Discrimination

  • August 27, 2025

    DOD Education Unit Accused Of Bias By Assistant Principal

    A Black, longtime employee of the Department of Defense Education Activity has sued the agency and its leaders in North Carolina federal court, alleging a lower school principal harassed her, that she was denied promotions based on her race and sex and is being unfairly terminated.

  • August 27, 2025

    6th Circ. Says Hospital Waived Arbitration In Pronoun Dispute

    The Sixth Circuit reversed an order Wednesday allowing a University of Michigan hospital to arbitrate an ex-worker's suit claiming she was fired out of religious bias for refusing to use preferred pronouns for certain LGBTQ patients, ruling the institution waited too long to invoke an arbitration pact.

  • August 27, 2025

    Ex-Drexel Medical Professor Fights Gender Bias Trial Loss

    A former Drexel University medical professor who lost her gender bias lawsuit alleging the university treated male faculty better than women has asked a Pennsylvania federal judge for a redo, claiming the jury's verdict in favor of the school was against the weight of the evidence.

  • August 27, 2025

    X Settles Disability Bias Suit Over Musk's Twitter Takeover

    X Corp. has agreed to settle a proposed class action alleging the company purposefully created severe working conditions during Elon Musk's 2022 takeover of Twitter to drive out workers with disabilities, according to a California federal court filing.

  • August 27, 2025

    More Courts Taking Broad View Of EEOC Investigative Power

    The Second Circuit's ruling this week that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can continue investigating a worker's charge even if the employee files their own lawsuit reflects a growing consensus among federal appeals courts on the breadth of the agency's powers.

  • August 27, 2025

    Mich. Judge Advises Trimming $500K Fees For Retaliation Win

    A magistrate judge said a human resources director who won a retaliation suit should be awarded attorney fees but recommended slashing costs for a third plaintiffs attorney to attend the trial and for tasks the judge said could have been performed by junior associates.

  • August 27, 2025

    Union Dodges Medical Assault Claim Over Vax Mandate

    A mariners union has escaped a deck officer's accusation of attempted medical assault, with a California federal judge tossing his claim that the union teamed up with his former employer, Matson Navigation Co., to pressure him to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

  • August 27, 2025

    DOJ To Probe Calif. EPA For Hiring Bias Over Equity Plan

    The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that it has begun investigating whether discrimination has plagued hiring practices in California's Environmental Protection Agency, after raising concerns that the agency's racial equity initiatives could be violating Title VII.

  • August 26, 2025

    Tire Co. Says EEOC Can't Bring ADA Suit Without Quorum

    The Carlstar Group has urged a Tennessee federal judge to toss the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's complaint alleging it has a practice of discriminating against workers who legally took narcotics for long-term injuries, arguing the agency lacks a three-member quorum and the authority to determine whether to sue the tire maker. 

  • August 26, 2025

    Meta Fired Worker For Being Older White Male, Bias Suit Says

    A former Meta Platforms Inc. employee filed an age bias suit in California state court Tuesday, alleging the company prioritized non-white, non-male workers and applicants for job opportunities, bonuses and promotions, before it eventually executed a "reduction in force" that disparately affected older workers who ended up being terminated.

  • August 26, 2025

    Wash. Judge Shoots Down Ex-SEIU Organizer's Bias Suit

    A Washington federal judge has tossed a fired Service Employees International Union organizer's lawsuit against the union, saying the ex-organizer's "vague" complaint lacks facts to substantiate its claims that she was discriminated against, underpaid and wrongfully discharged.

  • August 26, 2025

    NBA's Suns Seek Sanctions Over Alleged Fake Case Citations

    Operators of the NBA's Phoenix Suns asked the court Tuesday to impose sanctions on counsel representing a woman suing the organization for workplace sexual harassment, saying the woman's counsel cited made-up cases and quotes in their filings at least 16 times.

  • August 26, 2025

    New York Fed Wants Out Of Ex-Fed Worker's Vax Bias Suit

    The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and two of its executives seek an exit from a former Fed employee's vaccine status discrimination suit in North Carolina federal court, arguing Monday that the ex-worker's suit inaccurately described the New York Fed as the plaintiff's "co-employer."

