The US Supreme Court has accepted review of Town of Greece v. Galloway, an Establishment Clause case that will examine the constitutionality of public prayer conducted before a civil Town Meeting.
Blog
The Wave of Family Responsibility Discrimination (FRD) Claims Continues to Rise
The wave of Family Responsibility Discrimination (FRD) claims continues to rise. FRD is a descriptive title for lawsuits that allege discrimination against workers who have caregiving responsibilities for children or older family member. While there is no single FRD statute, it refers to the complex web of potential claims under Title VII, FMLA, ADA and other protective statutes.
Legislature Update: Land Use
The 2013 Washington State Legislature wrestled with an 800 pound gorilla – education funding – and adjourned without reaching consensus on that issue. But in the process, several new laws passed that are relevant to those who are in land use or real estate.
New Case Signals Return to "Buyer Beware"
A recent case from the Washington State Court of Appeals signals a strong return to the legal principle of caveat emptor – otherwise known as “buyer beware”. It’s important that real estate brokers understand the magnitude of the decision, whether they represent sellers or buyers.
Supreme Court Watch – Employment / Religion / Education
The US Supreme Court accepted for argument next term the age discrimination case Madigan v. Levin. This case considers the question of whether a plaintiff claiming age discrimination can proceed under section 1983 as an Equal Protection violation, or is restricted to proceeding under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
The NLRB Is Expanding Private-Sector Employee Rights By Declaring Common Workplace Rules Unlawful
Employers have long sought to present their public image in a positive light. Such policies typically prohibit employees from discussing corporate matters publicly or disparaging managers, co-workers, or the company itself on Facebook and other social media.
A Brief Review: Seattle's Sick and Safe Leave Policy
Are you aware that there is the recently added chapter 14.16 of the Seattle Municipal Code which mandates paid sick and safe leave for employees working, even occasionally or by telecommunication, within the city limits? As of September 1, 2012, employees accrue paid sick and safe time according to a schedule based on the number of workers employed.
Employers Required to Use Newly Published I-9 Forms
USCIS announces newly revised I-9 form for employers
Supreme Court Watch – March 2013
We continue to monitor Supreme Court cases that are impactful to our clients. At this point, twenty four opinions have been released; expect the pace to pick up dramatically in the next two months. We await the affirmative action and employment decisions that were argued a few months ago. Also, the two same sex marriage cases are set for argument on March 26 and 27.
FMLA 20 Years Later
It has been 20 years since the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted. The Department of Labor has released the findings of a survey it conducted entitled Family and Medical Leave Act in 2012: Final Report.