Missouri is one of a number of states that does not include protections for the LGBTQ community in terms of civil rights issues such as workplace discrimination. That, however, could change as the Missouri Supreme Court will decide whether the Missouri Human Rights Act should extend beyond race, religion, nation of origin, sex, disability, and… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Kansas City
Hertz Forced to Pay $45,000 in Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
Norman Newton was actively recruited by Hertz for a sales position after they had spotted his resume online. Newton had over 10 years experience in car sales and Hertz appeared enthusiastic about scheduling him for an interview. When he got there, however, the manager who interviewed him expressed reservations about the fact that he required… Read More
Another Dreadlocks Discrimination Lawsuit Has Lawyers Trying a New Approach
A black woman who had a job offer rescinded because she refused to change her hairstyle is hoping to take her case to the Supreme Court. Chastity Jones of Alabama was offered a job as a customer service representative in 2010. An HR manager later told Jones that dreadlocks “tend to get messy” and that… Read More
Missouri Senate to Vote on Whistleblower Protections for Government Employees
One of the casualties of Missouri’s SB 43 were protections for whistleblowers from employer retaliation. A Missouri Senate vote could restore some of those protections – at least for government employees. Whistleblowers were believed to be collateral damage in a wide-reaching and controversial tort-reform measure that sought to limit damages in employment discrimination lawsuits, while… Read More
Women’s Basketball Coach Reaches Settlement in Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
Employees can be fired, generally speaking, for any reason other than a handful of protections that are basic to civil rights or work against the public good. To that end, employees may not be fired on the basis of their skin color, religion, nation of origin, gender, or disability. In addition, employees cannot be fired… Read More
Are Insurance Salespersons Independent Contractors?
Misclassification lawsuits are among the most commonly litigated labor disputes. They involve the misclassification of individuals that more closely fit the definition of an employee than an independent contractor. While employees are entitled to certain benefits, including overtime, independent contractors have the freedom to set their own hours and take or leave jobs. Sometimes, however,… Read More
Missouri Department of Corrections Loses Yet Another Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
In what has become a troubling trend for Missouri Department of Corrections, another employee has won a sexual harassment lawsuit against the department. The state paid out another $600,000 to settle a lawsuit brought on by Michelle Findley, a prison guard, who said that male employees referred to her using sexually derogatory names. Findley, who… Read More
Jefferson County Public Schools Forced to Pay Out on Another Lawsuit
In the aftermath of a trial that saw Karen Ray, a Jefferson County High School journalism teacher, awarded $225,000 in punitive damages for sexual and age discrimination, two new trials emerged targeting the very same school district. The original suit filed by Ray alleged that she had been bullied out of her job and endured… Read More
Man Alleges Missouri Company Revoked Employment Offer After Learning He Was Gay
Mark Horton was working as the vice president of sales and marketing at Celtic Healthcare in Illinois when a recruiter hired by a Missouri firm, Midwest Geriatric Management thought he would be a good fit for an opening they had. Horton applied for the position and was well liked. He was offered the job. After… Read More
Waitresses at IHOP Take Sexual Misconduct Case to Federal Court
11 women and one man are taking their case to Federal Court against the International House of Pancakes. The plaintiffs allege that managers at the IHOPs that they worked for in Glen Carbon and Alton, Illinois acted indifferently amid their numerous complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct against staff. The lawsuit comes at the same… Read More