The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) announced on April 1, 2019, that it plans to limit the ability of employees to pursue claims against companies based on the actions of their franchise owners or contractors.  While employees could still take legal action against their local franchise holder or contractor, the new proposal would prevent them …

New Proposal Limits Ability of Employees to Sue Franchise Companies Read More »

A story reported by the New York Times in January 2019 involving allegations of sexual abuse and assault is tragic and alarming on its face and should act as a reminder that similarly situated individuals should act to combat these illicit actions as soon as they can. The victim-accuser, Jennifer Glover, is left without a …

Real Help for Victims of Sexual Harassment Read More »

Discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace can take many forms. In some cases, women may be passed over for promotion or refused accommodations simply due to their physical condition. Employers may even fire pregnant women if they complain about adverse treatment. Understanding the various aspects of discrimination against women who become pregnant can help …

Developments in Treatment of Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace Read More »

A Washington whistleblower is looking for a new job after he was fired for leaking photos of Secretary of Energy Rick Perry hugging an executive of a coal company and the cover sheet of an action plan. Mr. Perry met with Robert Murray, the head of Murray Energy, on March 29, 2017. Simon Edelman was …

Whistleblower Files Complaint Against Department of Energy for Retaliatory Firing Read More »

The Weinstein Company is facing further investigation by New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, who is currently determining whether pervasive reports of sexual harassment and misconduct on the part of Harvey Weinstein are reflective of a larger pattern of civil rights infractions and gender discrimination throughout the organization. Schneiderman has issued subpoenas for a …

Further Investigation of The Weinstein Company by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Read More »

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was intended to extend protections for minorities in the workplace and public accommodations. One of the biggest issues surrounding this historic piece of legislation, however, is the interpretation of the term sex under the Civil Rights Act. Sex can be narrowly interpreted as gender only or in a broader …

U.S. Justice Department Rules Discrimination Against LGBT Employees Is Legal under Civil Rights Act Read More »

The attorneys general of three states have joined the fight against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Vermont, Connecticut, and New York have added their support to that of 50 major companies across the U.S. in asking a federal appeals court to extend the protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act …

Manhattan Court of Appeals to Consider Expanding Title VII Protections to LGBT Workers Read More »

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently announced a ruling that may represent a shift in the way Title VII cases are addressed in the future. In Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, the appeals court found that discrimination based on sexual orientation was actionable under Title VII and was, in fact, “a …

New Interpretation of Title VII Could Expand Protections for Workers Read More »

A bill currently making its way through the U.S. Congress could change the legal landscape for plaintiffs in personal injury and malpractice cases. Known as the Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act, it was passed by a margin of 220 to 201 in the House of Representatives and is …

Negative Changes May Be Coming for Class Action Lawsuits in the U.S Read More »