By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In, Town v. Dade County Police Benevolent Association, a police officer was reinstated without back pay after he was discharged for allegedly harassing peer officers through a pattern of antisemitic and misogynistic comments. Arbitrator David Mudrick held that the harassment did not rise to the level of discharge and ordered the Employer to convert the discharge to an unpaid suspension and allow the officer to maintain his seniority.
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In Hussey v Cambridge, a police officer sued after he was suspended for four days without pay following a Facebook post he made criticizing a police reform bill named after George Floyd. The Court held that the officer’s First Amendment rights were not violated because the officer’s right to free speech was outweighed by the City’s interest in promoting community trust.
By Jim Cline and Peter Haller
In Noon v. Smedley,the Federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that two Illinois police officers be reinstated after they had been fired in retaliation for expressing negative sentiments about the chief of police. The court held that the officers’ speech was protected under the first amendment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
