Judge rules Massachusetts public accommodation cases can skip MCAD and go directly to court
7/26/21
By: Jennifer Markowski or Lori Eller
In a recent Massachusetts Superior Court Order, Catherine Peters v. Boston Properties, Inc., et al. Memorandum of Decision and Order on Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, Judge Debra A. Squires-Lee held that …
A Quick Summary of the Ethics Rules on Discrimination for California Lawyers
4/20/21
By: Greg Fayard
For decades, the California State Bar had an anti-discrimination ethics rule applicable to lawyers. That rule prevented lawyers from unlawfully discriminating in hiring, promoting, firing, or accepting or not accepting cases based on certain protected characteristics—the big …
U.S. Supreme Court Rules 6-3 That Federal Employment Law Prohibits Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity
6/17/20
By: Ryan Greenspan
In perhaps the most significant and far-reaching employment-law decision in decades, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 15, 2020 that the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s prohibition of discrimination “because of… sex” necessarily includes discrimination based on …
Wage & Hour Violations, Family Leave, Discrimination, Harassment
5/22/20
By: David Daniels
These
topics continue to generate conversation throughout workplaces across the
country. No matter the size of your business, at some point you will encounter
one of these regulations. For that reason, it’s important for supervisors and
managers …
FMG Client Headed to Supreme Court in Landmark Title VII Case to Resolve LGBT Employment Standards
4/23/19
The Supreme Court yesterday agreed to review two federal circuit court decisions that reached differing conclusions as to whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers sexual orientation. For approximately 40 years, the EEOC and the federal …
California Attacks Arbitration Agreements …. Yet Again!
8/24/18
By: Dave Daniels
On August 22, 2018, the California Senate voted to approve AB 3080, a bill prompted by the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. Nominally, the bill is intended to combat the use of mandatory arbitration agreements and confidentiality …
The California State Bar’s New Rule Follows a National Trend of Disciplining Attorneys for Discrimination
8/24/18
By: Paige Pembrook
The newly revised California Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys, set to take effect November 1, 2018, include a tougher approach to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in legal practice that exposes attorneys to State Bar discipline even …
Discrimination Suit Over Service Dog Revived By Third Circuit
8/23/18
By: Barry Brownstein
The Third Circuit has revived a lawsuit by the parents of an epileptic girl who claim a Pennsylvania school discriminated against her by barring her service dog.
In 2014, Traci and Joseph Berardelli sued the Allied Services …
Eleventh Circuit Again Rejects Claim That Title VII Prohibits Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation
7/23/18
By: Bill Buechner
In Bostock v. Clayton Co. Bd of Comm’rs, 723 F. App’x 964 (11th Cir. 2018), the Eleventh Circuit again held that Title VII does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In doing …
DOJ and USCIS Join Forces Creating a Tougher Road for Employers
5/18/18
By: Layli Eskandari Deal
On May 11, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding information sharing and case referrals. USCIS and DOJ state that this effort is meant …
Philadelphia's “Salary History Ban Law” Gets Banned!
5/7/18
By: John McAvoy
More than a half-century after President JFK signed the Equal Pay Act, the gender pay gap is still with us. Women earn 79 cents for every dollar men earn, according to the Census Bureau. What will it …
Navigating New California Employment Laws
2/1/18
By: David Daniels
Are you and your clients doing business in California prepared for the new employment laws that take effect in 2018? If you represent employers in the state of California, these laws may very well affect the daily …