Employment

May 22, 2025
Clinic Tells NC Justices Med Mal Reforms Apply To Practices

An orthopedic clinic is urging North Carolina's highest court to free it from a family's negligent-retention claim over an allegedly faulty surgery by a doctor who later lost his license, asserting that the lower court incorrectly found that state medical malpractice statutes and subsequent reforms don't apply to medical practices.
May 22, 2025
Levi Strauss Calls For Sanctions Against Boies Schiller

Levi Strauss is seeking more than $15,000 from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and training for the firm's litigation attorneys in the proceeding over a former executive's sex discrimination claims, telling a California federal judge that Boies Schiller flouted deadlines and refused to meet with opposing counsel.
May 22, 2025
Alaska Airlines Grilled In Wash. COVID Workers' Comp Case

Members of Washington's highest court cast doubt Thursday about Alaska Airlines' stance in a flight attendant's COVID-19 workers' compensation case, with several justices seemingly frustrated by the employer's attempt to draw a line between covered occupational disease and sickness that develops during job-related travel.
May 22, 2025
Calif. Judge Likely To Extend Block On Gov't Reorg, Job Cuts

A California federal judge indicated Thursday she'll likely convert her temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump's executive order to reduce the federal workforce, saying the law "seems clear" that presidents cannot issue large-scale agency reductions without congressional approval and "to hold otherwise" would contradict nine previous presidents and 21 congresses.
May 22, 2025
Medical Pot Patient's Bias Suit Against Penske Can Proceed

A Pennsylvania federal judge has refused to dismiss a discrimination case brought by a medical marijuana patient alleging a unit of Penske Corp. unlawfully rescinded his job offer.
May 22, 2025
As Trump Wields FCA, Whistleblowers May See 'Dollar Signs'

The Trump administration's plan to use the False Claims Act to target diversity programs and alleged civil rights fraud steers a well-worn statute into uncharted territory, and could spur significant whistleblower activity amid high-profile battles with Harvard University, BigLaw firms and other institutions, experts told Law360.
May 22, 2025
Colo. Health System Can't Dodge Nurses' Wage Suit

A suit by a group of nurses accusing a Colorado health system of miscalculating their overtime will stay fully in place, a federal judge ruled, agreeing with a magistrate judge's recommendation not to dismiss the Colorado Minimum Wage Act claim.
May 22, 2025
Tire Co., EEOC Resolve Guatemalan Harassment Suit

A Massachusetts scrap tire facility agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming the company's owner used derogatory language toward Guatemalan workers and threatened them with deportation, according to a Thursday filing in federal court.
May 22, 2025
NCAA Pushes Back On U. Of Montana Athlete's Eligibility Bid

College sports' "five-year rule" capping how long an athlete can play their sport at four years doesn't violate antitrust law or unfairly deny a University of Montana basketball player a chance to both play and earn name, image and likeness compensation, the NCAA argued in opposing that player's bid for an injunction allowing him to play next season.
May 22, 2025
Mich. Judge Says Red Cross Can Depose Ex-Nurse's Husband

A Michigan federal judge on Thursday clarified that he intended to allow the American Red Cross to depose the husband of a nurse who alleges she was wrongfully denied a religious exemption from the organization's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, putting to rest a bout between the parties about the order's interpretation.
May 22, 2025
Justices Allow Trump To Fire NLRB, MSPB Members, For Now

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled two fired members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board cannot return to work while they challenge President Donald Trump's authority to fire them without cause, handing the president a win in his crusade against a 90-year-old precedent limiting his power to fire employees at independent agencies.
May 22, 2025
NJ Golf Clubs Failed To Pay Caddies Wages, OT, Suits Claim

A Bronx man has filed proposed class actions in New Jersey state court against two Garden State country clubs accusing them of failing to pay caddies minimum wage or overtime.
May 22, 2025
Ex-Troutman Atty Drops Retaliation Suit Against Major Lindsey

An associate attorney who sued Major Lindsey & Africa LLC alleging the legal recruiter refused to work with her due to her underlying race discrimination suit against Troutman Pepper permanently dropped her suit Thursday.
May 22, 2025
Fire Battalion Chief Says He Was Not An OT-Exempt Manager

A Georgia county should not be able to end a fire battalion chief's suit alleging unpaid overtime, the firefighter told a federal court, arguing that the work he performed was not managerial in nature.
May 22, 2025
Katz Banks Hires Former Gov't Atty For Worker Advocacy

A former attorney at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is now senior counsel at Katz Banks Kumin LLP in Washington, D.C., the firm announced, saying she will use her experience to advocate for federal workers navigating changes brought on by the Trump administration.
May 22, 2025
2nd Circ. Won't Revive Court Interpreters' Pay Bias Suit

The Second Circuit on Thursday declined to reinstate a lawsuit from New York court interpreters alleging they are paid less than their federal counterparts because they are foreign born, saying the workers failed to show the state's court system acted with discriminatory intent.
May 22, 2025
Atlanta Strip Clubs Push To DQ Attys For Dancer And Manager

Two Atlanta strip clubs facing allegations that they stiffed workers on their pay called for the employees' counsel to be disqualified on Wednesday, arguing that the attorneys can't simultaneously represent both a dancer and a supervisor who effectively operated as an employer and agent of the clubs.
May 22, 2025
Mass. Justices Say Worker's Raise Doesn't Doom Bias Claim

Massachusetts' top court on Thursday found that an employer may still face a discrimination claim for an alleged retaliatory action for union activity, even if the move left the worker with a pay bump.
May 22, 2025
Mass. Judge Halts Trump's Bid To Slash Education Dept. Jobs

