Iowa The Iowa Civil Rights Commission recently prevailed in a district court action alleging an apartment complex’s management company’s employees subjected two former tenants to harassment and other discriminatory treatment based on their sexual orientation. After a maintenance technician discovered the two men were sharing a one-bedroom apartment, he verbally […]
Labor & Employment Law Update
Supreme Court Issues Two Pro-Employer Title VII Decisions
on Tuesday, 23 July 2013 in
Labor & Employment Law Update: Sarah M. Huyck, Editor
On June 24, 2013, the United States Supreme Court, in two 5-4 decisions, narrowed the scope of employer-liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in retaliation and harassment claims. In each case, the Court rejected the broader standard for which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission advocated. […]
Eighth Circuit Finds Pretext When Employer Fires Employee For Yelling But Did Not Ordinarily Fire Other Employees For the Same Reason
on Tuesday, 23 July 2013 in
Labor & Employment Law Update: Sarah M. Huyck, Editor
An employer can generally avoid liability in an age discrimination lawsuit if it can articulate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its actions. Examples of legitimate non-discriminatory reasons for terminations are poor performance, misconduct and insubordination. Articulating a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason is an effective way to win summary judgment in a […]
State Specific Developments: May 2013
on Thursday, 23 May 2013 in
Labor & Employment Law Update: Sarah M. Huyck, Editor
Iowa: A Waterloo hospital is fi nalizing a $2 million settlement agreement for a race discrimination class action lawsuit. The class action complaint was fi led on behalf of African American persons who applied for employment with the hospital but were not hired, who were passed over for promotional opportunities, […]
Eighth Circuit Vacates Front Pay Award For FMLA Violation As Too Speculative
on Thursday, 23 May 2013 in
Labor & Employment Law Update: Sarah M. Huyck, Editor
The Eighth Circuit recently held that an employer interfered with a sick employee’s job protection rights under the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) by failing to reinstate her to a position that she never actually performed. However, in the same decision, the court vacated a ten-year front pay award of […]
