Discrimination

  • May 08, 2025

    Lewis Brisbois Litigator Jumps To FordHarrison In LA

    Management-side labor and employment firm FordHarrison LLP is growing its West Coast team, bringing in a litigator from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP as a partner in its Los Angeles office.

  • May 07, 2025

    DOJ Drops Bias Claims Over NY Fire Dept. Hiring Practices

    The U.S. Department of Justice dropped its claims on Wednesday in long-running federal litigation against New York City over allegedly discriminatory hiring practices against minority firefighter applicants, two weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to end disparate impact as a theory of liability for unlawful discrimination.

  • May 07, 2025

    BNSF Fired Conductor For Seeking Injury Payment, Suit Says

    BNSF Railway Co. has been hit with an employment retaliation suit in Washington federal court by a former conductor who claims he was wrongfully fired based on an unsubstantiated rule violation after he sought compensation for a brake rigging accident that severely injured his hand.

  • May 07, 2025

    Illinois Seeks Exit From Suit Over Demographic Data Law

    Illinois asked a federal judge to toss a lawsuit brought by a group called the American Alliance for Equal Rights that seeks to block the state from enforcing a law requiring nonprofits to publicize their demographic data, saying the organization has no standing to bring the claims.

  • May 07, 2025

    NY Legal Aid Union Accused Of Antisemitism At NLRB, EEOC

    A United Auto Workers affiliate representing attorneys at a New York legal services organization violated federal laws when the union thwarted antisemitism measures in the workplace, a nonprofit alleged Wednesday in announcing charges it filed at the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

  • May 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Axes Fired University Worker's 1st Amendment Fight

    The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday refused to revive a lawsuit claiming two former University of Arizona officials fired a health sciences employee because of his husband's criticisms of a hiring process, saying the administrators are immune from the worker's free speech claim.

  • May 07, 2025

    Similar Federal Suit Found To Bar A&M Texarkana Bias Case

    A state appeals court has said Texas A&M University-Texarkana could escape an employment discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee, ruling that his claims are barred by a nearly identical suit he previously filed in federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    6th Circ. Weighs Muldrow's Impact On Prof.'s Trans Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit wrestled Wednesday with whether the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Muldrow decision warrants giving a transgender Kent State University professor a second chance at lawsuit alleging a promised promotion was revoked because of their gender identity.

  • May 07, 2025

    Veterinary Pathologist's Pay Bias Suit Teed Up For Trial

    A New Jersey federal judge said a jury needs to probe a veterinary pathologist's claims that an animal health company unlawfully paid her less than two male co-workers, ruling there isn't enough proof to definitely say whether they performed equal work.

  • May 07, 2025

    2nd Circ. Backs NYC Win In IT Worker's Bias, Retaliation Suit

    A former New York City telecommunications employee cannot revive her lawsuit alleging she was pushed out after managers scheduled meetings during her lunch because she reported a supervisor's inappropriate touching, the Second Circuit ruled Wednesday, saying there's no evidence the managers knew her migraines necessitated a specific lunch break.

  • May 07, 2025

    6th Circ. Seems Hesitant To Revive UMich Law Prof's Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit appeared skeptical Wednesday about reopening a Black University of Michigan Law School professor's suit alleging she was unlawfully disciplined after she complained about race discrimination, with the panel questioning if she adequately refuted the school's nondiscriminatory reasons for its action.

  • May 07, 2025

    Facility Support Co. Settles Fired Worker's Race Bias Suit

    A maintenance and facility support company has agreed to settle a Black former worker's suit claiming she was pushed out of her supervisory role to make space for a white employee, according to a Wednesday filing in Georgia federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    Home Retailer Agrees To End EEOC Disability Bias Probe

    A manufactured homes dealer in Oregon agreed to update its antidiscrimination policies to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into claims that it fired an employee for requesting a schedule change because of her disability.

  • May 07, 2025

    Mental Health Group Failed To Rein In Harasser, EEOC Says

    A mental health organization stood by while a male supervisor harassed female co-workers with unwanted hugs and sexual comments, costing one worker her job after his behavior triggered her mental health disorders, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a North Carolina federal court.

  • May 07, 2025

    Trump Taps Assistant US Atty To Join EEOC

    President Donald Trump has nominated an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida to fill one of the three open seats on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

  • May 06, 2025

    Potential For DEI-Related Suits Vexes Employers, Report Says

    Businesses are increasingly worried about facing litigation centering on their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives amid the Trump administration's vocal opposition to DEI, but employers aren't in a rush to overhaul workplace diversity programs, according to a new report issued by Littler Mendelson PC.

  • May 06, 2025

    Indian IT Co. Can't Nix White Ex-Worker's American Bias Suit

    A New Jersey federal judge declined to toss a white American worker's bias suit claiming he was laid off from an information technology company that favored Indian and South Asian workers, ruling the business can't dodge the complaint even if it mirrors allegations brought by another employee.

  • May 06, 2025

    Marriott Accused Of Revoking Sabbath Accommodation In Fla.

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Marriott for alleged religious discrimination in Florida federal court, alleging an employee was forced to resign after her managers rescinded her Sabbath accommodation and required her to work on Saturdays.

  • May 06, 2025

    10th Circ. Backs Army In Explosives Supervisor's Bias Suit

    The Tenth Circuit declined Tuesday to revive an age and gender bias suit from a U.S. Army explosives supervisor who said she was unlawfully denied a promotion, ruling she failed to overcome the Army's argument that a poor interview stopped her from moving up.

