Discrimination

  • July 09, 2025

    Boston U. Beats Ex-Worker's Suit Over Sex Harassment Probe

    Boston University defeated a former maintenance employee's lawsuit alleging the school bungled its investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against him, with a Massachusetts federal judge ruling the worker's claim was preempted by federal labor law because it required examining his union contract.

  • July 09, 2025

    3rd Circ. Probes 'Disruption' By Alt-Right Ex-Prof's Speech

    A Third Circuit panel pressed the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Wednesday to show that what it called racist off-campus comments by a professor had caused such a disruption that it had to fire him, with one judge asking where they should draw the First Amendment line for free speech.

  • July 09, 2025

    HELP Sets Hearing On NLRB GC, EEOC Member Noms

    President Donald Trump's picks to be the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board and fill a vacancy on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will face their first test next week at a U.S. Senate committee hearing.

  • July 09, 2025

    Red Cross Vax Refuser Decries 'Un-American' Firing At Trial

    A former nurse for the American Red Cross suffered physically and economically after she was fired from the organization for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, counsel for the nurse told a Detroit federal jury Wednesday, arguing that, in the United States, the Red Cross should not be the arbiter of sincerely held religious beliefs.

  • July 09, 2025

    T-Mobile Tanks DEI Policies To Meet FCC Chair's Goal

    T-Mobile says it will shut down diversity, equity and inclusion programs to align with goals of the Federal Communications Commission's chair as the carrier seeks regulatory approval of two major wireless and fiber deals.

  • July 09, 2025

    DOL Watchdog Seeks Form Update To Match Trump Order

    The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs intends to modify its bias complaint form to reflect the Trump administration's rescission of a longstanding legal authority used to prevent federal contractors from discriminating against workers, saying Wednesday the update is urgently needed to prevent public confusion.

  • July 09, 2025

    Fired Male VA Counselor Secures Trial In Sex Bias Suit

    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can't escape a male ex-counselor's sex bias suit claiming his boss declined to promote him because he wanted the job to go to a woman, a Texas federal judge said, ruling a jury needs to probe whether discrimination cost him the position.

  • July 09, 2025

    Top Dems Press EEOC On Law Firms 'Shakedown'

    Top congressional Democrats are once again seeking information on the Trump administration's "shakedown" of major law firms over their past work and clients.

  • July 08, 2025

    Macy's Says McLaughlin Ruling Backs Axing DOL's ERISA Suit

    Macy's has once again asked an Ohio federal judge to slash a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit claiming the retail company discriminated against tobacco users by charging them an extra fee through its health insurance plan, this time leaning on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent McLaughlin ruling to argue no new lawsuit is required to push aside agency rulemaking.

  • July 08, 2025

    Chicago Nabs Early Win In City Workers' Genetic Bias Suit

    The city of Chicago defeated allegations that the genetic information of two employees was taken when their spouses took part in a wellness program, with an Illinois federal judge finding that evidence does not back the claims that detailed information was disclosed in violation of federal law.

  • July 08, 2025

    VA Worker Can't Revive Scooter Storage Accommodation Suit

    The Seventh Circuit upheld the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' defeat of a lawsuit claiming the agency unlawfully revoked a disabled employee's reserved parking space during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the VA's offer of an alternative spot wasn't unreasonable just because he couldn't lock his mobility scooter overnight.

  • July 08, 2025

    Ex-Partner Says BDO Fired Her Over Leave For Son's Stroke

    A former tax partner for accounting giant BDO said Tuesday that the firm fired her after manufacturing performance issues because she took leave to care for her son who suffered a brain hemorrhage, according to the $75 million discrimination suit she filed in New York federal court.

  • July 08, 2025

    Pa. Panel Grants Immunity To Nursing Board In Exam Dispute

    A Pennsylvania appellate court on Tuesday narrowly rejected a lawsuit filed by an ex-nurse who contends a state board violated her rights by ordering her to undergo a mental health exam, finding instead that the board members are entitled to quasi-judicial immunity.

  • July 08, 2025

    Wells Fargo Wants Investors' 'Sham' Hiring Suit Tossed

    Wells Fargo & Co. is once again looking to rid itself of a California-based class action accusing it of deceiving investors about its hiring practices, arguing that suing shareholders have not found any evidence that so-called sham job interviews were widespread at the bank.

  • July 08, 2025

    DC Circ. Says Teacher's Settlement Didn't Guarantee Rehiring

    The D.C. Circuit refused to reopen a teacher's lawsuit claiming D.C. Public Schools violated an agreement settling sexual harassment allegations when it declined to rehire him, ruling Tuesday the pact only guaranteed that he would be allowed to reapply for teaching jobs.

