion in plain English.

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AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. May contain errors. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.