Verizon Communications Inc. will pay $20 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over unlawful policies for disabled workers. According to the EEOC suit, Verizon employees were disciplined or fired when they needed more time off than by the company’s leave policies for reasons directly related to their disabilities, and […]
GA Court Says Store Can Be Held Liable For Beer Sale
The Assosiated Press reported that the Georgia Supreme Court found that a convenience store can be held liable for a fatal auto accident that was caused by a driver after he bought a 12 pack of beer. Billy Grundell purchased the beer from Exprezit! Stores 98-Georgia while noticeably intoxicated and later struck a van with his vehicle, […]
Supreme Court Finds Civil Litigants Have No Automatic Right To Counsel
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Supreme Court has ruled that poor civil litigants that face incarceration do not have automatic right to counsel. The justices voted 5-4 to uphold the appeal of Michael Turner of South Carolina who was sent to jail after he insisted that he could not pay his child support payments. […]
Loose Standards On Window Blinds Dangerous For Children
The cords on window shades and blinds have been a cause of injury and death in children because of the strangulation hazard they present for decades, resulting in about one child dying every month. Last summer, safety regulators in several countries, including the U.S., instructed the window covering industry to enact new safety standards that […]
Report Shows 27% Rise In Judgeships Held By Women
A report by New York’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy noted a near 27% rise in federal and state judgeships occupied by women, with Vermont ranking first at almost 40% and Idaho raking last at 11.3%. The Associated Press highlighted these findings, but noted that the report also shows that some judicial districts in the […]
Supreme Court Dismisses Class Action Suit Against AT&T
Vincent and Liza Concepcion purchased a cell phone plan from AT&T, signing a two year contract, a contract that also provided for arbitration of all disputes between parties. This contract came with cell phones that AT&T advertised as free, but the Concepcions were charged $30.22 in taxes. The Concepcions then sued the company for fraud. […]
Bank’s Fine Print Requires Struggling Homeowners To Waive Rights
Often, struggling homeowners may have to make a tough choice: waive certain rights or face foreclosure. Some banks and others who handle mortgages can force homeowners to waive their right to ever sue the bank for anything related to the loan, even though mortgage servicers often make errors, have long delays, and lose documents, as […]
Nevada Supreme Court Overturns Class Action Ban
From Public Justice: “Car dealerships are notorious for scams. But charging customers an emissions testing fee on brand new cars? And then weaseling out of responsibility by banning class actions? Come on. Late last week, as we urged, the Supreme Court of Nevada ruled unanimously that a Las Vegas dealership’s class action ban violates state public […]
Supreme Court Rules Oral Complaints Can Recieve Retaliation Protection
In a 6 – 2 ruling on Tuesday March 22, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of workers that file retaliation suits who verbally complained to their employers even if they did not file a written complaint. The case involved a suit filed by Kevin Kasten who had verbally complained to a former employer about where the […]
Supreme Court Siding With Underdogs
The LA Times noted in a recent article that, although the Supreme Court has often been thought of as more conservative and pro-business, several recent cases have shown them to be unpredictable, often siding with workers rather than employers. “The judges have been unanimous, or nearly so, in dealing defeats to employers and to corporations”, […]
