Indianapolis receives worker’s “chronic body odor” lawsuit
Indianapolis is being sued by a former courts official who alleges that she was fired after she installed air fresheners to combat a co-worker’s “obnoxious chronic body odor.”
labor and employment
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Judge denies arbitration request on firefighters contract
A judge has denied a request for arbitration amid contract talks by a union representing Kokomo firefighters.
IU wins after sued by fired director accused of sexual harassment
A district court judge has granted summary judgment to Indiana University’s School of Dentistry and high-ranking members of its faculty after finding the school did not violate a former clinic director’s rights by firing him for alleged sexual harassment of students.
7th Circuit affirms ruling for employer on discrimination claims
Indiana’s Southern District Court properly granted summary judgment to a black man on a discrimination case against his former employer after finding the man failed to prove his termination was based on discriminatory practices, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
U.S. Supreme Court declines gay-rights work discrimination case
The Supreme Court is leaving in place a lower court ruling that a federal employment discrimination law doesn't protect a person against discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
Civil Rights Commission’s $96K discrimination award upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a nearly $100,000 judgment in favor of a black man who claims he was subject to discriminatory practices by his former employer after ruling the Indiana Civil Rights Commission’s finding in favor of the man was not invalid or void.
7th Circuit affirms ruling for laid off tenured teacher
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down the retroactive application of an Indiana law that removed job security protections for tenured teachers, finding the application to teachers who were tenured before the law took effect is a substantial impairment to their constitutional contractual rights.
Ex-Planned Parenthood group worker sues over medical leave
A former employee with a Planned Parenthood advocacy group is suing the organization, alleging that she was denied family medical leave after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
State employees now blow whistle at own risk
A ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court that held the state cannot be sued under the whistleblower act has left some attorneys concerned for taxpayers and inspired at least one elected official to seek to change the law. But the ruling has not discouraged the state employee who started the fight.
In legal gray area, social media use may impact work life
For employment attorneys, an ever-growing part of the job may include workplace investigations involving the use of social media by employees, on or off the clock.
COA applies amended wage statute retroactively
A man failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that a change in the Wage Payment Statute that occurred during his employment should not be applied retroactively.
Justices: Employer’s admission limits theories of recovery
Indiana precedent does not allow both a respondeat superior and negligent hiring claim against an employer to proceed if the employer has admitted their employee was acting within the course and scope of their employment when the negligence occurred, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in an opinion that upheld partial summary judgment for Pizza Hut.
Ex-school worker says he was fired for Black Lives Matter criticism
A former Fort Wayne Community Schools employee is suing the district, alleging he was wrongfully fired for publicly criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement.
Anderson appeals $850,000 verdict to fired city workers
The city of Anderson is appealing a federal judge's ruling that it must pay about $850,000 to eight people who were fired from their jobs when a new mayor took office in 2012.
Justice Department ends transgender workplace protections
Federal civil rights law does not protect transgender people from discrimination at work, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a memo released Thursday that rescinds guidance issued under the Obama administration.
Poll: Most Americans believe their jobs are safe from automation
Most Americans believe their jobs are safe from the spread of automation and robotics, at least during their lifetimes, and only a handful says automation has cost them a job or loss of income.
First Monday in October: New Supreme Court term begins
The Supreme Court is starting its new year, with Justice Neil Gorsuch on board for his first full term.
Mandatory union fees again draw US Supreme Court scrutiny
The U.S. Supreme Court said it will try for a second time to decide whether 5 million government workers can refuse to pay union fees, accepting a case that could deal a major blow to the labor movement’s finances and clout.
Full 2nd Circuit set to consider Title VII protections
The entire 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals will consider Tuesday whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Worker barred by noncompete challenges Commercial Court constitutionality
One of the first Indiana Commercial Court cases argued on appeal opened with a hearing-day motion filed Monday in the Indiana Court of Appeals challenging the constitutionality of the state’s year-old pilot docket.