Discrimination

  • January 23, 2026

    7th Circ. OKs Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund Bias Suit Win

    The Seventh Circuit on Wednesday affirmed the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund's win in a former accountant's lawsuit claiming he was fired because he is a Black man in his 60s, holding that the lower court didn't err in finding that poor job performance led to his termination.

  • January 22, 2026

    6th Circ. Won't Revive Ex-Detroit Worker's Race Bias Suit

    The Sixth Circuit on Wednesday refused to reinstate a discrimination suit alleging the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department fired a Black female accountant because of her race, finding her performance reviews reflected continuous issues like missing work deadlines or making errors that took weeks to fix.

  • January 22, 2026

    DC Circ. Presses Feds To Justify Military Trans Ban

    A D.C. Circuit judge pressed the government on Thursday to justify a policy that effectively bars transgender people from serving in the military, questioning why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth imposed a more stringent policy than the first Trump administration did. 

  • January 22, 2026

    Debt Collector Takes Computer Fraud Ruling To High Court

    A debt collection agency asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to pause a Third Circuit decision that found an ex-employee's sharing of a password spreadsheet didn't make for a case under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, saying the appeals court improperly narrowed the scope of the statute.

  • January 22, 2026

    CTA's Vax Mandate Was An 'Impossible Dilemma,' Jury Hears

    The Chicago Transit Authority put a former employee into an "impossible dilemma" and forced him to choose between honoring his Christian faith or receiving a COVID-19 vaccine when it flatly rejected his vaccination exemption request and later fired him for mandate noncompliance, Illinois federal jurors heard Thursday.

  • January 22, 2026

    Assistant DA Isn't 'Employee' In Her Race Bias Suit, Court Told

    A North Carolina prosecutor can't be targeted in a race bias and retaliation suit under Title VII, as the Black assistant district attorney alleging an unlawful pay disparity isn't an "employee" under the federal statute, the prosecutor's counsel told a North Carolina federal court Thursday.

  • January 22, 2026

    EEOC Argues Sexual Harassment Case Can Dodge Arbitration

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission urged the Fourth Circuit to back a broad reading of a law barring sexual harassment disputes from arbitration, arguing a Barclays executive's sex bias suit didn't need to claim mistreatment of a sexual nature to avoid an out-of-court resolution.

  • January 22, 2026

    Judge Recommends Toss Of Ex-Deputy's Political Firing Suit

    A Georgia federal judge has recommended tossing a former metropolitan Atlanta deputy sheriff's suit alleging he was forced to resign because he supported the sheriff's 2024 election opponent, while also urging sanctions against the deputy's attorney for citing nonexistent cases and misstating the law.

  • January 22, 2026

    Bally's Casino Beats Bartenders' Age Bias Suit Appeal

    A New Jersey appellate court on Thursday upheld dismissal of claims accusing Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino of preventing unionized bartenders from working at a new casino bar because of their age, finding that the claims fail to show a discriminatory motive for the bar's hiring decisions.

  • January 22, 2026

    Colo. Hospital Faces Suit Over Halt To Gender-Affirming Care

    Patients of Children's Hospital Colorado filed a proposed class action in Colorado state court alleging the healthcare provider is discriminating against them through its suspension of gender-affirming medical care for patients under the age of 18 amid recent federal government mandates.

  • January 22, 2026

    11th Circ. Reopens Telemundo Sexual Harassment Claims

    The Eleventh Circuit gave new life Thursday to a sexual harassment suit from a former Telemundo employee who said she faced retribution for reporting what she alleged was her superiors' misconduct, ruling that she "unquestionably" engaged in protected activity amid "humiliating and degrading" treatment.

  • January 22, 2026

    10th Circ. Grapples With White Officer's Diversity Fight

    The Tenth Circuit wrestled Thursday with whether to revive a white former corrections officer's twice-dismissed suit accusing the Colorado Department of Corrections of creating a racially hostile environment through diversity training, with one judge questioning the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that favored majority group plaintiffs.

