Discrimination

  • July 14, 2025

    9th Circ. Keeps Alive Part Of Prof's DEI Free Speech Fight

    A California professor can continue to sue his community college district over its enforcement of certain state regulations proscribing diversity and inclusion practices because they press on his free speech rights, the Ninth Circuit said, but stopped short of reviving the entire lawsuit.

  • July 14, 2025

    Ga. County Wants 11th Circ. To Nix Trans Deputy's Health Win

    A Georgia county urged the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a transgender sheriff's deputy's trial court win on claims that denying coverage for a vaginoplasty constituted discrimination in violation of Title VII, arguing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision upholding a Tennessee state ban on gender-affirming care for minors supported its appeal.

  • July 14, 2025

    11th Circuit Backs DOJ In Disability Bias, FMLA Suit Dismissal

    A former supervisor of education at a Florida federal prison was late in challenging the U.S. Department of Justice's denial of her accommodation request for anxiety and adjustment disorder, the Eleventh Circuit ruled on Monday, upholding a federal court's decision dismissing her suit.

  • July 14, 2025

    Fla. Says High Court Rulings Back Trans Care Medicaid Ban

    Florida told the Eleventh Circuit that recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings affirm the legality of a state law banning Medicaid payments for gender-affirming medical care, arguing its restrictions mirror a similar Tennessee law upheld by the justices because it centers on gender dysphoria diagnoses, not one's sex.

  • July 14, 2025

    5th Circ. Revives Suit Accusing UT Of Race-Based Admissions

    A Fifth Circuit panel partially revived a lawsuit accusing the University of Texas at Austin of continuing to consider race in admissions decisions despite the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision ending affirmative action programs.

  • July 14, 2025

    Ex-DOJ Employment Litigation Deputy Joins Kalijarvi Chuzi

    The former deputy chief of the employment litigation section of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has joined the D.C. employment boutique Kalijarvi Chuzi Newman & Fitch PC, the firm said Monday.

  • July 14, 2025

    End Of NJ Municipal Court Official's Harassment Suit Upheld

    A former New Jersey municipal court administrator cannot sue the state Administrative Office of the Courts in a sexual harassment case because she was never an employee of the office, the state Appellate Division said Monday in a published opinion.

  • July 14, 2025

    Calif. Panel Keeps Charter PAGA Case Out Of Arbitration

    Charter Communications can't arbitrate an employee's Private Attorneys General Act suit because parts of the arbitration agreement are "unconscionable," a California appeals panel ruled, relying on the state Supreme Court's decisions addressing the same pact.

  • July 14, 2025

    Ex-City Workers' Disability Bias Suit Should Fail, Judge Says

    An Atlanta suburb shouldn't have to face a suit alleging it fired two employees because of their stress and anxiety, a Georgia federal magistrate judge recommended, saying neither worker could overcome explanations that poor performance cost her the job.

  • July 14, 2025

    Calif. Panel Upends Arbitration Pact In Worker's Firing Suit

    A Charter Communications worker's wrongful termination suit should not have been sent to arbitration, a California appeals court said, after finding the company's alternative dispute resolution pact held one-sided provisions and made it difficult for employees to opt out.

  • July 11, 2025

    3rd Circ. Nixes Rehire Of Welch's Worker In Harassment Fight

    The Third Circuit on Friday vacated an order instructing Welch's to rehire a worker who was accused of using gender-based slurs toward a co-worker, saying an arbitrator needed to clarify whether she'd determined that sexual harassment occurred.

  • July 11, 2025

    Former NC Rep. Says State Law Covers Discrimination Suit

    A former North Carolina lawmaker is fighting back against the state body of independent administrative law judges' effort to defeat his discrimination and retaliation case, saying state statute should cover his claims of being unfairly fired as its general counsel.

  • July 11, 2025

    Employment Lawyers' Weekly DEI Cheat Sheet

    A trio of top congressional Democrats asked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's acting head to provide details about her efforts to obtain information from major law firms about their diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Meanwhile, IBM Corp. resolved a suit by a white male former consultant who alleged he was pushed out due to workforce diversity quotas. Here, Law360 looks at notable DEI-related legal developments from the past week.

