Employment

  • August 02, 2024

    Ex-Exec Can't Escape Drug Co.'s Trade Secret Suit

    The North Carolina Business Court refused to give a win before trial to the former president of a United Therapeutics Corp. subsidiary on a claim that he took trade secrets to a rival, with the court reasoning the drug company took reasonable steps to protect the secrets beyond a three-year limit in his employment agreement.

  • August 02, 2024

    Employment Authority: OSHA's New Heat Break Rule

    Law360 Employment Authority covers the biggest employment cases and trends. Catch up this week with a look at the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed workplace heat safety rule, the impact of the Ninth Circuit's decision that a federal prison guard's Instagram activity represented harassment toward a female co-worker and how challenges might advance on the National Labor Relations Board's decision to unwind a 2020 regulation that curtailed the practice of pausing elections over alleged misconduct.

  • August 02, 2024

    OT Rule Exceeds DOL's Authority, Red States Argue

    A group of 14 red states joined Texas in calling for a federal court to strike down the U.S. Department of Labor's rule raising salary thresholds for a federal overtime exemption, claiming in a brief that the new rule would hit their states particularly hard.

  • August 02, 2024

    Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

    In this inaugural edition of Wheeling & Appealing, Law360 recaps recent appellate opinions that made waves, quizzes readers about a new word for judicial grievances, and previews August arguments in circuit courts over controversial wage rules and a seven-figure attorney fee award after a digital age intellectual property trial.

  • August 02, 2024

    Ill. Gov. Pritzker Signs BIPA Reform Into Law

    Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed biometric privacy reform legislation into law on Friday, significantly reducing companies' potential liability for collecting or sharing individuals' fingerprint and other biometric data without informed consent.

  • August 02, 2024

    Judge Rejects Intervenors In Religious Workers' Vax Deal Bid

    Women who opted out of or objected to a recently vacated $10.5 million deal between Ascension Health Alliance and workers who allege the company retaliated or fired them for seeking COVID-19 vaccine exemptions cannot now intervene in the renewed bid for settlement approval, a Michigan federal judge has ruled, finding their request untimely.

  • August 02, 2024

    Ex-Lewis Brisbois Partner's Pay Bias Suit Sent To Arbitration

    Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP can arbitrate its former partner's gender discrimination suit claiming she was retaliated against for raising concerns about the firm's "unethical billing practices," a California state court judge ruled Friday, staying the entire case pending arbitration.

  • August 02, 2024

    Sephora Ex-Manager's Retaliation Suit Lacks Proof, Court Told

    Sephora urged a Georgia federal judge Friday to toss a Latina manager's retaliation claims that she was fired for refusing to engage in an allegedly discriminatory hiring scheme that would have prioritized white applicants, arguing her suit lacks proof the company knew about her concerns.

  • August 02, 2024

    UFCW's Disclaimer Ends NY Ouster Bid, NLRB Official Says

    A Walgreens employee's request to have an election to decertify a United Food and Commercial Workers affiliate can't go forward, a National Labor Relations Board regional director concluded, explaining that the union disclaimed interest in representing a bargaining unit at stores in New York.

  • August 02, 2024

    Ex-CFO Of Embattled PE Firm Sues In Del. For Legal Fees

    The former chief financial officer of 777 Partners LLC has sued the private equity firm in Delaware's Court of Chancery, seeking advancement of his legal fees in connection with a fraud investigation and at least 20 civil lawsuits related to the company's business.

  • August 02, 2024

    Plumbing Co. Sales Reps Owed OT, 1st Circ. Affirms

    A group of more than 600 sales representatives at a Massachusetts-based plumbing and HVAC wholesaler are eligible for overtime pay, the First Circuit concluded on Thursday, affirming a lower court's finding on a Fair Labor Standards Act complaint brought by the government.

  • August 02, 2024

    Onion Packer To Pay Nearly $270K In Withheld OT Wages

    The U.S. Department of Labor said it recovered nearly $270,000 in back wages and damages for 76 onion farm laborers after the agency found an Idaho business had put them up in substandard housing and had not paid overtime wages.

  • August 02, 2024

    FedEx Drivers Accept $166K Deal To Close Out OT Suit

    Two Massachusetts FedEx drivers claiming the logistics giant shorted them on overtime wages accepted an offer to end the litigation in their favor months before trial for $20,000 each, plus $126,000 in attorney fees. 

