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The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently vacated the lower court’s grant of summary judgment that dismissed a disability discrimination claim brought by a female police detective.  Years earlier, the detective suffered a “small heart attack” that the Police Department felt presented a significant risk if she suffered a Taser shock.  As part …

Determining how long an employer must hold a position for an absent worker is a question that vexes Human resources Directors and Operations management. The Seventh Circuit recently ruled, in Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc., that an employee’s request for extended leave after having exhausted his Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) entitlement is not a…

In a recently filed lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission contends that Consolidated Edison Co. (“Con Ed”) violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (“GINA”) by its use of pre-employment medical examinations. According to the Complaint, Con Ed required applicants to submit to pre-employment medical examinations…

On July 17, 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that under the Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination law an employer may be required to accommodate an employee who is a current user of medical marijuana regardless of the employer’s drug free workplace and drug testing policies.  For a complete discussion on the ruling and tips on how…

The Fifth Circuit recently upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against an employer who denied an employee’s request to telecommute on the grounds that regular attendance at work is an essential function of her job as a litigation attorney.  Credeur v State of Louisiana, 16-CV-30658 (5th Cir. 2017).  The employer did provide unpaid…

On May 4, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Brown v. Milwaukee Board of School Directors affirmed the summary judgment dismissal of a former employee’s disability discrimination claim under the ADA.   While the employer consistently sought to find reasonable accommodations, plaintiff failed to engage in the interactive process because neither …

According to one federal court judge, a transgendered former employee can proceed with an employment discrimination case under the American With Disabilities Act (“ADA”) alleging that she was mistreated and fired based on her gender-identity-related disability. Blatt v. Cabela’s Retail, Inc., No. 5:14-cv-04822 (E.D. Pa. May 18, 2017).

While courts have recognized federal protections…

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment dismissing a former employee’s claim that he was terminated because of his purported disability, “sensitivity to electromagnetic voltage.”  Hirmiz v. New Harrison Hotel Corp., Docket No. 16-3915 (7th Cir. Apr. 6, 2017).  The Court held that “sensitivity to electromagnetic voltage” was…