  • July 08, 2025

    Cannabis Co. Escapes Sales Commissions Suit

    A cannabis company's promise to pay an employee commissions when she got a promotion was but a "puff of smoke," an Illinois federal judge ruled, finding the lack of a formal contract means her lawsuit must be dismissed.

  • July 08, 2025

    HHS Can't Dodge Suit Over Nixed LGBTQ Bias Protections

    A New York federal judge declined Tuesday to toss a transgender woman's suit challenging President Donald Trump's decision to roll back anti-discrimination regulations for LGBTQ patients during his first term, rejecting arguments from the government that the case is moot given that a Biden-era rule restored the protections.

  • July 08, 2025

    3rd Circ. Gives Philly Bus Driver Fresh Chance At FMLA Suit

    The Third Circuit on Tuesday reinstated a former Philadelphia bus driver's lawsuit alleging public transit authority SEPTA bucked the Family and Medical Leave Act when it fired him for missing work due to his sickle cell anemia.

  • July 08, 2025

    Calif. Agency Rolls Out Guidance For Violence Survivor Leave

    The California Civil Rights Department rolled out its latest guidance and model notice for employees who are victims of violence or abuse and wish to take time off under a law that went into effect in the state in January.

  • July 08, 2025

    NY Lawyer Wants Jay-Z's Claims In Suit Against Buzbee Tossed

    A New York City lawyer wants a court to dismiss allegations that she took part in a conspiracy with prominent attorney Tony Buzbee to extort Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter via a since-dropped rape case, arguing that the hip-hop mogul's claims against her were brought in an improper forum and that he failed to state a claim.

  • July 08, 2025

    Feds Say Trade Group Lacks Standing In Anti-DEI Orders Suit

    A Chicago-based trade group can't show that Trump administration executive orders restricting federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs infringe on its free speech rights, the federal government argued, telling an Illinois federal court it should toss the organization's suit alleging the directives are unconstitutional.

  • July 08, 2025

    Org Says EEOC Can't 'Jam' Class Claims Into Harassment Suit

    A mental health organization urged a North Carolina federal judge to ax classwide claims from a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming a male supervisor harassed female co-workers with unwanted hugs and sexual comments, arguing the case lacks necessary details about the collective allegations.

  • July 08, 2025

    W&H Attorneys' Wish List For The Rest Of 2025

    Updating the Fair Labor Standards Act to reflect the nuances of remote work, reforming arbitration and tackling the issue of salary expectations to further reduce the pay gap are all issues employment lawyers wish policymakers would tackle in the latter half of the year. Here, Law360 explores what kind of changes attorneys would like to see in an ideal world.

  • July 07, 2025

    Morehouse Settles Ex-Prof's Wrongful Termination Suit

    Morehouse College has agreed to settle a former media professor's suit claiming he was fired for supporting a student's discrimination case against the institution alleging they were denied entry into a college program because they were HIV-positive, according to a filing in Georgia federal court Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    Fed Says Ex-Worker's Vaccine Bias Suit Belongs In DC

    Federal Reserve Board leadership urged a North Carolina federal court Monday to trim a former employee's lawsuit claiming he was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and ship it to D.C., arguing he can't keep the case in the Tar Heel State because he worked remotely.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • 5 Insurance Claims That Could Emerge After NCAA Settlement

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    Following the recent NCAA class action settlement that will allow revenue sharing with college athletes, there may be potential management liability for universities, their executive leadership and boards that could expose insurers to tax, regulatory, breach of contract and other claims, says Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty.

  • 8th Circ. Ruling Highlights Complicated Remote Work Analysis

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    The Eighth Circuit’s recent opinion in Kuklenski v. Medtronic USA demonstrates that the applicability of employment laws to remote workers is often a fact-driven analysis, highlighting several parameters to consider when evaluating what state and local laws may apply to employees who work remotely, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • Philly Law Initiates New Era Of Worker Protections

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    A new worker protection law in Philadelphia includes, among other measures, a private right of action and recordkeeping requirements that may amount to a lower evidentiary standard, introducing a new level of accountability and additional noncompliance risks for employers, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Justices' Ruling Lowers Bar For Reverse Discrimination Suits

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, lowering the evidentiary burden for plaintiffs bringing so-called reverse discrimination claims, may lead to more claims brought by majority group employees — and open the door to legal challenges to employer diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, say attorneys at Ice Miller.

  • 4 Midyear Employer Actions To Reinforce Compliance

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    The legal and political landscape surrounding what the government describes as unlawful diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has become increasingly complex over the past six months, and the midyear juncture presents a strategic opportunity to reinforce commitments to legal integrity, workplace equity and long-term operational resilience, say attorneys at Krevolin & Horst.