Lawyers USA Online » Employment Law

Calif. justices to decide if undocumented alien can practice law

Pat Murphy — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:45:47 +0000

The California Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a law graduate’s status as an undocumented alien disqualifies him from being admitted to the state bar.

According to a press release from the court, Sergio C. Garcia has graduated from law school and passed the California bar
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Employee can’t sue for anti-immigrant bias

Pat Murphy — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Federal employment discrimination law does not provide a remedy for a bank employee who claims she was fired because of her marriage to a Mexican citizen who had entered the U.S. illegally, the 7th Circuit has ruled in affirming a summary judgment.

The plaintiff worked as a bank manager for
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Injury caused by cell phone use yields $22 million verdict

Ruth Sheehan — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:23:33 +0000

A Texas jury has awarded more than $22 million to a woman injured when her car was broadsided by a station wagon driven by a Coca-Cola marketing employee talking on her cell phone.

The Nueces County jury awarded 37-year-old Vanice Chatman-Wilson more than $11.5 million for lost wages, medical expenses
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Police officer’s lawsuit divides town, settles for $1.2 million

Dan McDonald — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:34:14 +0000

At first, attorney Michael Sacco thought he was handling a routine disability claim. A sole practitioner in Westfield, Mass. who typically represents retirement boards, Sacco quickly found himself knee-deep in a civil rights lawsuit that offered a glimpse into the inner political machinations of a sleepy town and its police department, revealing a sordid mess.

Hostile environment suit needn’t include ‘sex’ claims

Pat Murphy — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:33:47 +0000

A female public employee could sue for hostile work environment under state law – even if the alleged offending conduct fell outside the definition of “sexual harassment,” the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled.

The plaintiff worked as a custodian for a public school district. She alleged that her male supervisor
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Catholic groups sue over birth control mandate

Kimberly Atkins — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:33:57 +0000

WASHINGTON – In a series of lawsuits filed across the country Monday, dozens of Roman Catholic archdiocese, schools and other organizations are seeking to block the recent Health and Human Services mandate that requires most employers to cover contraception in their health care plans.

The rule has come under fire
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ERISA plan could offset other disability payments

Pat Murphy — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:48:56 +0000

An ERISA plan could reduce an insured’s monthly long-term disability benefits by the amount of disability payments that he received from a separate insurance policy, the 3rd Circuit has ruled in affirming judgment.

The plaintiff is a dentist who had long-term disability coverage under two policies. In addition to a
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Partner can sue partnership for retaliation

Pat Murphy — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:02:54 +0000

A partner in a professional medical practice could sue the partnership for retaliating against her based on her opposing the sexual harassment of employees, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing judgment.

The plaintiff is a doctor who is a member of a California general partnership with approximately
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Home care provider isn’t entitled to overtime

Pat Murphy — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:34:44 +0000

An employee hired to provide in-home care for an elderly woman was not entitled to overtime, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing a $123,000 judgment.

The defendant was a woman in her 90s who hired the plaintiff to care for her in her home. After being terminated,
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Labor contractor agrees to settle harassment suit

Tony Ogden — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:10:42 +0000

A California farm labor contractor has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal agency’s suit on behalf of female vineyard workers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties who said a crew supervisor harassed them with crude remarks and demanded sex to keep their jobs.

Read the full article from The
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