In a recent legal filing, former President Donald Trump’s defense team categorically rejected the government’s request for a gag order, characterizing it as an attempt to suppress his First Amendment rights. This legal maneuver comes amidst allegations that Trump has been inciting online harassment against FBI agents involved in the Mar-a-Lago search, during which classified…
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…
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Thursday that Azerbaijan violated an article of the Human Rights Convention that enshrines freedom of speech by shutting down several news outlets between 2017 and 2018. The case centers on Azerbaijan’s complete blocking of the websites azadliq.org, anaxeber.az, az24saat.org, and xural.com during this period. National courts…
In a recent development, Rutgers University has brought its arguments against a subpoena in a New Jersey state court. The university claims that a Jewish law student’s demand to subpoena the law school’s vice dean for documents is intended to “harass” the institution, rather than gather necessary information. Notably, Rutgers asserts that the student has…
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has officially urged Delhi police to cease their ongoing investigation into three journalists associated with the Indian journalism platform, The Caravan. In a recent statement, CPJ emphasized the need for police to focus instead on investigating those who attacked these journalists during the 2020 Delhi riots. Journalists Shahid Tantray,…
The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Sunday upheld a Massachusetts public middle school’s prohibition against one of its students from wearing a shirt with a message critical of transgender ideology. The appeals court found the prohibition to be consistent with the free speech protections of the US Constitution’s First Amendment under…
A New York state judge has partially dismissed a petition brought by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo seeking dozens of unredacted transcripts of witness interviews. This move comes as part of the state attorney general’s sexual harassment investigation that culminated in Cuomo’s resignation in 2021. The petition aimed to gain access to documents central to the…
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has expanded its employment law practice with the addition of Charmaine Huntting as a partner at its San Diego office. Representing a diverse clientele that includes labor union members, employees, and private, public sector, and tribal employers, Huntting specializes in handling claims related to wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and…
In recent years, the emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace has gained considerable traction and achieved measurable outcomes. The thrust behind these initiatives, as elucidated by EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, lies in creating an equitable environment where barriers to equal employment opportunity are systematically dismantled. Reflecting on personal history and a…
In the waning hours of New York’s legislative session, a significant bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence applications failed to pass the state Assembly. This legislative measure, S.B. 9450, sought to make New York the first state to require AI developers to warn users of the technology’s potential to generate erroneous or inappropriate content. Passed…
In a troubling turn of events, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has arrested Stephen Kwikiriza, a prominent human rights defender and environmental activist, allegedly for his opposition to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). According to a press release from the Environment Governance Institute (EGI), where Kwikiriza works, he was apprehended under “alarming…
A legal proceeding involving former Deacons partner Stefano Mariani has seen a notable development. The sexual harassment case, previously brought against Mariani by Jennifer Baccanello, a foreign lawyer at Deacons, was recently discontinued by the claimant. District Court Judge Harold Leong also lifted the Anonymity Order that had been granted to Baccanello during the case….
Former FTC Commissioner and law professor Joshua Wright’s legal battle against two former students has taken another turn as a Virginia judge allowed his $108 million lawsuit to proceed. Wright’s case hinges on his claim of defamation by the students, who allege that he used his position of power to coerce them into long-term sexual…
In a significant development, a judge has lifted the anonymity of an ex-partner involved in Deacons’ ongoing sexual harassment saga. This decision comes as the former partner now faces defamation allegations. The case initially drew substantial attention when the allegations were first made public. However, recent legal maneuvers have redirected focus to the former partner’s…
American Airlines Group Inc. is facing a lawsuit from fifteen litigants from California, Connecticut, Florida, and Texas who allege that a former employee, Joseph Freeman, harassed them through a deliberate “terror campaign.” The plaintiffs claim that Freeman utilized social media, phone calls, and text messages to torment them, allegedly going as far as creating a…
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced significant amendments to the state’s professional conduct rules for attorneys, explicitly identifying acts of harassment or discrimination as professional misconduct. Previously, such behavior was addressed only if a court or administrative agency found that a lawyer had violated legal prohibitions against harassment or discrimination. The revised rules aim to…
Columbia University and Debevoise & Plimpton Columbia University has enlisted the assistance of renowned Wall Street law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to probe student misconduct linked to recent pro-Palestine protests on campus. The team from Debevoise, composed primarily of junior lawyers, has begun contacting students for interviews to investigate allegations stemming from these demonstrations, which…
The United States sanctioned five current and former Ugandan officials on Thursday for their involvement in corrupt practices and human rights violations, making the individuals ineligible for entry into the US. The sanctioned officials include Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kututu, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs…
Labor and employment law firm Cozen O’Connor has recently expanded its Boston office with the addition of Walter Foster as a shareholder in its national labor and employment department. With over 30 years of experience in employment law, business litigation, municipal law, and pension law, Foster brings a wealth of expertise to the firm. His…
The EEOC is the latest federal agency to face scrutiny over claims that its leadership is unconstitutionally protected from being fired at will by the president. This challenge is part of a broader legal and political battle that questions the independence of federal agencies designed to operate beyond immediate presidential control. At the heart of…
Justin Hakeem, a Syrian national who worked at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for more than a decade, can pursue a discrimination and hostile work environment complaint against U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a district judge has ruled. Hakeem alleges that Secretary Mayorkas “created a hostile and abusive work environment” and “failed to adequately…
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued an alert calling on Mexico’s government to safeguard Alberto Amaro Jordán, a Mexican journalist facing death threats arising from his work. Jordán, the founder and editor of La Prensa de Tlaxcala, has been enrolled in a government protection mechanism after facing numerous life-threatening attempts and threats. Amnesty…
A recent report by Amnesty International has revealed the use of intimidation, harassment and criminalization as tools against justice operators and human rights defenders in Guatemala. The report, published last Thursday, offered a disturbing look at the widespread use of multiple forms of gender-based violence and discrimination. This campaign has been particularly aggressive against women…
As the US presidential election draws near, political talks and viewpoints inevitably permeate workplaces. These discussions, combined with personal politics and an increasingly polarized landscape, can potentially cause workplace disruptions. Employers, in scenarios like this, must proceed with caution when deciding whether to respond to the political activities of their employees. This particularly requires having…
Human rights organization WOLA (the Washington Office on Latin America) and an array of 84 other advocacy groups have issued a statement of solidarity with El Salvadorian groups who are fighting against the unjust detention of citizens in the wake of the country’s major gang crackdowns since March 2022. This statement openly criticizes the significant…