Washington Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits Law Blog

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Current events in labor, employment and employee benefits law in Seattle, Washington and across the United States.

Author: Donald W. Heyrich is a solo practitioner in Seattle.

Blawg Related Categories: Benefits/ERISA • Labor & Employment • States • Washington • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Washington Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits Law Blog

Ledbetter Speaks at the Democratic National Convention
Legal decisions issued by the federal courts, and particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, frequently have a political dimension. With each election, one or both major political parties frequently invoke such cases for political purposes. In…
Former Pierce County Prosecutor Wins Jury Award
A former prosecutor for Pierce County, Washington was awarded over $3 million last week, after a jury found that she had been wrongfully terminated in January 2004. The prosecutor, Barbara Corey, was a 20-year veteran…
Retaliation is not OK under FMLA
In a recent Six Circuit case, the employer-appellant???s contention that the Family Medical Leave Act does not prohibit retaliation against an employee who takes FMLA leave was rejected by the court. Plaintiff-Appellee Martha Bryant prevailed…
Here is a report on recent jury verdicts in employment lawsuits
VERDICTS IN FAVOR OF EMPLOYEES A jury in Ohio awarded a whopping $47 million to an employee in an age discrimination case. The employee alleged that he was fired after he refused to fire three…
Compensatory Damages For Pain and Suffering Not Available Under ADEA
In a recent case, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed that damages for emotional distress are not available to an employee suing under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. In this particular case, the…
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Addresses Sexual Harassment Allegations
Washington???s public lands commissioner, Doug Sutherland, is in political hot water after documents recently surfaced showing that he inappropriately touched a new female employee in his own department. Public records show that in January 2005,…
COURT: Pregnancy Discrimination Act Protects Employee Who Had Abortion
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in the first case of its kind has ruled that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects an employee who has had an abortion. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act states that it…
Department of Labor Sues Washington Prisons for Overtime Violations
The Washington State Department of Corrections has been sued by the U.S. Department of Labor for widespread violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to published reports, the damages in the case will likely…
Longview Fibre Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Claim for $175k
Longview Fibre has agreed to settle a charge of disability discrimination for $175,000 according the EEOC. An article about the case appears here. According to published reports, the company rescinded a job offer made to…
New Outdoor Heat Rules for Washington Workers
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries has adopted new rules for employees who work outdoors. The rules take effect on July 5 and are designed to address health hazards created by working outdoors in…