Discrimination

  • May 29, 2026

    4 Argument Sessions Bias Attys Should Watch In June

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will head to the Fifth Circuit to defend its trial win in a harassment lawsuit against an airline, and then appear before the Ninth Circuit to argue for the reinstatement of a disability discrimination suit against a financial services company. Here's a look at a quartet of oral arguments that discrimination attorneys should keep tabs on in June.

  • May 29, 2026

    U. Of Oregon Women Athletes Denied Class Cert. In Bias Suit

    An Oregon federal judge has ruled that four proposed classes of women athletes accusing the University of Oregon of treating them unequally compared with men did not meet class certification criteria but said certifying another group later was possible.

  • May 29, 2026

    UAW, Auto Parts Maker Escape Race Discrimination Suit

    The United Auto Workers and an auto parts manufacturer defeated a Black former forklift driver's lawsuit alleging his union failed to adequately represent him when he was fired for complaining that a white colleague used a racial slur, with an Ohio federal judge ruling he filed his claims too late.

  • May 29, 2026

    U. Of Mich. Surgeon Sues Over Teaching Suspension

    A University of Michigan surgeon has sued the school's Board of Regents and a department chair, claiming they suspended him from teaching over protected classroom speech and retaliated against him for prior lawsuits claiming age discrimination and other misconduct.

  • May 29, 2026

    Calif. Forecast: Phillips 66 Seeks Toss Of Standby Shifts Suit

    In the week ahead, attorneys should watch for a motion to dismiss hearing in a proposed wage and hour class action against oil refinery company Phillips 66. Here's a look at that case and other labor and employment matters on deck in California.

  • May 29, 2026

    CNN Strikes Tentative Deal To End Breastfeeding Bias Case

    CNN America and a former worker who claimed she was unlawfully denied a proper place to pump breast milk on the job told a D.C. federal court they had agreed on the broad strokes of a deal to resolve her suit.  

  • May 29, 2026

    EEOC Poised To Rescind Biden-Era Enforcement Priorities

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will meet Thursday to consider retracting a Biden-era strategic enforcement plan that pledged to focus on protecting LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities and workers impacted by technology-related bias.

  • May 28, 2026

    Shield AI Worker Alleges Data Fraud, 'Sexual Violence' By Exec

    An employee hit Shield AI Inc. with a suit in Texas federal court Thursday, alleging the defense technology company engaged in data fraud, allowed a company executive to perpetuate "egregious acts of sexual violence," and retaliated against him after he spoke up.

  • May 28, 2026

    11th Circ. Says Damages Caps Misconstrued In Bias Verdict

    The Eleventh Circuit ruled on Thursday that a discrimination verdict against a Miami car dealership was slashed too far when a judge chose between federal and state damages caps, saying the caps should be added together.

  • May 28, 2026

    Ex-VP Accuses Wells Fargo Of Race, Disability Bias

    A former executive hired to help oversee Wells Fargo's compliance with a federal consent order over an unauthorized account scandal has accused the bank of race and disability discrimination, saying he was retaliated against and ultimately fired after lodging internal complaints of disparate treatment of Black employees.

  • May 28, 2026

    Mail Carrier, AGs Press Justices To Hear Firefighter Vax Case

    The former mail carrier behind a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for employers to deny religious accommodations and GOP state attorneys general are among a chorus of amici backing a bid for high court review from Washington firefighters who were denied faith-based COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. Here's a look at their arguments. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Tesla Must Face Calif. Agency's Race Bias Fight In July Trial

    A California state judge has mostly rejected Tesla Inc.'s bid for a summary judgment win in the California Civil Rights Department's lawsuit alleging the electric-auto maker has allowed racism to run rampant at its Fremont factory, sending the high-stakes civil rights dispute to a July 20 jury trial.

  • May 28, 2026

    Ex-Southwest HR Worker Alleges Race Bias, Retaliatory Firing

    A former Southwest Airlines employee has sued the airline in Illinois state court, claiming that her supervisor harassed her because of her race and that she was ultimately fired for reporting that disparate treatment, which included departures from standard discipline and various tasks she was expected to perform that her white colleagues were not.

  • May 28, 2026

    UConn Escapes Surgeon's ADA Damages Claim In Bias Suit

    A Connecticut federal judge Thursday dismissed a surgeon's discrimination lawsuit against the University of Connecticut, saying a bid for money damages was barred by sovereign immunity and that a state employment law claim could only be heard in state court, though the doctor is allowed to retool her case.

  • May 28, 2026

    Arkansas Hospital Must Face EEOC's Male Bias Suit

    An Arkansas hospital can't escape a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit alleging that two doctors refused to let a male medical assistant help with childbirth, with a federal judge ruling Thursday that a jury should weigh whether the hospital used patient privacy concerns as cover for bias.

  • May 28, 2026

    Fla. Justices Say Ex-Power Co. Welder Didn't Prove Retaliation

    The Florida Supreme Court rejected a welder's appeal alleging that a power company terminated him in retaliation for blowing the whistle on unsafe work conditions, ruling Thursday he didn't prove beyond a subjective belief that his former employer violated the law. 

  • May 28, 2026

    EEOC Urges 11th Circ. To Restore Sex Harassment Verdict

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the Eleventh Circuit should reinstate a jury win for a female former host of a Georgia restaurant who claimed that managers failed to stop male coworkers' lewd behavior toward her, faulting the trial court for minimizing the men's conduct.