  • January 22, 2026

    Meta Can't Arbitrate Suit Alleging Bias Against White Workers

    Meta Platforms can't arbitrate a former engineer's suit alleging it fostered a hostile work environment that discriminated against white male employees and job applicants for hiring opportunities, promotions and bonuses, according to a minute order issued by a California state judge.

  • January 22, 2026

    NYC Homeless Nonprofit Shaved Hours, Ex-Worker Says

    A New York City nonprofit that operates homeless shelters shaved time off of employees' hours, resulting in unpaid wages and overtime, according to a proposed class and collective action complaint filed Thursday in New York federal court.

  • January 22, 2026

    Ex-Baker McKenzie Atty Alleges Assault In New DC Lawsuit

    A former Baker McKenzie associate who was sued for defamation over a series of social media posts accusing the firm's Washington, D.C., managing partner of sexual assault has brought her own lawsuit, marking the first time she publicly detailed her allegations in court records.

  • January 22, 2026

    Walmart Defeats Black Manager's Race Bias, Harassment Suit

    Walmart prevailed Thursday over a suit from a Black former manager who said he was denied a promotion and subjected to racist harassment on the job, when a Michigan federal judge ruled he lacked evidence that he was qualified for higher roles or had endured severe mistreatment.

  • January 22, 2026

    Littler Names New Board Of Directors Chair, Adds 3 Members

    Littler Mendelson PC has elected New York shareholder William J. Anthony to serve as chair of its 19-member 2026 Board of Directors and named three new board members.

  • January 22, 2026

    Delivery Co., EEOC End Suit Over Deaf Applicant's Nixed Offer

    A freight delivery company has agreed to pay $47,000 to end a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit that said it yanked a job offer from a deaf applicant after she asked for a sign language interpreter.

  • January 22, 2026

    Calif. Universities, Faculty Settle EEOC Info-Sharing Fight

    The California State University system has struck a deal with faculty labor unions to resolve a suit claiming the CSU improperly shared employee contact information with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to aid an investigation into antisemitism on its campuses.

  • January 22, 2026

    EEOC Chair Decries 'Fearmongering' Amid Guidance Repeal

    The Republican members of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted Thursday to retract comprehensive harassment guidelines issued during the Biden administration after the agency's chair panned warnings from Democrats and civil rights advocates that the move erodes key worker protections.

  • January 22, 2026

    Food Hall Strikes Deal To End EEOC Racial Harassment Suit

    A Virginia food hall has agreed to pay $54,000 to resolve an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming the business's owner created a hostile work environment by using a racial slur and making racist comments to a Black general manager.

  • January 21, 2026

    Bristol-Myers' Worker Arbitration Push Scrutinized On Appeal

    A Washington Court of Appeals panel expressed reluctance to award Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s bid to send a former worker's age discrimination case to arbitration Wednesday, while also casting some doubt on the ex-employee's stance that the arbitration pact she signed was invalid.

  • January 21, 2026

    Ex-Military Heads Back Sen. Kelly In Suit Against Hegseth

    Dozens of former military leaders have backed U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., in challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's bid to reduce his Navy rank, saying Kelly's punishment for "accurate statements of military law" discourages veterans from exercising their own First Amendment rights.

  • January 21, 2026

    Los Alamos Cleanup Co. Hit With Retaliation Suit For Firings

    Two former employees of a company owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries and BWX Technologies that was tapped for a $2.1 billion contamination cleanup contract at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have alleged in federal court they were unlawfully terminated after raising concerns about safety, employment and billing practices.

  • January 21, 2026

    Ex-Hospice Worker's Vax Bias Suit Lacks Detail, 9th Circ. Says

    The Ninth Circuit will not revive a hospice worker's religious bias suit claiming the facility instituted a discriminatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement, finding Wednesday her case lacked evidence that she sought a religious exemption to the mandate before quitting.