  • May 06, 2025

    11th Circ. Seems Open To Reviving Coal Workers' Bias Suit

    The Eleventh Circuit on Tuesday appeared inclined to reinstate a race discrimination suit brought against a coal company by two Black former employees, with one judge saying the case could present two narratives for jurors to sort out.

  • May 06, 2025

    Technician's Bias Suit Against Union, Studios Tossed For Now

    A New York federal judge Tuesday tossed an electrical technician's suit accusing an entertainment industry union local of employing admissions and job referral practices that discriminate against Black and Latino applicants seeking work at major production studios.

  • May 06, 2025

    Jay-Z Claims Atty Buzbee's Conspiracy Extends To NY Lawyer

    Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter expanded his malicious prosecution claims against attorney Tony Buzbee over a rape suit that has since been dropped to also target a New York personal injury lawyer over what the music mogul alleged was a conspiracy to coerce him into paying off their client.

  • May 06, 2025

    McCarter & English Pushes To End Ex-Atty's Firing Suit

    McCarter & English LLP has urged a New Jersey state court to toss an anti-veteran discrimination suit from a former firm attorney and Navy SEAL this week, arguing the lawyer is unsuccessfully trying to pivot off failed claims from his original complaint in later filings.

  • May 06, 2025

    Approach The Bench: Judge Robinson On Workplace Conduct

    A long-awaited survey of judiciary employees revealed misconduct is rare within the federal judiciary, but U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson says there's still plenty of work to be done.

  • May 06, 2025

    Costco Can't Bar Harassment Probe Talk, NLRB Judge Says

    Costco unlawfully maintained overly broad rules in an investigations form and barred a North Carolina worker from talking about the outcome of her internal sexual harassment complaint, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled, finding a clause allowing employment terms discussions did not shield the company from violating federal labor law.

Expert Analysis

  • NYC Wage Info Bill Highlights Rise In Pay Transparency Laws

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    With New York City the latest to mull requiring companies to annually report employee wage data, national employers should consider adapting their compliance practices to comply with increasingly common pay transparency and disclosure obligations at state and local levels, says Kelly Cardin at Littler Mendelson.

  • Workday AI Bias Suit Suggests Hiring Lessons For Employers

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    As state laws and a federal agency increasingly focus on employment bias introduced by artificial intelligence systems, a California federal court's recent decision to allow a discrimination suit to proceed against Workday's AI-driven recruitment software, shows companies should promptly assess these tools' risks, say attorneys at Williams & Connolly.

  • How Anti-DEI Bill Could Affect Employers' Diversity Efforts

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    Sen. J.D. Vance's recently introduced Dismantle DEI Act would substantially limit employers’ ability to implement and promote workplace diversity, equity and inclusion, but there are still steps employers can take to support a diverse workforce, says Peter Ennis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • US Labor And Employment Law Holds Some Harsh Trade-Offs

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    U.S. labor and employment laws have evolved into a product of exposure-capping compromise, which merits discussion in a presidential election year when the dialogue has focused on purported protections of middle-class workers, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

  • Water Cooler Talk: Immigration Insights From 'The Proposal'

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    Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs at Troutman Pepper chat with their colleague Robert Lee about how immigration challenges highlighted in the romantic comedy "The Proposal" — beyond a few farcical plot contrivances — relate to real-world visa processes and employer compliance.

  • Employers Face Uncertainty After Calif. Justices' Slur Ruling

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    In Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the California Supreme Court recently ruled that a singular use of a racial slur may be sufficiently severe to support a hostile work environment claim, leaving employers to speculate about what sort of comments or conduct will meet this new standard going forward, says Stephanie Roeser at Manatt.

  • 9th Circ. Ruling Flags Work Harassment Risks Of Social Media

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    The recent Ninth Circuit ruling in Okonowsky v. Garland, holding an employer could be liable for a co-worker's harassing social media posts, highlights new challenges in technology-centered and remote workplaces, and underscores an employer's obligation to prevent hostile environments wherever their employees clock in, say Jennifer Lada and Phillip Schreiber at Holland & Knight.

  • Eye On Compliance: NY's New Freelance Protection Law

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    New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act is set to take effect later this month, meaning employers must be proactive in ensuring compliance and take steps to mitigate risks, such as updating documentation and specifying correct worker classification, says Jonathan Meer at Wilson Elser.

  • 3 Notes For Arbitration Agreements After Calif. Ruling

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    After last month's California Supreme Court decision in Ramirez v. Charter Communications invalidated several arbitration clauses in the company's employee contracts as unconscionable, companies should ensure their own arbitration agreements steer clear of three major pitfalls identified by the court, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • Eye On Compliance: New Pregnancy And Nursing Protections

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    With New York rolling out paid lactation breaks and extra leave for prenatal care, and recent federal legislative developments enhancing protection for pregnant and nursing workers, employers required to offer these complex new accommodations should take several steps to mitigate their compliance risks, says Madjeen Garcon-Bonneau at Wilson Elser.

  • How Calif. Ruling Alters Worker Arb. Agreement Enforcement

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    The California Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Ramirez v. Charter Communications should caution employers that while workers’ arbitration agreements will no longer be deemed unenforceable based on their number of unconscionable provisions, they must still be fair and balanced, says Sander van der Heide at CDF Labor.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: July Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers cases touching on pre- and post-conviction detainment conditions, communications with class representatives, when the American Pipe tolling doctrine stops applying to modified classes, and more.

  • How To Comply With Chicago's New Paid Leave Ordinance

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    Chicago's new Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance went into effect earlier this month, so employers subject to the new rules should update leave policies, train supervisors and deliver notice as they seek compliance, say Alison Crane and Sarah Gasperini at Jackson Lewis.