US District Court Rules Regular Attendance, Cooperation to be Necessary Qualifications for Indianapolis Fire Department Firefighters, Rejects Former Employee’s Disability Suit

By Cynthia McNabb and Kim Lowe

In Neal v. Indianapolis Fire Department, a District Court judge ruled that there was no merit to a claim by a former employee that he was discriminated against on the basis of his disability when he was terminated for poor attendance.

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Prospective Firefighter Unable to Overcome Obstacles in Disability Suit

By Jim Cline and Mark Anderson

In Frost v. City of Philadelphia, a Philadelphia court denied a trial for Plaintiff Frost’s claims that the City discriminated against him by refusing to admit him to the Fire Academy and then firing him because of his disability.

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Tennessee Court Upholds Police Officer’s First Amendment’s Free Speech Rights

By Jim Cline and Mark Anderson

In Bagby v. City of Morristown, a Tennessee court ordered a trial for Officer Bagby’s claim that the City of Morristown Police Department violated his freedom of speech by firing him in retaliation for comments he made at a City Council meeting.

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Illinois Court Holds Inconsistent Discipline Standards can be a Basis for Race Discrimination Lawsuit

By Mark Anderson and Katrina Thornton

In Levy v. Wilkie, an Illinois court of appeals ordered a trial of an African American police officer’s race discrimination lawsuit.  Levy worked as a police officer at the Hines VA Hospital.   The court found that inconsistent discipline practices raised a jury question on whether Levy had been subject to racial discrimination.

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Federal Court in Illinois Throws Out Black Probation Officer’s Race Discrimination and Union Retaliation Claim Based on Denial of His Request for a Schedule Change

By Mark Anderson and Katrina Thornton

In Smith v. Cook County, an Illinois court dismissed an African American probation officer’s lawsuit claiming the County denied his request for an adjusted schedule because of his race and active participation in his labor union. The court dismissed Officer Jason Smith’s lawsuit,  finding that neither Smith’s race nor his union activity was the basis for the employer’s denial of his request to adjust his schedule.

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Philadelphia Police Tow Trucker Driver’s Prayers Answered as Court Holds Department May Have Discriminated Against Him

By Mark Anderson and Katrina Thornton

In Bonilla v. City of Philadelphia, a Philadelphia court denied the City of Philadelphia’s request to throw out  a Christian tow truck driver’s lawsuit claiming that he had been discriminated against because of his faith. The court held the Department may have created an offensive work environment based on the driver’s religious beliefs.

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Philadelphia cop can’t claim that management retaliated by failing to stop coworkers from creating a hostile work environment

By Mark Anderson and Beth Touschner

In Anselmo v. City of Philadelphia, a city police officer brought a lawsuit against her employer alleging she was retaliated against by coworkers after she reported gender discrimination. Specifically, Anselmo claimed, after she reported discrimination she was ostracized, lost friends at work, was not invited to social gatherings, coworkers would not sit near her, she was excluded when lunch was ordered, and one of her coworkers called her a rat. The court rejected her retaliation claim because Anselmo failed to show that the employer knew of the harassment and failed to stop it. Indeed, the court noted, Anselmo admitted she had not reported her allegations to anyone and had simply withdrawn.  

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Texas Police Officer Avoids Dismissal of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Claims After He Reported the Harassment

By Jim Cline and Mark Anderson

In Gregg v. City of Houston, a Texas police officer prevailed on a motion to dismiss his claims for harassment and retaliation after he was sexually harassed by a female coworker for several years, and then ostracized by coworkers after he reported the harassment. The court found that Officer Michael Gregg met each of the required elements to proceed to trial on his Title VII hostile work environment claim and his retaliation claim.

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Rhode Island Police Officer Prevails in His Free Speech Lawsuit After Being Disciplined for Speaking to the Media

By Mark Anderson and Beth Touschner

In Brady v. Tamburini, a Rhode Island police detective prevailed in his First Amendment free speech lawsuit after being disciplined for speaking with the news media. The court found that the police department’s policy prohibiting officers from speaking to the media ran afoul of First Amendment free speech protections. It also found that several other department policies, for which Detective James Brady was disciplined, were improper as applied to him.

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Indiana Police Officer Fails to Provide Evidence of Discriminatory Motive for His Discipline

By: Loyd Willaford and Clive Pontusson

In Cobsy v. City of Indianapolis, a federal court dismissed the lawsuit of a police officer who claimed that his repeated discipline was motivated by racial bias in the Indianapolis Police Department. Because Officer Cosby did not present evidence that his multiple suspensions were related to his race, he could not state a claim for racial discrimination.

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