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Discrimination

  • September 17, 2025

    9th Circ. Seems Split On School Principal's Free Speech Suit

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared split on Wednesday over a Washington state public school employee's claims that he was unfairly punished for a political rant on Facebook, with one judge pushing back on his stance that he was speaking privately while also balking at the district's position that the post was disruptive.

  • September 17, 2025

    Judges Pan Chris Cuomo's Arbitrator Bias Claim On Appeal

    A majority of the justices on a New York appellate court panel voiced skepticism of ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's arguments that the arbitrator was biased against him in his $125 million wrongful termination case against the news network.

  • September 17, 2025

    11th Circ. Judge Calls Ga. School Racism Defense 'Ridiculous'

    The Eleventh Circuit appeared unlikely Wednesday to let Georgia school officials escape accusations they violated a settlement requiring their district to hire more Black educators, with one judge slamming as "ridiculous" the notion they could plead ignorance over whether the agreement was binding on them.

  • September 17, 2025

    Ex-Law Student's Bias Suit In Wrong Forum, 4th Circ. Told

    A Black former student at Washington University School of Law shouldn't be able to revive claims that she was suspended from campus and lost her scholarship after complaining about a professor's race bias because she filed the suit in the wrong state, the law school told the Fourth Circuit.

  • September 17, 2025

    Dems Urge DOL To Probe Exodus Of Women From Workforce

    The Democratic Women's Caucus asked the U.S. Department of Labor to further probe why women are leaving the workforce in droves, after recent job data showed that over 330,000 women have left the workforce since January.

  • September 17, 2025

    Boston Mayor Accused Of Firing Staffer To Shield Ally

    The former chief of staff for Boston's police accountability office alleged in a lawsuit launched in state court Wednesday that Mayor Michelle Wu wrongfully fired her last spring to protect a key political ally from accusations of sexual harassment.

  • September 17, 2025

    Ga. City, Ex-Court Admin Seek Quick Wins In Retaliation Case

    A Georgia city and its former municipal court administrator have each asked a federal judge for wins in a whistleblower suit the administrator brought alleging she had been unlawfully fired in retaliation for reporting a city council member's attempt to pressure the court for a favor.

  • September 17, 2025

    Coaches Ask For Lower Court Redo On 'Sham' NFL Arbitration

    Arguing that a recent Second Circuit ruling supports their position that arbitration overseen by the NFL commissioner cannot be impartial, three former NFL coaches have asked the district court judge who sent part of their proposed racial discrimination class action to arbitration two years ago to again reconsider that decision.

  • September 17, 2025

    Defense Co. Says Worker Fired For Harassment, Not Religion

    Defense contractor L3Harris fired an engineer for his mistreatment of non-Christian colleagues, not because he is a Christian, the company told a Texas federal court as it urged the toss of the former employee's bias suit.

  • September 17, 2025

    7th Circ. Hints Trans Officer's Facebook Post Undercuts Suit

    The Seventh Circuit appeared disinclined Wednesday to reinstate an Illinois officer's lawsuit accusing a police department and training academy of outing her as transgender, with one judge calling it "very problematic" that the cop tried to hide a Facebook post where she had shared her gender identity.

  • September 17, 2025

    Kimberly-Clark Settles Black Worker's Bias, Retaliation Suit

    Consumer goods company Kimberly-Clark has resolved a suit filed by a Black manufacturing employee who said she was denied a promotion and unfairly disciplined for complaining she was being paid less than colleagues, according to a filing in Alabama federal court.

  • September 17, 2025

    Calif. Winery Strikes Deal To End EEOC Sex Harassment Suit

    A California winery has agreed to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit alleging it stood by while female employees were subjected to sexual touching and comments on the job and then retaliated against them for speaking up about the mistreatment.

  • September 16, 2025

    UC Groups Sue Trump Admin Alleging Free Speech Violations

    A coalition of faculty, staff and unions affiliated with the University of California system sued the Trump administration in federal court Tuesday, arguing the suspension of $584 million in research projects along with threats to terminate billions more violates the law and is an attempt to violate their free speech.

  • September 16, 2025

    White House Fights Seattle's Bid To Block DEI Grant Rules

    The Trump administration on Tuesday called on a Washington federal judge to let it proceed with federal grant conditions forcing recipients to drop efforts related to diversity and "gender ideology," contending that Seattle is challenging the terms based on mere speculation that the city may one day be targeted for "hypothetical noncompliance."  

  • September 16, 2025

    Federal Court Reporter Beats Transcript Omission Claim

    A court reporter for an Illinois federal judge Tuesday defeated a lawsuit brought by a pro se plaintiff alleging she failed to transcribe part of a hearing and left out statements that would be damaging to the judge in an underlying employment dispute.

  • September 16, 2025

    7th Circ. Judge Wary Of Pilots' Bid To Amend Vax Bias Claims

    A Seventh Circuit judge on Tuesday pushed counsel for two United Airlines pilots to address how the lower court abused its "very broad" discretion in refusing to allow them to file a third amended complaint accusing the airline of religious discrimination, after they were placed on unpaid leave despite religious exemptions from the airline's COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

  • September 16, 2025

    Ill. Hospital Nonprofit Must Face Tobacco Fee Suit

    An Illinois federal judge refused to toss the bulk of a proposed class action from an Illinois hospital worker who claimed a fee on the employee health plans of tobacco users was discriminatory and breached fiduciary duties under benefits law, finding most allegations sufficiently backed up to survive dismissal.

  • September 16, 2025

    EEOC Claims Miss. Restaurant Illegally Axed Pregnant Server

    A Mississippi breakfast restaurant fired an employee just days after she was hired because it learned she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in federal court.

