CA Court of Appeal Rules for the Exclusion of “Me Too” Evidence

May 1, 2013

The case of Hatai v. Department of Transportation et. al highlights that employees in discrimination trials should be aware that California courts are prepared to reject an employee’s attempt to use “me too” evidence. The “me too” doctrine allows an employee to present evidence of discrimination not only against themselves but also against other employees […]

America’s Expanding Waistline: Should Overweight Passengers Be Forced To Buy Two Seats?

April 30, 2013

With America’s belt line expanding, airlines are finding that they have to begin going into that grey area that surrounds those who are considered ‘customers of size’. While most airlines have policies in place regarding the treatment and protocol of those with a larger waistline, only recently have these policies become more prominent with the […]

ADA Adds Newly Recognized Disabilities and Service Animals in the Workplace

April 24, 2013

On the December 30, 2012, the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 was amended, and the Fair Employment and Housing Council [1] altered the California Code of Regulations[2] to reflect those changes accordingly.[3] More specifically, the new regulations have expanded on the existing laws and now provide more detailed definitions of recognized disabilities. Mental Disabilities now […]

Understanding Age Discrimination: Kathryn Sheppard v. David Evans & Associates Sheds Some Light

The plaintiff of this case is a forty year old female who was wrongfully terminated after she returned from medical leave. Kathryn Sheppard v. Daniel Evans and Assoc. establishes the requirements for a statement of claim of age discrimination. This case overturned previous decisions of the district court, which had ruled that a statement of […]

Reasonable Accommodations: When Are They Reasonable?

April 10, 2013

Some people may be unsure about how the courts determine the following: Whether an employer is being fair in making a reasonable accommodation, and What the difference is between being unemployed and dismissed. To help address these questions we will refer to the recent appellant court decision in the case of Mooney vs. County of […]

How To Know If You’re Experiencing Sexual Harassment At Work

April 8, 2013

Sexual harassment in or relating to the workplace is prohibited by law. Fair Employment and Housing Commission regulations define sexual harassment as follows: unwanted sexual advances, visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. There are two main categories of sexual harassment: “Quid pro quo” harassment occurs when one’s employment is contingent upon that […]

Appellate Court Distinguishes Pregnancy Disability Leave From Pregnancy Disability Discrimination

April 3, 2013

The California Court of Appeal‘s decision in Sanchez v. Swissport, Inc., is of great importance, effecting the rights of employees with pregnancy-related disabilities. As a result of the decision, employers may be required to provide an employee with additional leave to that required under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL) and the California Family Rights […]

Gilstrap v. United Airlines: Disability Discrimination At Our Nation’s Airports

March 27, 2013

Is disability discrimination a problem at our nation’s airports? If one were to ask Michelle Gilstrap, she would no doubt answer with a resounding yes. Her experience with airlines – specifically United Airlines – left much to be desired in the area of customer service. Circumstances: Ms. Gilstrap has a broad range of medical problems, […]

Court Clarifies Law Regarding Verbal Violations of Privacy in the Workplace

March 25, 2013

In March of this year, in the matter of Melissa Ignat v. Yum! Brands, Inc., the California Court of Appeal recognized that in addition to other forms that are required for proving a breach of privacy occurred, privacy can also be breached verbally. The court held that “disclosure in writing is not required to maintain […]

Couple Files Consumer Class Action Lawsuit Against Wyndham Vacation Ownership

March 1, 2013

As a retired couple from Chico, Tom and Donna Crook love taking vacations to San Francisco. So four years ago, they thought it appropriate to buy a timeshare from Wyndham Vacation Ownership for a room at the company’s Canterbury Hotel. “If you buy a timeshare, take time to read through all the documents and see […]