  • August 02, 2024

    3 Candidates In Running To Replace Washington AG

    Washington voters on Tuesday will narrow the candidates aspiring to become the state's next attorney general, choosing from among a former U.S. attorney, a state lawmaker who was a county prosecutor, as well as a mayor and attorney who is a gun rights advocate.

  • August 02, 2024

    11th Circ. Reopens Emory Suit Over Sex Assault Hearing

    Emory University must face a male student's suit claiming he was mistreated during a hearing about sexual assault accusations against him, the Eleventh Circuit ruled, saying he'd provided enough details to suggest the school's sexual misconduct policy created an implied contract between them.

  • August 02, 2024

    4th Circ. Says Upcoming 50th Birthday Didn't Affect Benefits

    An administrative law judge was right to find a worker who suffers from a series of mental health issues isn't owed Social Security disability benefits, the Fourth Circuit said, agreeing that the worker's upcoming 50th birthday didn't strengthen her claim.

  • August 02, 2024

    Off The Bench: NFL Reversal, Drone Spying, UFC Deal Tossed

    In this week's Off The Bench, a bombshell ruling wipes out a $4.7 billion antitrust verdict against the NFL, Canada takes it on the chin for Olympic drone spying, and a nine-figure settlement to address UFC wage suppression is rejected.

  • August 02, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen insurance broker Marsh sue the collapsed Greensill Bank, the former chair of the Islamic Students Association of Britain pursue a defamation case against the Jewish Chronicle, Berkshire Hathaway and Lloyd's face action from a shipping company, and alleged fraudster Ronald Bauer hit a loan company with a claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • August 01, 2024

    Feds Want Full Sentence Kept In Fla. Illegal Employment Case

    The U.S. urged a Florida federal court on Thursday to uphold the three-year prison sentence of a labor staffing company operator convicted in a conspiracy to hire migrants not authorized to work in the U.S., saying he's ineligible for a reduction because of his admitted role in the scheme.

  • August 01, 2024

    Sidley Launches New San Diego Office With Five Partners

    Sidley Austin LLP has opened a new office in San Diego, with five partners specializing in a range of areas including mergers and acquisition, venture capital and global finance, marking the global law firm's fifth office in the Golden State, the firm announced Thursday.

  • August 01, 2024

    Mich. Ruling Ushers In Sweeping Paid Leave, Wage Changes

    The Michigan Supreme Court raised the minimum wage and dramatically expanded the number of employers who must soon provide workers with paid sick leave in a blockbuster end-of-term ruling Wednesday that adds new compliance burdens and potential liability for employers, attorneys told Law360.

  • August 01, 2024

    Ex-Philly Union Leaders On The Hook For Union's Legal Fees

    Former Philadelphia union leader and convicted felon John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty will have to pay 90% of the attorney fees that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 incurred while participating in the government's public corruption and embezzlement cases against him, a federal judge said Thursday.

  • August 01, 2024

    NJ Transit On Hook For $11.6M Injury Verdict, 2nd Circ. Says

    The Second Circuit on Tuesday affirmed a jury's $11.6 million verdict accusing New Jersey Transit of negligently ordering a train engineer to continue operating in an overheated cab that caused him to suffer career-ending injuries, saying the state-owned company had a duty to maintain the cab's air conditioning system.

  • August 01, 2024

    Feds Say Farmworkers Should Have Sued State Over Wages

    The U.S. Department of Labor has urged a Washington federal court to toss a farmworker union's challenge to policies governing the prevailing wage, saying the union's issues actually stem from how state officials interpreted federal rules governing the wage rate.

  • August 01, 2024

    Employers Urge Justices Take Up Withdrawal Liability Fight

    The U.S. Supreme Court must resolve a circuit split over how to calculate the bills sent to companies that leave union pension plans, a group of employers has argued, fighting an argument by the trustees of an International Association of Machinists pension fund that the split is "tolerable."

Expert Analysis

  • 12 Keys To Successful Post-Trial Juror Interviews

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    Post-trial interviews offer attorneys an avenue to gain valuable insights into juror decision making and get feedback that can inform future litigation strategies, but certain best practices must be followed to get the most out of this research tool, say Alexa Hiley and Brianna Smith at IMS Legal.

