N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 465.15 - Division initiated settlements
(a) The general counsel, or his or her
designee may , at any time after a finding of probable cause, endeavor to
achieve settlement of a case by proposing a settlement to the respondent which,
if agreed to by respondent, will be proposed to complainant, who must agree to
such settlement proposal or reject it for sufficient reasons stated in
objections. If the proposed settlement is agreed to by respondent and rejected
by complainant without sufficient reasons, the case will be dismissed for
administrative convenience or an equitable order will be recommended.
(b) The general counsel may , in his or her
discretion, determine that a case is appropriate for a division initiated
settlement. He or she shall set a settlement value for the case in the form of
a lump sum dollar amount, or by such other formula as may be appropriate, and
shall formulate such other terms as would provide an appropriate resolution of
the case. The settlement value may be the same as an offer of settlement
previously made by a party and rejected by the opposing party.
(c) After the settlement has been formulated,
a letter setting forth all the proposed terms of the division initiated
settlement will be sent to the respondent, along with such other information as
is necessary to explain the division initiated settlement process. Respondent
shall have a specified time in which to indicate whether respondent will agree
to such settlement.
(d) If the
respondent agrees to the terms of the division initiated settlement, then the
settlement terms, and the explanation of the division initiated settlement
process shall be sent to the complainant. The complainant shall have a stated
time period in which to agree to the settlement or submit written objections
thereto. The objections shall be specific and in detail.
(e) After consideration of complainant's
objections, the general counsel shall either accept the objections and refer
the case on for hearing, or shall reject the objections and provide complainant
with an additional period of time to accept the settlement.
(f) If the complainant does not agree to a
settlement within the allotted time, and the complainant's objections are not
accepted by the general counsel, then the case may be dismissed for
administrative convenience, or upon request of the respondent, the general
counsel may issue a recommended equitable order, for the commissioner 's
consideration, providing that the respondent will pay the complainant the
amount proposed in the settlement and dismissing the complaint on the
merits.
(g) In determining the
settlement value of the case, and the other terms of settlement to be proposed,
and in evaluating the reasonableness of a complainant's objections, the general
counsel shall consider, among other things, the following:
(1) the probability of success after
hearing;
(2) the amount of
complainant's economic loss, and respondent's degree of responsibility
therefor;
(3) in appropriate cases,
the evidence of the amount of complainant's mental pain and
suffering;
(4) the egregiousness of
the discrimination charged; and
(5)
whether the public interest requires the continuation of the
proceedings.
(h) The
proposed division initiated settlement shall contain terms as set forth in
section
465.16(b)
of this Part.
(i) A successful
division initiated settlement shall be confirmed by an order of the
commissioner , as set forth in section
465.16(c)
of this Part.
(j) The general
counsel, or any other division representative, shall not disclose what has
transpired in the course of attempts at division initiated settlement, except
to the parties and their representatives, and except that:
(1) in those cases where the division
initiated settlement attempt results in a dismissal for administrative
convenience, the dismissal shall contain a recital of the proposed settlement,
and the reasons that the complainant's objections to it were rejected;
and
(2) in those cases that result
in an order of the commissioner , the terms of the settlement may be disclosed
as with any final order of the division.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.