Complaints of Sexual Orientation Discrimination by Federal Employees now Cognizable Under Title VII

On July 15, 2015, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), in its role as an appellate tribunal reviewing the disposition by a federal agency of a claim of discrimination, issued a decision in which it held that “allegations of discrimination on the basis of [a complainant’s] sexual orientation state a claim of discrimination

New Jersey Supreme Court Holds That Protections of State Whistleblower Statute Apply to so-Called “Watchdog” Employees

On July 15, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a decision in which it held that the protections of the state whistleblower statute, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”), apply to so-called “watchdog” employees and that such employees need not meet a heightened standard when establishing that they engaged in whistleblowing activity. Confusion as

Recovering alcoholic claims illegal treatment and firing

A Florida resident filed suit against a New York City-based firm claiming violation of employment law in a 2012 series of alleged actions that he claims were orchestrated in retaliation for him being a recovering alcoholic. Plaintiff of Pompano Beach, Fla., sued Computer Generated Solutions in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania on July

The Seventh Circuit holds that FedEx Delivery Drivers are employees, and not independent contractors, of FedEx.

The ruling from the Seventh Circuit has strong implications for drivers working across the United States who have been classified as “independent contractors” and forced to pay for fuel, lease payments, insurance, and other business expenses relating to their work. On July 8th, 2015 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit adopted the

US Supreme Court allows same sex couples to marry in every state

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of plaintiffs in Obergefell et al vs. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health, et al, (No. 14-556), allowing same sex couples to marry in every state. The landmark decision, authored by Justice Kennedy, held that the plaintiffs, who were seeking “equal dignity in the eyes