The New York Legalweek technology conference last week was marred by numerous reports of sexual harassment and assault. Information about these incidents spread rapidly on social media platforms, prompting the event’s sponsor to issue a statement in response. Legalweek, a high-profile event in the legal industry’s calendar, was intended to be a forum for intellectual…
The Malaysian Federal Court recently declared a number of state Sharia laws in Kelantan as unconstitutional. After a petition from lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Natasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, the court ruled that certain sections of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 were not in line…
Over the past decade, popular singer Taylor Swift has relied on the services of law firm Venable for a range of issues, from handling a trademark application to warding off plane-trackers. Swift’s relationship with the 900-strong firm can be seen as a reflection of Venable’s client base, which includes high-profile individuals and corporations alike. Venable…
The far-reaching implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case are beginning to manifest in diverse scenarios. One such occurrence is the formal complaint that America First Legal recently filed against several judges in the Southern District of Illinois. The complaint accuses these judges of practicing ongoing judicial…
Thomas J. Henry PLLC, a notable personal injury firm in Texas, has found itself embroiled in a scandal following allegations by a former office manager who claims she was sexually assaulted by the firm’s CEO, leading to a federal lawsuit. The woman, whose identity remains confidential, has also subsequently accused the firm’s namesake, Thomas J….
SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, has been hit with fresh allegations of sexual harassment. This information comes from a recent report published by Bloomberg law, as seven former employees claim that the organization’s executives discriminated against women, made light of sexual harassment, and terminated workers who voiced their concerns. The same group…
The deeply intertwined spheres of politics and law once again take center stage as deliberation around a case involving former President Donald Trump generates buzz among legal practitioners, analysts, and even notable personalities in the legal field. Amidst this anticipation, one question looms large: Where Is The Decision? With even stalwart legal specialist Neal Katyal…
In the week following ALM’s Legalweek, a series of alarming allegations have overshadowed any achievements or developments from the conference. Claims of explicit sexual harassment have flooded LinkedIn, each more disturbing than the last. They were compiled by Deeanna Fleener, VP of Solution Management at Deloitte, giving a glimpse into the litany of offensive acts…
The Department of Justice has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by Los Angeles Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Scott D. Laurent, detailed in court files. The assistant in question outlined to the US District Court for the Central District of California that she was accepting the sum, propelling judgment…
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) recently determined that France had infringed upon a woman’s rights in a defamation case where she accused a corporate executive of sexual harassment at her workplace. The court’s judgement in Allée v. France was based on Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the…
In response to mounting pressure from a body of U.S. congressional members, the Department of Education has announced a new deadline for the finalization of its latest Title IX regulations. Now anticipated for release in March, speculations are rife on the final shape these regulations might take. The proposed Title IX changes, initially released by…
In a recent move, Edmund Burke has assumed his role as an employment partner at Dentons LLP in Brisbane, Australia. Having built a distinguished record in his field, Burke’s breadth of expertise encompasses a vast terrain, from employee misconduct investigations to discrimination, workplace and sexual harassment, and dismissal cases. According to the official announcement by…
Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has made another significant addition to its Australian team with the appointment of a second partner this month. The firm has welcomed Edmund Burke, an experienced employment partner, from the Brisbane office of leading Australian firm, Holding Redlich. This move is set to further strengthen Dentons’ position in the…
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) reports that UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, has warned the UK government about reports of forced labor that may constitute potential breaches of international law. These reports relate to the UK’s seasonal worker scheme, launched in 2019 to counter labor shortages caused by Brexit….
The legal world has always been characterized by its share of intense debates and robust confrontations, but it appears that the intensity has recently escalated beyond verbal exchanges. Recently a defendant lunged at a judge in the courtroom, rendering gavels seemingly insufficient for protection against such physical attacks. Intense litigation can indeed provoke strong emotions,…
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a trial court judge erroneously voided an arbitration award in a case revolving around the termination of a state trooper accused of sexual harassment. The grievance before the court involved the question of whether the arbitrator’s decree aligned with the terms set forth by the parties’ collective…
As the recent sexual harassment trial comes to a close, a Massachusetts federal judge expressed skepticism about the veracity of the defense’s arguments. The trial involves a former federal defender for North Carolina’s Western District, who allegedly exhibited hostility towards an attorney claiming she was forced out of her position due to sexual harassment. His…
Mark Bennett, a former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, was recently suspended for transgressing the U.S. Department of Justice’s sexual harassment policy. Several allegations placed Bennett in the midst of controversy, primarily focusing on his actions against an intern. This intern, known as J.S. in court documents, was subjected to inappropriate…
In a recent turn of events, a federal judge suggested that the complaints lodged by former assistant federal public defender, Caryn Strickland, regarding the mishandling of her harassment claim by judiciary officials, appeared stronger than her allegations of gender-based discrimination. The information was disclosed during closing arguments in the courtroom. Caryn Strickland has accused her…
In an intriguing development, a former federal defender, who has alleged that her grievances about workplace sexual harassment were ineffectively handled by the judiciary, has conveyed to a federal judge in Boston that an incisive letter from a senior judge of the Fourth Circuit could serve as a pivotal piece of evidence. This document could…
Mark Bennett, a former assistant U.S. attorney from Ohio has been suspended after being found in violation of the U.S. Department of Justice’s sexual harrassment policy. The violation constituted inappropriate messages and unwelcomed physical behavior towards an intern at his office. The official documents detail the sanctions imposed on Bennett. The Ohio Supreme Court agreed…
A lawsuit by a former assistant counsel to ex-New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has recently been partially revived by a New York appeals court. The lawsuit alleges that the lawyer was fired in retaliation for his participation in a sexual harassment investigation led by the New York attorney general directed at the former governor. The…
The outset of 2024 will be a period of significant challenge for the professional responsibility bar, with law firms around the globe set to contend with issues ranging from sexual harassment suits to data security breaches. These concerns are particularly pertinent in a time when generative artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly prominent feature of…
The US Department of Defense (DOD) recently announced a crucial shift in its protocol for prosecuting serious crimes within the military branches, including sexual assaults. This responsibility has been transferred from individual commanders to the newly established Offices of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). Prior to the establishment of the OSTC, according to Chapter 3 of…
The most recent uptick in pro-employee rulings in sexual harassment cases within US federal district courts correlates with the rise of the #MeToo movement in late 2017, according to a study published earlier this month. The publication, expected to be a part of the Washington and Lee Law Review, took an interested look at a…