In a recent Six Circuit case, the employer-appellant’s contention that the Family Medical Leave Act does not prohibit retaliation against an employee who takes FMLA leave was rejected by the court. Plaintiff-Appellee Martha Bryant prevailed in a jury trial on her claim that Defendant-Appellant Dollar General Corporation (“Dollar General”) fired her in retaliation for… 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.
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
Compensatory Damages For Pain and Suffering Not Available Under ADEA
In a recent case, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed that damages for emotional distress are not available to an employee suing under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. In this particular case, the court held that the employee failed to state a claim under the ADEA because he made no claim for pecuniary benefits related to his… Read More
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Addresses Sexual Harassment Allegations
Washington’s public lands commissioner, Doug Sutherland, is in political hot water after documents recently surfaced showing that he inappropriately touched a new female employee in his own department. Public records show that in January 2005, Sutherland touched the young woman’s back and made comments that she and at least one other individual overheard and found… Read More
COURT: Pregnancy Discrimination Act Protects Employee Who Had Abortion
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in the first case of its kind has ruled that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects an employee who has had an abortion. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act states that it prohibits discrimination because of “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” The court reasoned that the language “related medical conditions”… Read More
Department of Labor Sues Washington Prisons for Overtime Violations
The Washington State Department of Corrections has been sued by the U.S. Department of Labor for widespread violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to published reports, the damages in the case will likely be millions of dollars. After a three-year investigation, the Department of Labor believes that the state violated the rights of… Read More
Longview Fibre Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Claim for $175k
Longview Fibre has agreed to settle a charge of disability discrimination for $175,000 according the EEOC. An article about the case appears here. According to published reports, the company rescinded a job offer made to the claimant, Scott Harshbarger, after he suffered a spinal injury that required pain medication, even though the condition did not… Read More
New Outdoor Heat Rules for Washington Workers
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries has adopted new rules for employees who work outdoors. The rules take effect on July 5 and are designed to address health hazards created by working outdoors in hot weather. According to the Department, three workers have died in the past three years from working outdoors on hot days,… Read More
New Website Lifts the Veil on Employee Salaries and Evaluations
The creator of Zillow.com has launched a new website where propective employees can research salaries and employee evaluations at various companies. No doubt the data on this site will grow and become a good resource as more users contribute over time. For the launch, the site has data on salaries and review information for Google, Yahoo, Microsoft,… Read More
Non-Compete Agreements and Protecting Trade Secrets
Employers concerned about protecting trade secrets or hiring an employee from a competitor may find this article informative. Employees also may find the information useful if they are weighing their options under a non-compete agreement or if they are considering jumping ship to a competitor. This “roundtable transcript” includes comments from six different employment attorneys on… Read More