There has been a great deal of discussion recently on the need to address the widely-perceived problem of executive overcompensation. The recent financial meltdown on Wall Street has intensified this discussion. The federal government recently indicated that banks that accept cash infusions as part of the current financial bailout will be expected to comply… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Current Affairs
Aviation Company Settles Whistleblower Suit on Air Safety Concerns
A Seattle area contractor to Alaska Airlines recently settled a whistleblower case related to airline safety concerns for $30 thousand. American Power, based in Auburn, WA, settled with a former employee who was laid off after accusing the company of ignoring federal air safety standards. The plaintiff, Melodee Nixon, alleged that she had complained… Read More
PRO SE PLAINTIFF MAY NOT PURSUE CLAIMS IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY ON BEHALF OF AN ERISA PLAN
In an ERISA case alleging breach of fiduciary duty by a plan administrator, motion to dismiss is affirmed by the Ninth Circuit where even a plan’s sole beneficiary cannot, on behalf of an ERISA plan, bring a pro se action for breach of fiduciary duty under 29 U.S.C. section 1109(a). Read more here
Ledbetter Speaks at the Democratic National Convention
Legal decisions issued by the federal courts, and particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, frequently have a political dimension. With each election, one or both major political parties frequently invoke such cases for political purposes. In this election cycle, one case that appears to be getting significant attention is the Supreme Court’s recent decision in… Read More
Former Pierce County Prosecutor Wins Jury Award
A former prosecutor for Pierce County, Washington was awarded over $3 million last week, after a jury found that she had been wrongfully terminated in January 2004. The prosecutor, Barbara Corey, was a 20-year veteran of the prosecutor’s office. After she announced that she might run for county prosecutor, Corey alleged that County Prosecutor… Read More
Here is a report on recent jury verdicts in employment lawsuits
VERDICTS IN FAVOR OF EMPLOYEES A jury in Ohio awarded a whopping $47 million to an employee in an age discrimination case. The employee alleged that he was fired after he refused to fire three older workers because of concerns about age discrimination and disability discrimination. The verdict included $3.5 million as compensation for… Read More
Recent Employment Law Verdicts
Below are some recent reported verdicts in employment law cases. Verdicts in Favor of Employees Three white police officers were awarded a $10 million verdict against the City of Philadelphia in a retaliation case. The officers alleged that they were retaliated against after the broke the “blue code of silence” and spoke out about racism against black… Read More
Congress Passes Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Congress has passed a new employment discrimination law, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). The bill passed the House today by a vote of 414-1. The Senate approved it last week 95-0. It now goes on to President Bush to sign into law. Under GINA, it will be illegal for employers to make decisions to… Read More
Turmoil Surrounds Election of Union Officers
We do not often hear about the internal turmoil that can surround the election of union officers. But, to borrow a phrase from Donald Rumsfeld, democracy is messy. Here is an article about two campaigns that are competing for the leadership of the International Association of Machinists District 751, a powerful union that represents more… Read More
Supreme Court Hears Important ERISA Case
The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday heard oral argument in the MetLife v. Glenn case. This is an important case that could affect all future lawsuits to collect benefits under an employee benefit plan. Where an employee benefits lawsuit is governed by ERISA, the lawyers in nearly every case argue over the standard of review. Those… Read More