  • August 26, 2025

    Christian Clinic Says Mich. Stance On Bias Law Still Unclear

    The state of Michigan should be forced to clarify if it believes a Christian medical clinic's opposition to gender-affirming care and its pronoun policy is discriminatory under state civil rights law, the clinic told a Michigan federal judge. 

  • August 26, 2025

    8th Circ. Backs Deli Chain In Ex-Worker's Pregnancy Bias Suit

    The Eighth Circuit declined Tuesday to reinstate an ex-deli chain manager's bias suit claiming the business denied her pregnancy-related accommodations and subsequently fired her, ruling her case lacks detail showing the chain faulted her for the working adjustments she requested out of bias.

  • August 26, 2025

    8th Circ. Nixes Ex-Principal's Suit Over LGBTQ+ Advocacy

    The Eighth Circuit on Tuesday rejected a former Minnesota public school principal's bid to reopen a suit alleging she was unconstitutionally punished because she advocated for LGBTQ+ students, saying her speech wasn't protected by the First Amendment.

  • August 26, 2025

    Cert. In Pepperidge BIPA Action Sunk Over Counsel Conflict

    An Illinois appellate panel on Monday reversed a trial court's order certifying a class of Pepperidge Farm workers bringing biometric privacy claims, saying it improperly allowed the law firm of the lead plaintiff's daughter to remain as class counsel.

  • August 26, 2025

    5th Circ. Won't Pause Order Blocking PWFA Abortion Regs

    The Fifth Circuit declined to pause a trial court order that nixed U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations, which required employers to accommodate workers who receive abortions, while a group of Catholic organizations challenges the ruling for not going far enough to protect religious freedom.

  • August 26, 2025

    New Rulings Bolster Plaintiffs In Ill. Genetic Privacy Suits

    A recent ruling by a Chicago federal judge adds to mounting wins for plaintiffs suing employers under an Illinois genetic privacy law.

  • August 26, 2025

    Credit Union Wants Ex-CEO's Latest Wage Claims Trimmed

    Sound Federal Credit Union wants a Connecticut Superior Court judge to trim its former CEO's recently revamped employment lawsuit, saying defamation and failure to pay wages claims should be removed from his complaint before his breach of contract claim advances.

  • August 26, 2025

    NY Judge In NFL Case May Hold No-Show Atty In Contempt

    The Manhattan federal judge presiding over a high-profile racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL said Tuesday she will initiate a contempt proceeding against a California lawyer who failed to appear to further explain an erroneous filing that stated he could practice in New York.

  • August 26, 2025

    Netflix Flight Attendant Says Harassment Report Led To Firing

    A former flight attendant for Netflix's private air fleet accused the streaming company of withholding her raise and eventually firing her after she reported several instances of sexual harassment, including one involving a pilot's sexually explicit Christmas cards.

  • August 26, 2025

    Property Management Co. Settles EEOC Suit Over Leave

    A property management company reached a $200,000 settlement to end an EEOC lawsuit accusing it of punishing an employee for taking medical leave to recover from a stroke by placing her on a performance improvement plan, the parties said Tuesday.

  • August 26, 2025

    Bakery Settles EEOC Suit Over Accommodation For Walker

    A northern Indiana bakery agreed to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit accusing it of failing to accommodate an employee with a disability, according to a consent decree filed Tuesday.

  • August 25, 2025

    UTSA Prof Claims School Conducted Biased Probe

    A Black professor at University of Texas at San Antonio told a Texas federal judge that the university discriminated against him by running a slipshod investigation into a case of alleged sexual harassment, saying Monday the school targeted him because of his race.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Proposed State AI Rule Ban Could Alter Employer Compliance

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    A proposal in the congressional budget bill that would ban state and local enforcement of laws and regulations governing artificial intelligence may offer near-term clarity by freezing conflicting rules, but long-term planning would remain difficult for employers seeking safe, lawful AI deployment strategies, say attorneys at Fisher Phillips.