A former employee has filed a class-action lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging discrimination and retaliation based on religion and national origin. The complaint was filed by Mazal Ilyaich in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 27, 2026, against Infinite Care Development, LLC, doing business as Hudson Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, and Daniel Spizer.
Mazal Ilyaich accuses her former employers of violating multiple laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the New York Labor Law (NYLL). According to the complaint, Ilyaich was employed from August 26, 2023, through August 21, 2024. She claims that after management discovered her romantic involvement with a Hispanic colleague in June 2024, she faced discriminatory treatment from her supervisor Daniel Spizer. Spizer allegedly objected to her relationship due to religious differences and subsequently changed his demeanor towards her. This change led to a hostile work environment where both Ilyaich and her boyfriend felt ostracized. Despite their complaints about this treatment being discriminatory, no action was taken by the company. Ilyaich was terminated on August 21, 2024, without any explanation despite having an unblemished employment record.
The lawsuit also highlights wage-related grievances. It alleges that Ilyaich was misclassified as an independent contractor to avoid paying overtime wages required by law. She regularly worked over forty hours per week but did not receive appropriate compensation for overtime work. The defendants are accused of failing to maintain accurate payroll records as mandated by labor laws.
Ilyaich seeks compensatory damages for emotional distress and economic losses resulting from lost wages and benefits due to unlawful termination. Additionally, she requests punitive damages under Title VII and NYSHRL for retaliatory conduct carried out with malice or reckless indifference to her federally protected rights. The lawsuit aims for class certification under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to include other similarly affected employees in seeking justice against these alleged violations.
The case is represented by attorney Emanuel Kataev from Sage Legal LLC based in Jamaica, New York. As of now, there is no mention of who will preside over this case or any response from the defendants’ legal team.
Source: 726cv01642_Mazal_Ilyaich_v_Infinite_Care_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
