Unprecedented Wave of Trials Approaches in Opioid Crisis Litigation

Landmark verdicts and settlements already have occurred in widespread opioid litigation against big pharmaceutical companies. That trend continues as those companies brace for yet another massive wave of trials in upcoming weeks. Calendars from March to May in some of the country’s most significant courts are packed with six opioid trials reminiscent of the first American opioid trials that began almost three years Read More

Nonprofit and Former Case Manager Settle Discrimination Suit Over Remote Work Request

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Inc. and a former case manager have advised a Florida federal court that they have settled their pending court case. Kristina Collado-Fernandez had accused the nonprofit organization of discrimination and retaliation after she asked to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for her autistic son. The parties expect to file a formal settlement and request Read More

Bimbo Bakeries Strikes Deal to End DOL Sex Bias Probe

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that Bimbo Bakeries will pay $131,216 in back pay and interest to 134 female applicants as part of a hiring discrimination agreement with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The OFCCP enforces anti-discrimination laws against federal contractors and sub-contractors. The alleged hiring discrimination occurred at a Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc. Read More

Jiffy Lube Files Notice of Agreement to Settle Class Action on Employee No-Poach Policy

Jiffy Lube and a class of employees have filed their notice of agreement to settle a class action over the employer’s no-poach policy as to its employees. The parties intend to present a formal settlement agreement and a motion for the court to approve the settlement agreement within 30 to 45 days.  The no-poach policy prohibits franchisees from hiring employees who worked at another Jiffy Lube location. The Read More

AZ Workers Vote in 3rd American Unionized Starbucks Store

Workers at the Mesa, AZ Starbucks, located at Powers and Baseline Roads, overwhelmingly voted to unionize, choosing Workers United, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, as its collective bargaining representative. The 25-3 vote in favor of unionizing came after Starbucks’ objections delayed an initial vote in February. The Mesa location is the third unionized Starbucks store in the Read More

Split 2nd Circuit Panel Rejects Ex-Disney Worker’s Bid for Severance

A split panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Walt Disney Co. does not owe severance pay to a terminated former worker after she became unable to work following a stroke. The court found that since Nancy Soto’s termination did not fall within the definition of a “layoff,” Disney did not violate ERISA when it denied her a severance payment.  As a result, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Read More

Hyatt Wins Summary Judgment in Pandemic Furlough Suit

A California federal district court granted summary judgment to Hyatt Corporation against a class of former employees who alleged that they were entitled to accrued vacation time from Hyatt after Hyatt laid them off, indefinitely, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The judge found that by laying the employees off rather than terminating them, Hyatt had not severed the employer-employee relationship, and therefore Read More

EEOC and GA Company Reach Consent Decree Ending ADA Violation Suit

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Ranew’s Management Co. Inc., a Georgia industrial company, reached a consent decree in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Ranew's Management Co. Inc. et al., case number 5:21-cv-00443, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The decree provides that the company will pay J. Bryant Beeland, a former chief financial officer, $250,000, Read More

Taco Bell Prevails in ERISA Worker Misclassification Suit

Based on a lack of standing, a California federal district court dismissed a former Taco Bell recruiter's suit against the popular chain restaurant and its parent company, Yum Brands. The former recruiter had alleged that the companies had violated ERISA by intentionally misclassifying him as an independent contractor to deny him access to employee benefits, including the employee pension plan. U.S. District Judge Read More

5th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of $2.1M Atty Fee Fight From Texas Court

A panel of the Fifth Circuit affirmed a Texas federal court decision to dismiss a Texas personal injury law firm’s $2.1 million referral fee lawsuit against an Ohio law firm. The Fifth Circuit agreed with Ohio law firm Morgan Verkamp that its reply to one unsolicited email from the Texas law firm of Danziger & De Llano did not create sufficient connections to subject it to Texas law. The case is Danziger & De Read More