By David E. Worley

In Carroll v. Clifford Township, 34 IER Cases 1118 (M. D. Pa. 2012), summary judgment was denied when the plaintiff, the former sheriff, had his position eliminated, his department budget reduced, and was denied entry into the Fraternal Order of Police after filing a lawsuit against the township and subsequently filing an earlier retaliation lawsuit.  

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By David E. Worley

In City of Crystal (131 LA 268 (Neigh, 2012)), the arbitrator determined that the City and the Union were bound by the contract language and its plain interpretation in regard to the required contribution of the City to employee’s health insurance as well as contributions to the employee’s Health Savings Accounts.  The dispute arose in an unusual context in which premiums decreased after the expiration of the CBA and the City had to determine how to administer the benefit, which was reduced in its cost.

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By David E. Worley

In Smith v. City of New Smyrna Beach (116 FEP Cases 1973 (M.D. Fla. 2012)) a female firefighter’s alleged facts on claims of sex discrimination and retaliation were sufficient to survive summary judgment when she was suspended for using profane language. Using such language was common in the workplace and no one else had received a suspension. Additionally, a hostile work environment may exist.  Taken in a light most favorable to the Plaintiff, the court concluded, the facts were sufficient so that a jury might find the Plaintiff was treated adversely because of her gender.

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By Kate Acheson and Jim Cline

In Dill v. City of Clarksville, a Tennessee Court of Appeals vacated the termination of a police officer because that officer was deprived of due process in the termination proceedings.  Although there was sufficient evidence to support the decision to discipline the officer, the police chief failed to follow the procedure set out in the city code —  requiring all relevant investigation materials be forwarded to human resources prior to taking disciplinary.

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By David Worley

In Federal Bureau of Prisons (130 LA 1745 (Szuter, 2012), a one-day suspension was overturned entirely based on the lengthy delay that elapsed between the time of the infraction and the time of the discipline. While the arbitrator concluded that just cause existed to discipline the employee for the infraction, he also concluded that the contract was violated by the 15 month delay in completing the investigation.   [Read more…]