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

  • NWSL's $5M Player Abuse Deal Shifts Standard For Employers

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    The National Women's Soccer League's recent $5 million settlement addressing players' abuse allegations sends a powerful message to leagues, entertainment entities and employers everywhere that employee safety, accountability and transparency are no longer optional, say attorneys at Michelman & Robinson.

  • Navigating The Use Of AI Tools In Workplace Investigations

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    Artificial intelligence tools can be used in workplace investigations to analyze evidence and conduct interviews, among other things, but employers should be aware of the legal and practical risks, including data privacy concerns and the potential for violating antidiscrimination laws, say attorneys at Fisher Phillips.

  • How Justices Rule On Straight Bias May Shift Worker Suits

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    Following oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, in which a heterosexual woman sued her employer for sexual orientation discrimination, the forthcoming decision may create a perfect storm for employers amid recent attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • Employer Tips To Navigate Cultural Flashpoints Investigations

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    As companies are increasingly flooded with complaints of employees violating policies related to polarizing social, cultural or political issues, employers should beware the distinct concerns and increased risk in flashpoints investigations compared to routine workplace probes, say attorneys at Seyfarth.

  • A Path Forward For Employers, Regardless Of DEI Stance

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    Whether a company views the Trump administration's executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs as a win or a loss, the change rearranges the employment hazards companies face, but not the non-DEI and nondiscriminatory economic incentive to seek the best workers, says Daniel S. Levy at Advanced Analytical Consulting Group.

  • Bias Suit Shows WNBA Growing Pains On Court And In Court

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    A newly filed disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sparks is the latest in a series of employment discrimination disputes filed by WNBA professionals, highlighting teams' obligation to meet elevated workplace expectations and the league's role in facilitating an inclusive work environment, say attorneys at Michelman & Robinson.

  • 2 Areas Of Labor Law That May Change Under Trump

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    Based on President Donald Trump's recent moves, employers should expect to see significant changes in the direction of law coming out of the National Labor Relations Board, particularly in two areas where the Trump administration will seek to roll back the Biden NLRB's changes, says Daniel Johns at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Justices' Revival Ruling In Bias Suit Exceeds Procedural Issue

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Waetzig v. Halliburton allowed the plaintiff in an age discrimination lawsuit to move to reopen his case after arbitration, but the seemingly straightforward decision on a procedural issue raises complex questions for employment law practitioners, says Christopher Sakauye at Dykema.

  • Water Cooler Talk: 'Late Night' Shows DEI Is More Than Optics

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    Amid the shifting legal landscape for corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Troutman's Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter chat with their firm's DEI committee chair, Nicole Edmonds, about how the 2019 film "Late Night" reflects the challenges and rewards of fostering meaningful inclusion.

  • 9 Considerations For Orgs Using AI Meeting Assistants

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    When deciding to use artificial intelligence meeting assistants, organizations must create and implement a written corporate policy that establishes the do's and don'ts for these assistants, taking into account individualized business operations, industry standards and legal and regulatory requirements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • What's At Stake In High Court Transgender Care Suit

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    The outcome of U.S. v. Skrmetti will have critical implications for the rights of transgender youth and their access to gender-affirming care, and will likely affect other areas of law and policy involving transgender individuals, including education, employment, healthcare and civil rights, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Determining What 'I Don't Feel Safe' Means In The Workplace

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    When an employee tells an employer "I don't feel safe," the phrase can have different meanings, so employment lawyers must adequately investigate to identify which meaning applies — and a cursory review and dismissal of the situation may not be a sufficient defense in case of future legal proceedings, says Karen Elliott at FordHarrison.

  • How EEOC Enforcement Priorities May Change Under Trump

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    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has already been rocked by the Trump administration's dramatic changes in personnel and policy, which calls into question how the agency may shift its direction from the priorities set forth in its five-year strategic enforcement plan in 2023, say attorneys at Seyfarth.