  • September 16, 2025

    Freight Co. Forced Pregnant Driver To Take Leave, EEOC Says

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday accused a freight shipping company of unlawfully placing a pregnant employee on unpaid leave rather than accommodating her requests for a limited work schedule and a restriction on lifting.

  • September 16, 2025

    Dems Renew Push To Ban Credit Checks In Hiring

    Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation that would bar employers from requiring job applicants to disclose their credit history as part of the hiring process, saying the bill would remove a barrier that disproportionately hurts women and minority workers.

  • September 16, 2025

    DOJ Calls Rhode Island Teacher Loan Aid Program 'Racist'

    The U.S. Department of Justice alleged in a federal lawsuit Tuesday that the Rhode Island Department of Education discriminates against white teachers by supporting a student loan repayment program that hands out awards only to teachers of color.

  • September 16, 2025

    Airline Staffing Co. Must Face Most Of Breastfeeding Bias Suit

    A company providing staff and support to airlines at Pittsburgh International Airport must face most of a former agent's claims it retaliated against her for seeking time to pump breast milk at work, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Monday.

  • September 16, 2025

    5th Circ. Won't Reinstate IT Workers' $70M Race Bias Verdict

    The Fifth Circuit on Tuesday refused to bring back a $70 million jury award for a group of former telecommunications workers in a race discrimination suit, saying a trial court judge rightly concluded that the evidence didn't back it up.

  • September 16, 2025

    EEOC Says Assisted Care Co. Illegally Fired Pregnant Worker

    An assisted living facility wrongfully terminated an employee because she asked to avoid lifting anything on the job that was over 20 pounds while she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claimed in Illinois federal court.

  • September 15, 2025

    Ousted Public Defender's Bias Suit Meets Skeptical Judge

    A Connecticut judge on Monday seemed skeptical of a former chief state public defender's challenge to her ouster, questioning whether the lawyer could support her claim that the Public Defender Services Commission should have called live witnesses to testify during an administrative hearing that led to her termination.

Expert Analysis

  • How NY Appeals Ruling Alters Employers' Sex Abuse Liability

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    In Nellenback v. Madison County, the New York Court of Appeals arguably reset the evidentiary threshold in sexual abuse cases involving employer liability, countering lower court decisions that allowed evidence of the length of the undiscovered abuse to substitute as notice of an employee's dangerous propensity, say attorneys at Hurwitz Fine.

  • Protecting Workers Amid High Court-EEOC Trans Rights Rift

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    In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services and U.S. v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified that Title VII protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, so employers should still protect against such discrimination despite the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's unclear position, says Ally Coll at the Purple Method.

  • How Latest High Court Rulings Refine Employment Law

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    The 2024-2025 U.S. Supreme Court term did not radically rewrite employment law, but sharpened focus on textual fidelity, procedural rigor and the boundaries of statutory relief, say attorneys at Krevolin & Horst.

  • Challenging A Class Representative's Adequacy And Typicality

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    Recent cases highlight that a named plaintiff cannot certify a putative class action unless they can meet all the applicable requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so defendants should consider challenging a plaintiff's ability to meet typicality and adequacy requirements early and often, say attorneys at Womble Bond.

  • Age Bias Ruling Holds Harassment Policy Lessons

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    A Kansas federal court's recent decision in Holman v. Textron Aviation, rejecting an employee's assertion that his termination for failing to report harassment was pretextual and due to age bias, provides insight into how courts analyze whether actions are pretextual and offers lessons about enforcing anti-harassment policies, say attorneys at Ogletree.

  • Employer Tips As Deepfakes Reshape Workplace Harassment

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    As the workplace harassment landscape faces the rising threat of fabricated media that hyperrealistically depict employees in sexual or malicious contexts, employers can stay ahead of the curve by tracking new legal obligations, and proactively updating policies, training and response protocols, say attorneys at Littler.

  • How To Balance AI Adoption With Employee Privacy Risks

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    As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, organizations must learn to leverage AI's capabilities while safeguarding against employee privacy risks and complying with a complex web of regulations, including by vetting vendors, mitigating employee misuse and establishing a governance framework, say attorneys at Jackson Lewis.

  • How Ending OFCCP Will Affect Affirmative Action Obligations

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    As President Donald Trump's administration plans to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which enforces federal contractor antidiscrimination compliance and affirmative action program obligations, contractors should consider the best compliance approaches available to them, especially given the False Claims Act implications, say attorneys at Ogletree.

  • Employer Best Practices For Navigating Worker Separations

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    As job cuts hit several major industries, employers should take steps to minimize their exposure to discrimination claims, information leaks and enforcement challenges, such as maintaining sound documentation, strategic planning and legal coordination, says Mark Romance at Day Pitney.

  • Employer Tips For Responding To ICE In The Workplace

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    Increased immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration has left employers struggling to balance their compliance obligations with their desire to provide a safe workplace, so creating a thorough response plan and training for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's presence at the workplace is crucial, say attorneys at Hanson Bridgett.

  • Handbook Hot Topics: Shifting Worker Accommodation Rules

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    Since President Donald Trump took office, many changes have directly affected how employers must address accommodation requests, particularly those concerning pregnancy-related medical conditions and religious beliefs, underscoring the importance of regularly reviewing and updating accommodation policies and procedures, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

  • Shifting DEI Expectations Put Banks In Legal Crosshairs

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    The Trump administration's rollbacks on DEI-friendly policies create something of a regulatory catch-22 for banks, wherein strict compliance would contradict established statutory and administrative mandates regarding access to credit for disadvantaged communities, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • Compliance Tips After Court Axes EEOC's Trans Rights Take

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision struck portions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's 2024 guidance pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity under Title VII, barring their use nationwide and leaving employers unsure about how to proceed in their compliance efforts, say attorneys at Dorsey & Whitney.