  • May 28, 2026

    EEOC Set To Scrap Decades-Old Affirmative Action Guidance

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking to roll back guidance outlining how employers can voluntarily implement affirmative action plans that comply with federal civil rights law.

  • May 28, 2026

    2nd Circ. Grapples With Arbitration Shield In Atty's Bias Suit

    A Second Circuit panel closely examined Thursday whether a former Thompson Hine LLP partner's lawsuit falls within the scope of federal law nullifying arbitration agreements in cases of sexual harassment, with one judge signaling some skepticism that the statute applies.

  • May 28, 2026

    7th Circ. Backs Benefits Co.'s Win In Race Bias, Pay Suit

    The Seventh Circuit affirmed a medical benefits management company's win in a Black former business analyst's suit alleging she was denied higher pay and promotions because of her race, saying she failed to show the company's stated reasons were a cover for discrimination.

  • May 28, 2026

    DC Restaurant Owner Fired Pregnant Manager, EEOC Says

    A Washington, D.C., restaurant owner pressured a manager to stop working while pregnant and fired her because she asked for a two-week extension to her maternity leave, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in federal court.

  • May 27, 2026

    NFL's High Court Loss Is Lesson For Fair Employee Contracts

    The NFL's failed bid at the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve a former coach's racial discrimination claims via arbitration serves as a warning to businesses seeking to draft employment contracts with few options and limited rights for workers.

  • May 27, 2026

    West Point Prof. Wins Speech Injunction Over Approval Rule

    A New York federal court has blocked West Point from requiring civilian faculty to get permission before using their school affiliation in external engagements involving their area of expertise, finding a civilian professor will likely prevail in his First Amendment challenge.

  • May 27, 2026

    Screening Co. Calls EEOC Subpoena Bid 'Fishing Expedition'

    A candidate screening company urged a Colorado federal judge to reject the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's bid to enforce subpoenas seeking information about preoffer assessments for sheriff's office applicants, calling the demand an overbroad "fishing expedition."

  • May 27, 2026

    Colo. Panel Questions Trial Court's Reading Of Wage Laws

    The Colorado Court of Appeals appeared poised Wednesday to revive the retaliation claims of a former human services caseworker against the county department she had worked for, pushing back on a lower court's interpretation of statutes meant to close gender pay gaps.

Expert Analysis

  • Cos. Should Focus On State AI Laws Despite New DOL Site

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    Because a new U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored website about the disability discrimination risks of AI hiring tools mostly echoes old guidance, employers should focus on complying with the state and local AI workplace laws springing up where Congress and federal regulators have yet to act, say attorneys at Littler.

  • How The Tide Of EEOC Litigation Rolled Back In FY 2024

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    An analysis of the location, timing and underlying claims asserted in U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission-initiated cases during fiscal year 2024 shows that the commission saw a substantial decrease in litigation activity after a surge last year, but employers should not drop their guard, say Christopher DeGroff and Andrew Scroggins at Seyfarth.

  • The Key Changes In Revised FDIC Hiring Regulations

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    Attorneys at Ogletree break down the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s new rule, effective Oct. 1, that will ease restrictions on financial institutions hiring employees with criminal histories, amend the FDIC's treatment of minor offenses and clarify its stance on expunged or dismissed criminal records.

  • Employer Tips For PUMP Act Compliance As Law Turns 2

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    Enacted in December 2022, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space for employees to express breast milk, but some companies may still be struggling with how to comply, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • What To Know About Ill. Employment Law Changes

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    Illinois employers should review their policies in light of a number of recent changes to state employment law, including amendments to the state’s Human Rights Act and modifications to the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, say attorneys at Kilpatrick.

  • Mich. Whistleblower Ruling Expands Retaliation Remedies

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    The Michigan Supreme Court's recent Occupational Health and Safety Act decision in Stegall v. Resource Technology is important because it increases the potential exposure for defendants in public policy retaliation cases, providing plaintiffs with additional claims, say Aaron Burrell and Timothy Howlett at Dickinson Wright.

  • How States Are Approaching AI Workplace Discrimination

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    As legislators across the U.S. have begun addressing algorithmic discrimination in the workplace, attorneys at Reed Smith provide an overview of the status, applicability and provisions of 13 state and local bills.

  • The Risks Of Employee Political Discourse On Social Media

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    As election season enters its final stretch and employees increasingly engage in political speech on social media, employers should beware the liability risks and consider policies that negotiate the line between employees' rights and the limits on those rights, say Bradford Kelley and James McGehee at Littler.

  • 7th Circ. Rulings Offer Employee Vaccine Exemption Guidance

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    Dawn Solowey and Samantha Brooks at Seyfarth explain how two recent Seventh Circuit rulings in Passarella v. Aspirus and Bube v. Aspirus could affect litigation involving employee vaccine exemptions, and discuss employer best practices for handling accommodation requests that include both religious and secular concerns.

  • Employers Should Not Neglect Paid Military Leave Compliance

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    An August decision from the Ninth Circuit and the settlement of a long-running class action, both examining paid leave requirements under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, are part of a nationwide trend that should prompt employers to review their military leave policies to avoid potential litigation and reputational damage, says Bradford Kelley at Littler.

  • Old Employment Law Principles Can Answer New AI Concerns

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    Despite growing legal and regulatory concerns about how artificial intelligence tools may affect employment decisions and worker rights, companies should take comfort in knowing that familiar principles of employment law and established compliance regimes can still largely address these new twists on old questions, say attorneys at Foley & Lardner.

  • 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.