  • How Employers, Attorneys Can Respond To Noncompete Ban

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    As the Federal Trade Commission's recently issued noncompete ban faces ongoing legal challenges, now is a good time for employers to consider whether they want to take a wait-and-see approach before halting use of noncompetes and for practitioners to gain insight into other tools available to protect their clients' business interests, says Jennifer Platzkere Snyder at Dilworth Paxson.

  • Perspectives

    Trauma-Informed Legal Approaches For Pro Bono Attorneys

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    As National Trauma Awareness Month ends, pro bono attorneys should nevertheless continue to acknowledge the mental and physical effects of trauma, allowing them to better represent clients, and protect themselves from compassion fatigue and burnout, say Katherine Cronin at Stinson and Katharine Manning at Blackbird.

  • Cos. Must Stay On Alert With Joint Employer Rule In Flux

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    While employers may breathe a sigh of relief at recent events blocking the National Labor Relations Board's proposed rule that would make it easier for two entities to be deemed joint employers, the rule is not yet dead, say attorneys at ​​​​​​​Day Pitney.

  • 4 Arbitration Takeaways From High Court Coinbase Ruling

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's May 23 decision in Coinbase v. Suski, which provides clarity to parties faced with successive contracts containing conflicting dispute resolution provisions, has four practical impacts for contracting parties to consider, say Charles Schoenwetter and Eric Olson at Bowman and Brooke.

  • Series

    Playing Music Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My deep and passionate involvement in playing, writing and producing music equipped me with skills — like creativity, improvisation and problem-solving — that contribute to the success of my legal career, says attorney Kenneth Greene.

  • Lessons In High-Profile Jury Selection Amid NY Trump Trial

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    Richard Gabriel and Michelle Rey LaRocca at Decision Analysis consider how media exposure can affect a prospective juror in a high-profile case, the misunderstood nature of bias, and recommendations for jury selection in these unique situations as the Trump hush money trial continues in New York.

  • How Attys Can Avoid Pitfalls When Withdrawing From A Case

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    The Trump campaign's recent scuffle over its bid to replace its counsel in a pregnancy retaliation suit offers a chance to remind attorneys that many troubles inherent in withdrawing from a case can be mitigated or entirely avoided by communicating with clients openly and frequently, says Christopher Konneker at Orsinger Nelson.

  • One Contract Fix Can Reduce Employer Lawsuit Exposure

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    A recent Fifth Circuit ruling that saved FedEx over $365 million highlights how a one-sentence limitation provision on an employment application or in an at-will employment agreement may be the easiest cost-savings measure for employers against legal claims, say Sara O'Keefe and William Wortel at BCLP.

  • Using A Children's Book Approach In Firm Marketing Content

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    From “The Giving Tree” to “Where the Wild Things Are,” most children’s books are easy to remember because they use simple words and numbers to tell stories with a human impact — a formula law firms should emulate in their marketing content to stay front of mind for potential clients, says Seema Desai Maglio at The Found Word.

  • The State Of Play In DEI And ESG 1 Year After Harvard Ruling

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    Almost a year after the U.S. Supreme Court decided Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, attorney general scrutiny of environmental, social and governance-related efforts indicates a potential path for corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to be targeted, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • FTC Noncompete Rule Risks A Wave Of State AG Actions

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    The Federal Trade Commission's final rule language banning noncompetes may contribute to a waterfall enforcement effect in which state attorneys general deploy their broad authority to treat noncompetes as separate and independent violations, say Ryan Strasser and Carson Cox at Troutman Pepper.

  • How To Use Exhibits Strategically Throughout Your Case

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    Exhibits, and documents in particular, are the lifeblood of legal advocacy, so attorneys must understand how to wield them effectively throughout different stages of a case to help build strategy, elevate witness preparation and effectively persuade the fact-finders, say Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie and Colorado prosecutor Adam Kendall.

  • Series

    Being An EMT Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While some of my experiences as an emergency medical technician have been unusually painful and searing, the skills I’ve learned — such as triage, empathy and preparedness — are just as useful in my work as a restructuring lawyer, says Marshall Huebner at Davis Polk.

  • Behind Court Challenges To The FTC's Final Noncompete Rule

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    The Federal Trade Commission's recent final rule banning noncompetes may not go into effect any time soon amid a couple of Texas federal court challenges seeking to bar the rule's implementation, which will likely see appeals all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, says Michael Elkins at MLE Law.

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