Collateral estoppel bars a former employee’s claim against Syracuse University for breach of the implied duty of good faith, where he was fired after being directed first to take anti-harassment training, because the New York State Division of Human Rights had already found during a fully litigated proceeding that Syracuse had a legitimate business reason for firing him, according to a state appeals court.

The ruling on the issue by the Appellate Division, First Department was one of several legal claims it addressed in handing down an opinion that affirmed a trial court’s dismissal of ex-employee Adam DiCoby’s lawsuit against the university, in which he’d lodged at least eight causes of action, including one for defamation.