On November 16, 2018, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released sweeping new regulations that could substantially alter how colleges and universities handle allegations of sexual misconduct. This action comes in the wake of DeVos’ 2017 revocation of Title IX guidance issued under the Obama administration, which had called for greater enforcement of Title IX, […]
Cullen and Dykman LLP Blogs
Archives
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
Blog Title: Federal Practice
Starbucks and its Changing Policies Regarding Mandatory Training and Bathroom Usage
On May 29, 2018, Starbucks closed 8,000 company-owned stores within the United States for one afternoon to provide mandated racial bias training to its 175,000 employees. The decision to provide racial bias training came forth after a manager of Starbucks called the police when seeing two black enter their Starbucks located in downtown Philadelphia without […]
What is the PAID Program? How Can it Affect Employers? Resolution or Trap?
On March 6, 2018, the U.S Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced a nationwide pilot program, the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. PAID allows employers to self-assess potential wage and hour underpayments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) while helping to protect themselves against litigation threats from the Department of labor […]
When Must an Employer Compensate its Employees for Time Spent Donning and Doffing?
Donning and doffing refers to changing into and out of work clothes, gear, or equipment. To don means to put on work clothes, gear, or equipment. To doff means to take off work clothes, gear, or equipment. While both federal and state laws require that employers compensate employees for all “work” performed, both federal and state […]
Amendments to Federal Rules of Evidence Effect ESI Authentication
On December 1, new amendments to Federal Rules of Evidence 803(16) and 902 went into effect that are designed to change the way that electronically stored information (“ESI”) is authenticated in federal court. These amendments were made in response to growing concerns over a potential evidentiary loophole for ESI that has been stored for a […]
The Second Circuit Reviews New York Methodist Hospital Worker’s FMLA Suit
On June 30 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found that the District Court erred when it held that an employee had not proven a “serious health condition” to qualify for medical leave. The Second Circuit reasoned that the District Court used an interpretation of the regulation that was too narrow. […]
A Single Racist Comment May Establish a Title VII Violation
In April 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held that a single racist comment can, when severe enough, establish a discriminatory hostile work environment. Otis Daniel, a 35-year-old African American male, began working for T&M Protection Resources, Inc. in 2010. Daniel worked as a fire safety director for T&M for […]
Third Circuit Court Denies Penn State Football Coaches’ Claim
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the “Third Circuit”) recently affirmed the U.S. District Court’s decision to grant Penn State University’s motion to dismiss claims made by two former Penn State football coaches. Coaches Jay Paterno and William Kenney sued Penn State in 2014, claiming they were denied due process of […]
University of Chicago Prevails in Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit
A federal jury in Illinois recently returned a verdict in favor of the University of Chicago Medical Center (“UCMC”) in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. A former UCMC resident, Dr. Maria Artunduaga (“Artunduaga”), sued the University of Chicago in 2012, claiming she experienced discrimination (hostile work environment) while employed by the UCMC. Artunduaga began her […]
Transgender Students Find Success in Pennsylvania Federal Court
Three transgender high school students in Pittsburgh recently prevailed in federal court in temporarily halting a school district policy requiring the students to use restrooms that do not conform with their gender identities. The Pennsylvania court’s decision comes just a week after the Trump administration announced that it would rescind guidance issued by the Obama […]