Expert Analysis

  • A Path Forward For Employers, Regardless Of DEI Stance

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    Whether a company views the Trump administration's executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs as a win or a loss, the change rearranges the employment hazards companies face, but not the non-DEI and nondiscriminatory economic incentive to seek the best workers, says Daniel S. Levy at Advanced Analytical Consulting Group.

  • Bias Suit Shows WNBA Growing Pains On Court And In Court

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    A newly filed disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sparks is the latest in a series of employment discrimination disputes filed by WNBA professionals, highlighting teams' obligation to meet elevated workplace expectations and the league's role in facilitating an inclusive work environment, say attorneys at Michelman & Robinson.

  • 2 Areas Of Labor Law That May Change Under Trump

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    Based on President Donald Trump's recent moves, employers should expect to see significant changes in the direction of law coming out of the National Labor Relations Board, particularly in two areas where the Trump administration will seek to roll back the Biden NLRB's changes, says Daniel Johns at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Justices' Revival Ruling In Bias Suit Exceeds Procedural Issue

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Waetzig v. Halliburton allowed the plaintiff in an age discrimination lawsuit to move to reopen his case after arbitration, but the seemingly straightforward decision on a procedural issue raises complex questions for employment law practitioners, says Christopher Sakauye at Dykema.

  • Water Cooler Talk: 'Late Night' Shows DEI Is More Than Optics

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    Amid the shifting legal landscape for corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Troutman's Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter chat with their firm's DEI committee chair, Nicole Edmonds, about how the 2019 film "Late Night" reflects the challenges and rewards of fostering meaningful inclusion.

  • 9 Considerations For Orgs Using AI Meeting Assistants

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    When deciding to use artificial intelligence meeting assistants, organizations must create and implement a written corporate policy that establishes the do's and don'ts for these assistants, taking into account individualized business operations, industry standards and legal and regulatory requirements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • What's At Stake In High Court Transgender Care Suit

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    The outcome of U.S. v. Skrmetti will have critical implications for the rights of transgender youth and their access to gender-affirming care, and will likely affect other areas of law and policy involving transgender individuals, including education, employment, healthcare and civil rights, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Determining What 'I Don't Feel Safe' Means In The Workplace

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    When an employee tells an employer "I don't feel safe," the phrase can have different meanings, so employment lawyers must adequately investigate to identify which meaning applies — and a cursory review and dismissal of the situation may not be a sufficient defense in case of future legal proceedings, says Karen Elliott at FordHarrison.

  • How EEOC Enforcement Priorities May Change Under Trump

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    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has already been rocked by the Trump administration's dramatic changes in personnel and policy, which calls into question how the agency may shift its direction from the priorities set forth in its five-year strategic enforcement plan in 2023, say attorneys at Seyfarth.

  • Handbook Hot Topics: Back To Basics After Admin Change

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    Having an up-to-date employee handbook is more critical now than ever, given the recent change in administration, and employers should understand their benefits and risks, including how they can limit employers’ liability and help retain employers’ rights, say Kasey Cappellano and Meaghan Gandy at Kutak Rock.

  • What Axed Title IX Gender Identity Rule Means For Higher Ed

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    Following a Kentucky federal court's recent decision in State of Tennessee v. Cardona to strike down a Biden-era rule that expanded the definition of Title IX to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity, institutions of higher education should prepare to reimplement policies that comply with the reinstated 2020 rule, say attorneys at Venable.

  • A Path Forward For Cos. Amid Trump's Anti-DEIA Efforts

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    Given the Trump administration’s recent efforts targeting corporate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs — including threatening possible criminal prosecution — companies should carefully tailor their DEIA initiatives to comply with both the letter and the spirit of antidiscrimination law, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Workforce Data Collection Considerations After DEI Order

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    Following President Donald Trump's executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, employers should balance the benefits of collecting demographic data with the risk of violating the order’s prohibition on "illegal DEI," say Lynn Clements at Berkshire Associates, David Cohen at DCI Consulting and Victoria Lipnic at Resolution Economics.