Over the last week, two unrelated stories caught my eye. For employers, they are a reminder that claims of pay inequality based on gender are still something to be concerned about. The first story is that Governor Malloy announced plans for a new study to examine “factors that contribute to the gender wage gap in Connecticut’s workforce.” … Continue Reading
Tag Archives: lawsuit
Employer Alleges “Inherently Conflicted and Irreparably Unfair Proceedings” at CHRO; Seeks Injunction
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, LitigationA new lawsuit filed last Thursday in Connecticut state court by an employer alleges that the employer’s due process rights are being violated by “inherently conflicted and irreparably unfair proceedings” at the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) — the state agency responsible for investigating and enforcing the state’s anti-discrimination laws. In the lawsuit, NERAC v. Krich,… Continue Reading
Reality Bites: Know the Law Before Using That Hidden Camera
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and RegulationsDuring the holiday break, I did what many lawyers do (but will publicly deny): I watched a few ”bad” reality tv shows. No, I didn’t watch “Here Comes Honey Boo-boo” (even I have my limits). But on the Food Network was a marathon of episodes of a show called “Mystery Diners”. The show is based around so-called “Mystery… Continue Reading
Does Cabbie’s Fear of Dogs Trump Requirement to Allow Service Dogs?
Posted in Discrimination & Harassment, Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, LitigationA cab driver, who claims he suffers from cynophobia (a fear of dogs) and who refused to pick up a blind customer with a service dog, has filed a federal lawsuit against his employer for discrimination on account of his disability after he was fired. The suit of Ahmad v. Yellow Cab Co., which was filed… Continue Reading
Issues for Misclassification Lawsuits – Don’t Get Swept Up
Posted in Class Actions, Litigation, Wage & HourThe Connecticut Law Tribune this morning has word of a lawsuit by a group of individuals who say that as vacuum sellers, they were “hosed” by a company that, they claim, was actually their employer. Because the case has just been filed, the employer has not yet filed a response. You can download a copy… Continue Reading
From the Archives: Recalling Prior State Layoffs and the Ongoing SEBAC Lawsuit
Posted in LitigationWith rejection of a union concession package now appearing likely in news stories this morning, it seems probable that layoffs are around the corner. Notably, a lawsuit arising from a prior state layoff is still kicking around over eight years later. I discussed this back in October 2010 and noted that the parties had just… Continue Reading
The Most Popular Blog Post
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceWhile we count down the days before the new blog launches, I thought it would be fun to look back at the nearly 4 years of posts to highlight a few noteworthy ones. Today, I’ll answer the question: What has been the most popular post ever? Without a doubt, it is a post I did on… Continue Reading
The Basics: What It Takes To File a Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
Posted in Discrimination & Harassment, LitigationNewspapers this week seem enraptured with the idea that an employment discrimination lawsuit is news. It shouldn’t be. Why? Because all that a discrimination lawsuit is — by its fundamental nature — is a set of allegations against an employer. Nothing more, nothing less. That doesn’t mean, of course, that each lawsuit that is brought… Continue Reading
Tribune Company Sued by Its Former “Watchdog” on Free Speech Grounds
Posted in LitigationUPDATED George Gombossy, who penned a consumer-advocacy column for the Hartford Courant before being fired last month, has filed suit against the Courant (and its parent company, the Tribune Company) alleging that he was fired in retaliation for his lawful speech. Gombossy now has a website he calls "CT Watchdog" and posted the complaint and… Continue Reading
Employee’s Use of State E-mail Raises Question of Ethics…And a Lot More
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceOver the weekend, Jon Lender of the Hartford Courant reported on the "complicated" ethics case of former UConn Health Center medical technologist Priscilla Dickman. At issue: Whether state ethics laws were violated by "using state equipment, resources and time in furtherance of her private jewelry and travel consulting businesses." A public hearing over the "ethics" side… Continue Reading
Fox 61 Reporter Discrimination Case: FAQ, Analysis and What’s Next – Part I
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, LitigationThe filing of a discrimination complaint at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has certainly garnered a wide variety of responses from the local and national media. Indeed, yesterday, I was one of several invited guests to appear on WNPR’s "Where We Live". (You can download the podcast here.) But what’s been lacking… Continue Reading
Fox 61 Reporter Files Age and Gender Discrimination Claim with CHRO; Is History Repeating Itself?
