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 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.
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.
By: Loyd Willaford and Clive Pontusson
In Jones v. City of Birmingham, a federal court ruled that an Alabama Police Officer had alleged sufficient facts to show he may have been transferred as retaliation for filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Court dismissed Edwin Jones’ claim for racial discrimination, but it did find that Jones had shown a potential retaliation for his filing a complaint with the EEOC. As a result, the Court determined that his case should be heard by a jury. [Read more…]
