The Tallahassee court hearing had just begun when the obscene interruption happened. In Florida’s capital, the head of the local Republican Party was suing to overturn the County Commission’s requirement that everyone had to wear a mask to battle coronavirus. Because of the pandemic, the…
This is a story about a clash of values and law over political speech and when it is or isn’t legally protected. The arena for this battle is a Massachusetts federal court, where a proposed class of thousands Whole Foods Market employees are challenging the…
Michigan Judge Denise Langford Morris works from home these days, shorts and a tank top under her stately robe, double-strand pearls and full makeup on display for the Zoom camera, working long hours to keep the wheels of justice turning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She…
Even with a large number of workers remote due to COVID-19, new allegations of toxic workplaces are alive and well. The Washington Football Team, entertainment magazine Essence and entertainment website Refinery29 are just some of the latest companies to take the now-familiar step of hiring…
Noncompete agreements signed when someone first takes a job can hang heavy on them when it is time to pursue new employment. But in many instances, they may not carry enough weight to prevent someone from getting a new job in their chosen profession, experts…
Strip clubs in Florida that have been denied federal coronavirus stimulus money are suing the U.S. Small Business Administration, saying its practices are discriminatory and unconstitutional. Several clubs are following in the footsteps of similar businesses in Michigan and Wisconsin. The Paycheck Protection Program grants/loans…
To Tony Lombardo, who has multiple sclerosis, the Americans with Disabilities Act bestowed recognition of disabled people’s basic humanity. Marilyn Golden, who uses a wheelchair, says life under the ADA is “hugely different, but it doesn’t mean it’s enough.” And John Morris, who also uses…
To many small businesses, the federal stimulus program that provided money to pay employees during the pandemic was a critical lifeline. But if those business owners aren’t precise with their paperwork, that grant could turn into a loan or, worse, a criminal fraud charge. Arkady…
On July 1, it became a crime in Florida to falsely declare a pet as an emotional support animal. If convicted, the pet owner can be jailed for two months and/or fined $500 and be required to perform 30 hours of community service with an…
On the heels of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming that religious schools are largely exempt from most employment discrimination claims, some fear the ruling is concerningly broad and affords churches a blanket license to show prejudice. The Supreme Court in its 7-2 decision…