A new law quietly passed as part of the recent economic bailout package that requires insurance coverage to be equal for mental and physical illnesses. Health plans commonly provide less, or different, coverage for mental illness and addiction disorders than for physical illnesses. In particular, health plans have regularly set higher co-payments for treatment… Read More
Employment Blog
Here you can find the most recent employment law news and commentary on cases around the country. If you need assistance with employment law, don't hesitate to call us.
Confusion Surrounds Government Curbs on Executive Compensation
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
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
New Law Expands Protection Under the ADA
With his father looking on, President George W. Bush today signed into law a bill expanding protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The ADA was originally signed into law by the first President Bush in 1990, and he considered the law one of his proudest accomplishments. In a series of decisions, however, the… Read More
Transsexual Wins Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Against Federal Government
A former Army Special Forces commander who was denied a job as a terrorism analyst won a sex discrimination lawsuit against the federal government last week because he was in the process of changing genders. U.S. District Judge James Robinson found that the Library of Congress discriminated against Diane (formerly David) Schroer “because of… Read More
Former Vice Principal at Seattle High School Prevails in Sexual Harassment Suit
A former vice principal at Ballard High School in Seattle, WA was awarded over $600 thousand in damages following a jury trial in King County Superior Court based on allegations that she was subjected to sexual harassment. The former vice principal, Glenda Williams, claimed that she was subjected to repeated overtures by Ballard High… Read More
ADEA Permits Retaliation Claims Against a Federal Employer
Terry Whitman was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Flight Data Specialist. He sued the FAA for violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 633a et seq. when it promoted a student intern to a full-time salaried position which he sought, and when it denied his request… Read More
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