A federal court in Indiana dismissed the disability discrimination and retaliation claims of a DOT-regulated driver who failed a random drug test due to prescription opioid use, holding that he did not sufficiently adhere to the employer’s policy or DOT regulations when he failed to produce a Safety Concern Letter from the prescribing physician. Ross
California Court Upholds Employer’s Refusal To Hire Applicant Who Failed Pre-Employment Drug Test Due To Medical Marijuana Use
A federal court in California dismissed the disability discrimination claims of a job applicant who failed a pre-employment drug test due to medical marijuana use, holding that he did not sufficiently prove that he was disabled. More specifically, the court concluded that the applicant’s “subjective belief” that he suffered from “chronic back pain” was insufficient
2,000 COVID-19-Related Employment Lawsuits Filed in the U.S.: An Analysis of the Data and Trends
On April 6, 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related employment complaints filed in United States courts passed the 2,000 mark. Although it took eight months to reach the first 1,000 complaints (March–November 2020), it took less than five months to go from 1,000 to 2,000. Indeed, December 2020 through March 2021 included the four busiest
Federal Disability Discrimination Law Does Not Require Websites Be Accessible, Appeals Court Holds
A website is not a “place of public accommodation” and an inaccessible website is not necessarily equal to the denial of goods or services, a federal appeals court has held in a groundbreaking decision on disability discrimination under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., No. 17-13467
Ohio’s Employment Law Uniformity Act: New Prerequisites and Defenses for Discrimination Claims
Ohio employment discrimination claims filed on or after April 15, 2021, will be subject to certain prerequisites under the newly enacted Employment Law Uniformity Act (ELUA). Jackson Lewis’ in-depth webinar regarding the ELUA is available here.
The ELUA updates the state’s antidiscrimination statute (Ohio Revised Code § 4112), which has been in effect since
Seasonal Employee May Pursue Disability-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim, Court Rules
Reversing a district court’s grant of summary judgment, the Iowa Court of Appeals held an employee presented sufficient evidence for her disability-based hostile work environment claim to proceed to trial, despite the relatively short period of her employment. Munoz v. Adventure Lands of America, Inc., 2021 BL 37057 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 3, 2021).
Regular Attendance is Essential Even if Employer was Lenient in the Past, Fifth Circuit Holds
An employer’s past leniency in applying and enforcing its attendance policy did not contradict the employer’s later position that regular worksite attendance was required for employment, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held. Weber v. BNSF Railway Co., No. 20-10295 (5th Cir. Feb. 24, 2021).
This provides guidance for employers
Employment Law Developments to Monitor in 2021: COVID-19-Related Employment Litigation and Trends
As 2021 begins, Jackson Lewis continues to work with employers to help them understand, prepare for, and handle the impact of COVID-19 on the workplace. In addition to advising and counseling clients, Jackson Lewis attorneys are handling COVID-19-related litigation matters nationwide, and are tracking COVID-19 employment litigation trends with Jackson Lewis’ interactive COVID-19 Employment LitWatch
Seventh Circuit Continues To Find That Lengthy Leaves of Absence May Not Be Reasonable Accommodations Under the ADA
On December 30, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its opinion in McAllister v. Innovation Ventures, LLC, No. 20-1779 (7th Cir., Dec. 30 2020), and held that an employer did not violate the ADA where it terminated its employee after it became clear that she would require several additional
2018 New Year’s Resolutions For Lowering the Risk of Employment Litigation
When Jackson Lewis litigation attorneys looked back at cases, trials, and verdicts from the past year, we observed how companies can make themselves less of a target for claims. Below are some New Year’s resolutions that can help lower the risk of employment litigation:
- Train managers. Train employees. Keep a record of the training, including