Mark O’Brien, who cofounded Pro Bono Net 25 years ago alongside Michael Hertz, is stepping down from his role as executive director on September 1. O’Brien has been leading the organization since 2005, and he is departing to begin a long-planned retirement. Although he will step down from his executive position, he will continue to…
Article The Bangladeshi government has announced the restoration of 4G mobile internet services following an 11-day blackout. This decision was conveyed by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, who confirmed the development via a public statement on Sunday. However, social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube will…
In a recent Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit involving Tommy Bahama, a Pennsylvania federal judge has admonished attorneys for failing to adhere to scheduling orders. The judge emphasized that he would not “chase” lawyers who disregard deadlines, cautioning that non-compliance could result in significant repercussions. This strong stance underscores the judiciary’s expectation for legal…
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the New York State Board of Law Examiners enjoys immunity from a lawsuit seeking accommodations for bar exam candidates under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The litigation, spearheaded by plaintiff’s counsel Mary Vargas of Stein & Vargas, highlights concerns about systemic discrimination against individuals with…
The Second Circuit Court has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former Ropes & Gray LLP attorney who claimed disability discrimination after being terminated for twice failing the New York bar exam. The court ruled that the state agency responsible for administering the exam is protected by sovereign immunity and cannot be…
The New York State Board of Law Examiners is immune from lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to a ruling by a Second Circuit panel on Friday. The decision confirms a prior lower court decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Harvard Law graduate, identified as T.W. in court documents, who…
Amazon is currently embroiled in a class action lawsuit filed in a Texas court, representing a nationwide class of warehouse workers. The plaintiffs claim that the company’s human resources smartphone app, A to Z, wrongly denied their requests for disability accommodations. The lawsuit outlines how Amazon warehouse employees are required to use the A to…
In the realm of high-stakes litigation, resilience often defines success. For Sigrid McCawley, the managing partner of Boies Schiller Flexner, this resilience was tested to its limits following a devastating ski accident earlier this year. During a family ski trip to Vail, McCawley suffered a severe injury when her ski boot dislodged, leading to a…
Despite the ever-evolving landscape of workplace accommodations, confusion and lack of clarity continue to plague breastfeeding standards for bar exam takers. A recent investigation carried out by three law school students, corroborated by data from the ACLU and MothersEsquire, reveals the fragmented nature of state policies concerning lactation accommodations during bar examinations. While the 1990…
A newly slated case for review by the US Supreme Court could redefine employers’ benefits obligations to former employees with disabilities, depending on the outcome of the lawsuit filed by a former Florida firefighter. The case involves Karyn Stanley, who retired early from her firefighting job in Sanford, Florida, due to Parkinson’s disease. She is…
The Supreme Court has added seven new cases to its docket for the upcoming 2024-25 term, expanding its range of issues to include subjects such as the interpretation of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, compensation for civilians called to active-duty military service, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. One of the most closely watched cases…
As a result of book publishers successfully suing the Internet Archive (IA) last year, the free online library that strives to keep growing online access to books recently shrank by about 500,000 titles. IA reported in a blog post this month that publishers abruptly forcing these takedowns triggered a “devastating loss” for readers who depend…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Russian authorities of violating human rights obligations by suppressing the Ukrainian language and injecting propaganda into educational curricula in occupied Ukrainian territories. In a recent report, HRW detailed how Russian forces, since their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, have been systematically erasing the Ukrainian curriculum in the…
Article: US justice department finds Alaska discriminated against disabled voters The US Department of Justice (DOJ) found Tuesday that the state of Alaska violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide accessible voting facilities in the 2020 and 2022 elections. Voters across Alaska reported that the accessible voting machines…
A Workday Inc. attorney’s claims of discrimination and harassment have been curtailed by the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The court dismissed all 12 claims in the original complaint, citing a lack of sufficient connection to California for the claims asserted under the state’s laws. The attorney had alleged that the…
In an alarming incident from Katy, Texas, Jevon Washington, a student with serious intellectual disabilities, was subjected to what his advocates argue was excessive force by a school police officer. The situation unfolded eight years ago when Washington was involved in an altercation with a peer who bullied him. Efforts to control Washington’s subsequent anger…
After a year’s wait, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published final regulations and interpretive guidance for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). These regulations expand coverage beyond what employers might expect. Employers should become familiar with these requirements and take certain risk-reducing actions before the regulations take effect on June 18. The regulations provide…
Australia’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued a report recommending the establishment of a federal human rights act. Initiated in March 2023, the inquiry involved 104 civil society organizations representing various groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+, women, children, people with disabilities, and migrant and refugee communities. Currently, Australia lacks…
An employment discrimination lawsuit against Allstate Insurance Co. brought by a former in-house litigator has concluded with a settlement, according to recent reports. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that Allstate failed to accommodate the lawyer’s disability by excusing him from jury trials. The litigant argued that his condition made it difficult for him to effectively…
Google needs to pump the brakes when it comes to tracking sensitive information shared with DMV sites, a new lawsuit suggests. Filing a proposed class-action suit in California, Katherine Wilson has accused Google of using Google Analytics and DoubleClick trackers on the California DMV site to unlawfully obtain information about her personal disability without her…
Alicia M. Chiu has joined Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Orlando office as a labor and employment shareholder, the firm said Tuesday. Chiu will advise clients across a broad range of industries, with particular attention to the health care and financial services sectors, according to the announcement. She has a strong background in advising clients on reductions…
In an unfolding case that is attracting the attention of the global legal community, a former employee of renowned law firm Jenner & Block has filed a lawsuit, alleging unfair dismissal for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The ex-practice group assistant asserts that the firm breached federal law when it brought her employment to…
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that conditions in Nebraska are in violation of the civil rights of residents with serious mental illnesses, due to these individuals being unnecessarily segregated into institutional settings. This case has its origins in grievances voiced by Nebraskans who felt the state was improperly segregating mental health patients…
A cybersecurity lawyer working for MITRE Corp. who brought a case against Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. for disability benefits has managed to obtain a court directive that stops the insurer from reducing his disability payments due to his Social Security benefits. The counsel’s Social Security payments are based on his earnings, not his disability,…
In a recent noteworthy move, ABA President Mary Smith has brought forward a pressing issue that largely goes under-addressed in legal circles – the complexities faced by survivors of sexual assault during their bar admission process. Her call to the ABA commission to investigate the frequency and impact of queries in bar admissions which mandate…