Illinois has been notably busy this summer, with the state’s Legislature and Governor J.B. Pritzker enacting a flurry of new employment laws between June and August, as reported by JD Supra. This rapid sequence of legal changes has major implications for employers within the state, demanding immediate attention. The sweeping modifications range from sexual harassment…
On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letita James made a request to a New York court to declare that former US President Donald Trump had inflated the value of various assets costing between $812 million and $2.2 million each year since 2011. The petition is part of James’ larger financial fraud civil case against Trump,…
Since Title IX was introduced in 1971 as a proposed amendment to the Education Amendments of 1971 and subsequently codified at 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681–1688.8, it has served as a fundamental tool to battle against sexual harassment in educational contexts. The principal purpose of Title IX, as set out in U.S.C. § 1681, underscores the…
A recent amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduces new regulatory standards for U.S. documented commercial vessels. Effective from 2023, owners, masters, and managing operators are now obligated to report incidents of harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual assault immediately. The amendments were published by McGlinchey Stafford and hint towards a substantial shift in…
A recent ruling by an employment tribunal judge has led to the dismissal of race discrimination and harassment allegations made by Premila Patel, a former employee at CMS, against the law firm and several previous colleagues. Despite this, the firm continues to grapple with an ensuing claim of victimisation, reported by Law.com. Patel had levelled…
California is renowned for its progressive stance concerning employee rights, with the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) traditionally considered one of the most employee-friendly civil rights laws in the country. The law’s latest amendment signifies further progression, promising to reshape the professional landscape, as it extends FEHA liability to involve “institutional agents” of…
Numerous restaurants based in Nevada are facing allegations of employment discrimination and harassment, according to a recently filed federal complaint. The suit, initially reported by Law.com Radar, highlights a growing concern over workplace equity and safety within the hospitality industry. Details about the identities of the restaurants involved, the nature of the alleged discriminatory practices,…
The game of constant watch-and-wait continues as updated Title IX regulations seem unlikely to be finalized by October 2023. Those in the Title IX field, already well attuned to the technicalities of federal regulation, might find this delay vexing. While the intricacies of these laws can often induce boredom, their implications hold significant weight for…
In an increasingly uncertain environment, it seems that the productivity of law firms is facing a downturn. However, the market’s distinctive attributes appear to be preventing widespread layoffs, typically seen as the routine response to such occurrences. Read more about this trend here. Simultaneously, the legal industry is being rattled by a series of lawsuits,…
In a significant recent decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed a lower court’s ruling and upheld a Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct that prohibits harassment and discrimination in the practice of law. The case, titled Greenberg v. Lehocky, saw plaintiff Zachary Greenberg bring a pre-enforcement challenge to Pennsylvania’s new…
In the latest developments in UK HR law, our August roundup covers a diverse range of cases notably: the discriminatory harassment of a gender critical employee, a case of dismissal without the presence of the dismissing officer, and an unusual tribunal finding (later reversed by the EAT) positing that an individual could hold the concurrent…
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) recently announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa won the presidential election. However, international election watchdogs and the international community, including Mnangagwa’s main opponent, Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change Party (CCC), have raised doubts about the legitimacy of the election. The Southern African Development Community’s Electoral Observation Mission…
In recent developments, a federal appeals court upheld a Pennsylvania professional conduct rule that prohibits attorneys from intentionally engaging in harassment or discrimination. An attempt to challenge this rule was dismissed on the grounds that the challenging attorney lacked standing, as explained by Judge Anthony Scirica in an opinion for a three-judge panel of the…
The prevalence of sexual harassment in the legal industry and its far-reaching aftermath is increasingly finding its place in contemporary discussions. The latest analysis from Law.com’s legal education reporter, Christine Charnosky, underpins this, as she takes a deep dive into the consequences and ripple effects that follow episodes of sexual harassment. This report comes at…
In a startling revelation, former Federal Trade Commission member Joshua Wright faces multiple sexual harassment accusations. Wright, who established himself as an antitrust specialist and hailed as a doyen in the field, finds himself in the midst of a storm of criticisms and legal troubles. Notably, Bloomberg News received accounts from eight women claiming that…
In a significant judicial precedent, the California Supreme Court has ruled that agents of employers can be directly subjected to litigation under FEHA (Fair Employment and Housing Act) claims, as shared in a judicial summary on JD Supra. This ruling came about in the case of Raines v. U.S. Healthworks Medical Group, in which the…
Law professionals continue observing the evolving landscape of Title IX interpretations and implementations. To elucidate this, ATIXA’s Annual Conference recently hosted an insightful keynote by Dr. Laura McGuire, Ed.D., an expert in Title IX application. Dr. Laura McGuire has a deep-rooted fascination in Title IX, derived from its simplicity juxtaposed against its wide-reaching and ever-shifting…
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of white-collar law, the legal saga surrounding former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to take dramatic twists and turns. The former leader is facing an escalating number of criminal indictments, with the tally now standing at four. The latest chapter in this saga raises a contentious issue that is sparking…
Littler Mendelson, an esteemed American law firm specializing in labor and employment law, has recently announced a new addition to their team. Mattheus Stephens has joined the firm as a shareholder in their San Diego, California office, as reported on Monday. Previously associated with Schor Vogelzang & Chung, Stephens brings a wealth of experience with…
US journalist, Evan Gershkovich, recently filed an appeal against the most recent extension of his pre-trial detention in Russia on charges of espionage, as reported by Russian state media. This marks Gershkovich’s third appeal, following his appeal against his second extension of pre-trial detention and his appeal against his initial arrest back in April. According…
In recent legal news, a troubling trend highlights how some lower court judges are getting in significant trouble for their online behavior. A particular case revolves around a judge under intense scrutiny due to inappropriate Facebook comments. This has escalated into a harsh lesson about professional decorum and judicial expectations, regardless of courtroom hierarchy. The…
Famed actor Alec Baldwin has repeatedly found himself in the midst of legal battles, and this time, he’s back in court on defamation charges. A defamation suit, seeking $25 million in damages, has been revived for a family that has unsuccessfully attempted to sue Baldwin multiple times before. Naturally, with such a high sum on…
Joshua Wright, a former commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a law professor, is suing two of his previous students for defamation, seeking $108 million over their accusations of sexual harassment from when they were first-year students in Wright’s class. These students, now senior Biglaw attorneys, claim that Wright used his leverage over…
In a ruling that may catalyze debate amongst legal professionals, a federal court has upheld that Maine state court Judge Charles F. Budd Jr., is immune from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him. The suit was brought forth by Samantha Pike, a counselor privately employed by a treatment center contracted with the Maine Treatment…
In a notable twist, the Fourth Circuit has recognized the ‘Equal Opportunity Harasser’ defense, according to an update from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. This development comes as legal professionals observe an increasing number of employees considering litigation against their employers for perceived ‘hostile work environments’. Usually, these complaints arise from employees who believe…