Employees

Insurers rack up early wins in lawsuits over COVID-19 ‘business interruption’ coverage

Court decisions on "business interruption" coverage are so far favoring insurers as they fight claims for lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sep 2, 2020 1:11 PM CDT

A flood of age discrimination lawsuits is expected from COVID-19 and the economic downturn

The novel coronavirus pandemic has raised unprecedented legal questions for U.S. employers and employees who are older than 40 or who have a medical disability. Labor and employment attorneys say they are receiving a flood of complaints and questions about layoffs, firings and recalls to the workplace.

Sep 1, 2020 1:12 PM CDT

In opinion by Trump appointee, 5th Circuit upholds firing of DA employee over political differences

A Texas district attorney did not violate the First Amendment when he fired the coordinator of his crime victims unit because of political disagreements, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has ruled.

Aug 31, 2020 9:47 AM CDT

Employee urine samples taken by ‘direct observation method’ don’t invade privacy, state supreme court rules

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Wednesday that an employee can’t sue for invasion of privacy when an employer uses the “direct observation method” to collect a urine sample for drug testing.

Aug 27, 2020 10:02 AM CDT

Judge doesn’t have qualified immunity for alleged sex harassment, 3rd Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Pennsylvania judge does not have qualified immunity for allegedly coercing a probation officer into sexual relations and continuing to harass her when the relationship ended.

Aug 26, 2020 9:32 AM CDT

Law firm teams up with Canadian legal tech company on AI-powered case prediction tool

Labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips has partnered with Blue J Legal Inc. to bring the Toronto legal tech company’s AI-powered technology, which predicts court outcomes in the employment law arena, to the United States.

Aug 25, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Boston Marathon bomber wins death penalty appeal; what’s in the GOP coronavirus bill?

Appeals court overturns Boston Marathon bomber’s death sentence A federal appeals court has overturned the death sentence for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Boston ruled Friday that the trial judge did not adequately screen jurors for potential bias. The judge “fell…

Jul 31, 2020 4:40 PM CDT

How effective are liability waivers in the age of the novel coronavirus?

As businesses reopen, the practice of asking customers to sign COVID-19 liability waivers is increasing throughout the United States, but it is uncertain how much weight those waivers will carry in court. And if the businesses aren’t complying with safety guidelines concerning COVID-19, they may still be found liable.

Jul 2, 2020 9:33 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Gorsuch wrote his ‘most important opinion’ in SCOTUS ruling protecting LGBTQ workers

There are many important implications to the U.S. Supreme Court’s stunning decision June 15. “It certainly is the most important opinion” written by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch since coming on to the court three years ago, writes law dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

Jul 1, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

The new world of litigating workplace disputes with social media

Social media has undoubtedly changed the way we communicate, receive news and stay connected in our personal lives. But social media is a headache, once we consider legal and compliance best practices when such interactions in the workplace go awry.

Jun 17, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

BigLaw firm’s legal tech subsidiary has launched a steady stream of COVID-19 tools

Utah-based SixFifty set out to do what it does best: develop online tools to assist consumers of all types tackle complex legal challenges without breaking the bank. “That is where we thought we could make the biggest impact,” says CEO Kimball Dean Parker.

Jun 17, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

In Gorsuch opinion, SCOTUS rules gay and transgender workers are protected by Title VII

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the ban on sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender workers.

Jun 15, 2020 9:19 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge admonishes state AG for ignored voting order; court upholds law school’s $2.6M settlement

Judge admonishes Tennessee attorney general’s office for ignoring absentee voting order Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle chastised attorneys from the Tennessee attorney general’s office Thursday for not following the temporary injunction that she issued last week to allow state voters who were concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic to vote…

Jun 12, 2020 4:14 PM CDT

Nearly 300 federal suits stem from pandemic; 101 ‘business interruption’ cases filed; what’s next?

Nearly 300 federal lawsuits filed in the months of March and April stem from the COVID-19 pandemic, a number that is likely to continue to expand.

May 28, 2020 2:57 PM CDT

Coronavirus pandemic prompts wave of ‘business interruption’ lawsuits by restaurants

Restaurants may often invest in substantial insurance coverage for their businesses, including purchasing “business interruption” coverage in case something beyond their control forces a shutdown of their operations. In mid-March, such an event happened: the coronavirus pandemic.

May 26, 2020 9:09 AM CDT