A jury awarded $240 million to 32 men with mental disabilities in Iowa. Their employer was Henry’s Turkey Service, which had been previously assessed $1.76 million for underpaying men with disabilities. See my prior blog post about that jury trial. The $240 million awarded in Iowa includes $2 million in punitive damages for each
Discrimination
Fifth Circuit Agrees to Hear Appeal Regarding Same Sex Discrimination
The Fifth Circuit has granted an en banc hearing request concerning a same sex discrimination case. In the lower court, a jury found in favor of the employee regarding a same sex discrimination case. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit vacated the jury result and found in favor of the employer. Now, on additional appeal, the…
NBC Fires Weather Channel Anchor Due To Reserve Status
Major Nicole Mitchell has served in the Air Force Reserve some 20 years. In her civilian life, she was an anchor for the Weather Channel. Ms. Mitchell was forced out in 2010. She has filed a claim alleging discrimination due to her Reserve status. She says that after NBC (and Bain Capital and the Blackstone…
Mandatory Retirement Policies Violate the ADEA
Mandatory retirement plans based on age are generally prohibited under the Age Discriminaiton in Employment Act. But, the ADEA, like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act covers employees, not business owners – including partners. True partners, those who manage and control a business, are not covered by the ADEA. Burke v. Freedman…
UT Coach Files EEOC Complaint
Coach Bev Kearney, the former track and field coach for the women’s team at the University of Texas, was forced out in 2012. It was discovered that she had once had a relationship with a student-athlete in 2003. According to her lawyer, Derek Howard, UT has a culture allowing such relationships. Mr. Howard claims they…
Voting Rights Act a Racial Entitlement?
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments recently regarding Sec. 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act requires many states, most of them in the South to seek pre-approval for changes in voting procedures. The Voting Rights Act has been used to avoid discriminatory actions by local and state governments ranging…
Seventh Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment on Accommodation Claim
When a person with a disability requests an accommodation, the employer must engage in an "interactive process" to arrive at a workable accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires the employer and employee to discuss possible alternatives. Every disability and every person is different. So, the possible alternatives will vary greatly. One thing the employer…
FMLA Sees Twenty Year Anniversary
Daily Attendance Is Not An Essential Function of Every Job
Most jobs require daily attendance, but is daily attendance always required? Don’t most jobs allow time off for workers with good reasons? Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, workers are entitled to time off as part of treatment for a disability. Yet, there are cases that state otherwise. See, e.g., Rogers v. Marine Terminals, Inc.…
Supreme Court Accepts Case Regarding Proof in Retaliation Cases
The likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will accept an appeal are less than 1%. So, when the Supreme Court accepts a new petition, that is news. The Supreme Court accepted cert in the case of Nassar v. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. See the court’s website. Nassar concerns a plaintiff…