A Massachusetts federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's attempt to lay off hundreds of U.S. Department of Education employees, finding that the administration's claims of wanting more efficiency are a mask for their actual goal of dismantling the department.
May 21, 2025
Littler, Tech Exec Settle Suit Over Firm's 'Unlawful' Advice

Littler Mendelson PC has settled a tech executive's lawsuit claiming she was suspended and, eventually, fired after the company followed the "unlawful" advice of Littler attorneys, according to a dismissal order issued Tuesday in New York federal court.
May 21, 2025
Calif. Justices Weigh Strict Arbitration Fee Law's Validity

Counsel for a food supply company urged the California Supreme Court on Wednesday to find the Federal Arbitration Act preempts a state statute automatically waiving arbitration rights for a party that doesn't timely pay arbitration fees, saying the law is so draconian that even an earthquake wouldn't excuse late payment.
May 21, 2025
Colo. Judge Rules Atty Hid Assets To Evade Azar Judgment

A Colorado state judge has found that a former class action department head at Franklin D. Azar & Associates PC fraudulently transferred assets to her husband and parents to evade the firm's collection of a $1.2 million judgment for her efforts to market the department to other law firms.
May 21, 2025
Judge Mulls National Scope Of Bid To Restore COVID Grants

A Washington, D.C., federal judge Wednesday mulled whether it would be appropriate to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the termination of $11 billion public health grants set aside under COVID-era laws in a lawsuit brought by four local governments and a public sector union.
May 21, 2025
DraftKings Denied 3rd Circ. Review In MLB Players' IP Case

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday denied a request from DraftKings Inc. to appeal to the Third Circuit the lower court's refusal to dismiss an intellectual property lawsuit that accuses the company of using players' images without permission, saying the issues raised are not appropriate for immediate appeal.
May 21, 2025
Atty's Silence Dooms FMLA Claims Against Va. City

A Virginia city is off the hook in an attorney's lawsuit claiming he was fired after requesting leave to care for his mother, a federal court ruled Wednesday, finding the attorney's failure to respond to the city's filings requires his claims be dismissed.

Expert Analysis

Series

Exercising On My Peloton Bike Makes Me A Better Lawyer

While I originally came to the Peloton bike for exercise, one cycling instructor’s teachings have come to serve as a road map for practicing law thoughtfully and mindfully, which has opened opportunities for growth and change in my career, says Andrea Kirshenbaum at Littler.
Lessons From United's Axed Win In Firing Over Online Pics

In Wawrzenski v. United Airlines, a California state appeals court revived a flight attendant’s suit over her termination for linking photos of herself in uniform to her OnlyFans account, providing a cautionary tale for employers navigating the complexities of workplace policy enforcement in the digital age, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.
3 Factors Affecting Retail M&A Deals In 2025

Retailers considering mergers and acquisitions this year face an evolving antitrust environment, including a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump, revised merger guidelines and a precedent set last year by a canceled $8.5 billion handbag merger, say attorneys at DLA Piper.
How Trump Admin May Approach AI In The Workplace

Key indicators suggest that the incoming Trump administration will adopt a deregulatory approach to artificial intelligence, allowing states to fill the void, so it is critical that employers pay close attention to developing legal authority concerning AI tools, say attorneys at Littler.
Top 10 Legal Issues This Year For Transportation Industry GCs

General counsel must carefully consider numerous legal and policy challenges facing the automotive and transportation industry in the year to come, especially while navigating new technologies, regulations and global markets, says Francesco Liberatore at Squire Patton.
Exploring Venue Strategy For Trump-Era Regulatory Litigation

Litigation will likely play a prominent role in shaping policy outcomes during the second Trump administration, and stakeholders have several tools at their disposal to steer regulatory litigation toward more favorable venues, say attorneys at Covington.
What 2024's Noncompete Turmoil Means For Banks In 2025

A look back at the most significant legal challenges to the enforceability of various restrictive covenants like noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements in 2024 can help financial institutions address the use of these critical tools this year, say attorneys at Maynard Nexsen.
Lessons Learned From 2024's Top FMLA Decisions

Last year's major litigation related to the Family and Medical Leave Act underscores why it is critical for employers to understand the basics of when leave and accommodations are required, say attorneys at Dechert.
New Year, New Risks: 8 Top Cyber Issues For Finance In 2025

As financial institutions forge ahead in 2025, they must strike a delicate balance between embracing technological innovation and guarding against its darker threats, which this year could include everything from supply chain vulnerabilities to deepfakes, say attorneys at Baker Donelson.
Lessons Learned From 2024's Top ADA Decisions

Last year's major litigation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act highlights that when dealing with accommodation requests, employers must communicate clearly, appreciate context and remain flexible in addressing needs, say attorneys at Dechert.
Series

Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.
Lessons From The SEC's 2024 Crackdown On AI Washing

AI washing was the subject of increased scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024 following a surge in the commercial adoption of generative artificial intelligence technologies in 2023, highlighting the importance of transparency, accuracy and accountability when communicating about AI, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.
Identifying Deepfakes During Evidence Collection, Discovery

Excerpt from Practical Guidance

Attorneys must familiarize themselves with the tools used to create and detect deepfakes — media manipulated by artificial intelligence to convincingly mimic real people and events — as well as best practices for keeping this fabricated evidence out of court, says Bijan Ghom at Saxton & Stump.
An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.
5 Proactive Immigration Best Practices For Employers In 2025

Businesses that depend on foreign talent should take specific steps in anticipation of changes to federal immigration policies that could affect the H-1B visa and other programs, and likely require changes in organizational operations and compliance strategy, says Dustin O'Quinn at Ballard Spahr.