American Association for Justice
News Brief
The Washington Post (1/27, A2, Barnes) reports, “The Supreme Court unanimously ruled yesterday that a federal anti-discrimination law protects employees from retaliation when they cooperate with internal investigations of harassment,” siding with “Vicky S. Crawford, who said she was fired from her longtime job in charge of payroll for the Nashville school system after she answered questions in an ongoing investigation into what the court termed the ‘louche goings-on’ involving a supervisor.” This “ruling was the latest case in which the court has sided with employees who sue for retaliation, a position somewhat at odds with the pro-business label the court has received under Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.” (more…)
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American Association for Justice
News Brief
USA Today (1/22, Biskupic) reports, “The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 Wednesday that students who are sexually harassed may sue under a federal statute covering schools and a broader civil rights law,” which clarifies the “conflict among lower courts” and “revives a lawsuit brought by the parents of a Massachusetts kindergartener who said a third-grade boy repeatedly harassed her on the school bus.” The decision was commended by Marcia Greenberger, co-president of National Women’s Law Center, who said, “Sex discrimination … is still all too common in (schools). That is why it is crucial that a full range of remedies remain available.” However, “Francisco Negron, general counsel of the National School Boards Association, disagreed, saying the decision could encourage litigation: ‘Why should school districts have to go through that pressure (of possible lawsuits), especially at the time of limited funds?’” (more…)
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