Prison Grooming Policy Changes Coming in the Wake of Holt v. Hobbs
2/16/15
By: Coleen Hosack
Native American men imprisoned in the United States will probably be the first to notice institutional changes to prison policies regarding whether prisoners can grow their hair long, following the Holt v. Hobbs decision by the United …
Tennessee Employers – Beware of Employment Eligibility Requirements
2/12/15
By: Josh Lott
On January 1, 2013, the third phase of the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act (“TLEA”) went into effect, giving Tennessee employers with 6 to 199 employees the option of either enrolling in the federal E-Verify program or …
Supreme Court Holds Oral Arguments as to Whether EEOC has Duty to Conciliate in Good Faith Before Filing Lawsuit
2/5/15
By: Bill Buechner
The United States Supreme Court held oral argument in January regarding whether the EEOC’s decision to file a lawsuit rather than continue the conciliation process is subject to judicial review, and if so, what the standard of …
Selma – The Screenwriter’s Dilemma
1/30/15
By: Seth F. Kirby
The movie Selma, which chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 voting rights campaign, has received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for best picture. It has also generated controversy due to the Academy’s failure to …
Upcoming Deadline for H-1B Applications
1/23/15
By: Nina Maja Bergmar
If your company is looking to a hire a foreign national at some point during the 2016 fiscal year, be aware that the deadline for submitting H-1B visa petitions is quickly approaching.
The U.S. Citizenship and …
TripAdvisor Defamation Case Dismissed Due to Media Shield Law
1/21/15
By: Matt Foree
As discussed in this blog previously, defamation attorneys and free speech advocates are anxiously awaiting the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision in the Yelp, Inc. v. Hadeed Carpet Cleaning matter as to whether Yelp is required …
US Supreme Court Rules TCA Requires Timely Written Reasons for Denial of a Cell Tower Permit
1/16/15
By: Kevin Stone and Dana Maine
Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court, in T-Mobile South, LLC v. City of Roswell, Georgia, clarified the rules for what a local government must do when it denies an application …
Melting ICE: Constitutional Challenges to Immigration Hold Provision Prompts Federal Overhaul of Immigration Enforcement Laws
1/9/15
By: Charles Reed, Jr.
Immigration and the enforcement of immigration laws has been a hot topic in politics in recent electoral cycles. Until earlier this year, local law enforcement agencies routinely worked with federal immigration and control enforcement (“ICE”) …
Retaliation Claims Keep Expanding: Flight Attendants Bring OSHA Claim for Reporting "Security Threat"
1/9/15
By: Amy Combs Bender
A few days ago, thirteen flight attendants filed a complaint with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) against their former employer, United Airlines, claiming they were terminated in retaliation for reporting a security …
Court Expands TCPA Unsolicited Fax Liability
12/30/14
By: Matt Foree
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) has been criticized for its severe penalties and its failure to apply common sense. As discussed in this blog previously, members of Congress submitted correspondence to the Chairman of the Federal …
OFCCP Announces Implementation of Final Rule Modifying Obligations of Federal Contractors
12/16/14
By: Joyce Mocek
On December 9, 2014, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) published a Final Rule implementing Executive Order 13672 which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as it relates to federal contractors and subcontractors. …
Police Officer’s Mistake of Law Does Not Make an Arrest and Search Invalid
12/16/14
By: Wayne Melnick
Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a police officer’s mistaken belief of the state of the law does not make an arrest and search invalid as long as the officer’s belief was reasonable. …