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, LitigationOver ten years ago, former WFSB (Channel 3) news anchor Janet Peckinpaugh shook up the media market in Hartford with claims of gender and age discrimination against her former news station. She claimed that she had been let go because she had gotten too old. At the time, the case had all the elements of… Continue Reading
WWE Files Its Reply Brief; Time Now For Court to Decide Whether To Dismiss Case
Posted in Class Actions, Litigation, Wage & HourThe WWE has filed its reply brief (download here) in further support of its motion to dismiss yesterday contending that three former wrestlers "cannot escape the clear language of the booking contracts". For background on the case involving "Raven" and two other former wrestlers, click here. The brief is filled with lots of "smackdowns" (to borrow a wrestling phrase) chiding the wrestlers about not… Continue Reading
WWE Lawsuit Update: Raven and Wrestlers File Response to WWE’s Motion to Dismiss
Posted in Class Actions, Litigation, Wage & HourMany weeks after the WWE filed its motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by three former WWE wrestlers ("Raven" and "Kanyon" and others — otherwise known as Scott Levy, Chris Klucsartis and Michael Sanders ), the wrestlers have fired back filing their papers opposing WWE’s motion. (For full coverage of this lawsuit, click here.) The papers, filed… Continue Reading
Quick Updates: Reuters Article on More Lawsuits, WWE and Wrestlers Lawsuit, Performance Reviews, National Bank Act, Veteran’s Day
Posted in Discrimination & Harassment, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Litigation, Wage & HourHere’s a quick update on some items and topics that have been covered by the blog over the past year: Earlier this week, I raised the issue of whether the rising unemployment rate would also lead to more employment lawsuits. Reuters yesterday released a very good and balanced article on the subject. I shared my… Continue Reading
What Ever Happened To…The Lawsuit Against the CHRO Brought by Two Former Employees?
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, LitigationAbout a year ago, I recapped a lawsuit brought by two former employees at the CHRO who claimed their employment was terminated improperly. At the time, I said that the complaint, brought by Valerie Kennedy and Paula Ross, "paints a picture of an organization run-a-muck with those who are charged with protecting against discrimination, as… Continue Reading
WWE Lawsuit Update: What You Need to Know
Posted in LitigationMy post on the WWE lawsuit involving three former wrestlers known as Raven, Kanyon and Mike Sanders has drawn extraordinary interest. (Although I used to follow things when I was younger — Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was among my favorites — I must say I haven’t followed it closely lately.) But along with the interest, I’ve seen rampant speculation… Continue Reading
WWE Lawsuit Update: WWE Files Motion to Dismiss and Discloses Booking Contracts of Wrestlers
Posted in LitigationUPDATE 10/8/08 – I have posted a FAQ on the lawsuit this morning due to the extraordinary interest in this subject. You can find it here. UPDATE 10/7/08 – Welcome various wrestling fans (who are visiting by the thousands this morning)! The links to the contracts are below. One note to clarify some of the reports… Continue Reading
Wrestlers Claim They Are Employees, not Independent Contractors In Suit Against WWE
Posted in LitigationAs I’ve cross-posted over at Overlawyered.com today, three wrestlers have sued Connecticut-based World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) claiming that they have been improperly classified as "independent contractors" and not employees. On Friday, WWE removed the lawsuit to federal court from state court claiming that federal questions are implicated in what would otherwise seem to be… Continue Reading
Update: Connecticut Attorney General Sues Company Over Workplace Poster Solicitation
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, LitigationThe Connecticut Attorney General’s Office quietly filed suit this week in Connecticut State Court(download here) against American Future Systems, which does business under the name of Progressive Business Publications (and also Progressive Business Compliance). You won’t find a press release about it on Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s website. Back in March, I had reported… Continue Reading
ESPN Settles Lawsuit with Former Baseball Analyst Harold Reynolds
Posted in LitigationA contentious litigation between Bristol, Connecticut based-ESPN and its former baseball analyst, Harold Reynolds, was settled on Tuesday, according to a report by the Associated Press. The lawsuit, filed in Hartford Superior Court in the fall of 2006, stemmed from Reynolds termination in the summer of 2006. Reynolds sued claiming "he was wrongly fired after… Continue Reading
About Daniel Schwartz
Trusted advisor. Experienced employment law attorney. Bar leader. Award-winning author. Noted Speaker. "Legal Rebel". All can be said to be apt descriptions of Daniel Schwartz, a member of Pullman & Comley. More +
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