  • July 11, 2025

    Fired Red Cross Vax Refuser Seeks $6M As Jury Trial Wraps

    An attorney for a nurse fired from the American Red Cross after being denied religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate asked a Detroit federal jury Friday for more than $6 million in damages for what he said was the organization's disregard of the woman's beliefs.

  • July 11, 2025

    Clorox And Ex-HR Manager Agree To End Race Bias Suit

    Clorox and one of its former human resources managers have agreed to settle the ex-worker's suit alleging she was forced out of her job for refusing to drop racial bias concerns related to the company's hiring practices, according to a joint stipulation filed in federal court.

  • July 11, 2025

    NJ Atty's Bias Suit Against McCarter & English Gets Trimmed

    A New Jersey state judge dismissed the bulk of a former McCarter & English LLP attorney's anti-veteran discrimination and whistleblowing suit against the firm, but allowed one claim to proceed in an order Friday.

  • July 11, 2025

    Ex-Judge Pushes Back Against NJ's Stance On Her Conduct

    A former workers' compensation judge has pushed back in her suit over her removal after the state of New Jersey said her conduct around discovery raises safety concerns of individuals she has targeted, telling a state court it's New Jersey that has engaged in harassing conduct.

  • July 11, 2025

    Calif. Forecast: Court Weighs Google's $50M Racial Bias Deal

    In the coming week, attorneys should watch for the potential initial sign-off on a $50 million deal between Google and Black workers who alleged the technology giant discriminated against them based on race. Here's a look at that case and other labor and employment matters on deck in California.

  • July 11, 2025

    11th Circ. Won't Reinstate Worker's ERISA Arbitration Award

    A divided Eleventh Circuit panel refused to restore a former water treatment company director's arbitration award of about $129,000 on claims that he should've been offered severance when demoted to a consultant, saying an arbitrator erroneously decided a federal benefits law claim the worker never raised.

  • July 11, 2025

    11th Circ. Revives Black Worker's Promotion Bias Suit

    The Eleventh Circuit revived a Black worker's suit alleging a Georgia county wouldn't promote her to a more senior tax appraisal position out of racial discrimination, ruling that a jury needs to determine whether she was held to higher standards of qualifications than her non-Black peers.

  • July 10, 2025

    Stanford Accused Of Fostering Antisemitism In Bias Suit

    A former Stanford University research fellow from Israel sued the university and a lab director in California federal court on Thursday, alleging that they fostered antisemitism on campus, retaliated against him for reporting discrimination and ultimately forced him to resign.

  • July 10, 2025

    Vax Refuser Tells Jury Red Cross Mandate Was 'Unsettling'

    A former nurse for the American Red Cross said the organization's requirement that employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine was "unsettling" to her and led to physical manifestations of stress, as she testified before a federal jury on Thursday that she believed receiving the injection went against her religious beliefs.

  • July 10, 2025

    Black Worker Claims Bias At Nuclear Safety Organization

    A nuclear power safety organization repeatedly promoted white men rather than a more qualified Black woman, the worker told a Georgia federal court Thursday, claiming the group has endeavored for years to keep Black employees out of leadership positions.

  • July 10, 2025

    Samsung Accused Of Retaliating Against Pregnant NJ Worker

    A former senior product manager has filed a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit in New Jersey state court against Samsung Electronics America Inc. and the staffing agency cyberThink Inc., alleging she was unlawfully terminated shortly after disclosing her pregnancy and requesting modest workplace accommodations.

  • July 10, 2025

    House Dem Says FCC Must Follow Law On DEI Probes

    A House Democrat who helps oversee the Federal Communications Commission says agency chief Brendan Carr must avoid any hint of targeting companies' diversity initiatives for political reasons rather than legal rationale against discrimination.

Expert Analysis

  • Employer Tips As Deepfakes Reshape Workplace Harassment

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    As the workplace harassment landscape faces the rising threat of fabricated media that hyperrealistically depict employees in sexual or malicious contexts, employers can stay ahead of the curve by tracking new legal obligations, and proactively updating policies, training and response protocols, say attorneys at Littler.

  • 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.