Sixth Circuit Reverses Jury Verdict in Title VII Case Against Ford Motor Company
In Khalaf v. Ford Motor Company (6th Cir., No. 19-1435, 8/31/2020), the Sixth Circuit reversed a jury verdict from the Eastern District of Michigan against Ford Motor Company on Khalaf's Title VII and state law race and national origin discrimination, and retaliation...
“Up There in Years” Constitutes Direct Evidence of Age Discrimination – Sixth Circuit Says
In Lowe v. Walbro, LLC (6th Cir. 19-2386, 8/26/2020), the Sixth Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment for the employer against Lowe's Michigan state-law age discrimination claims. Plaintiff Lowe worked as an area manager for the employer. He was 60...
Sixth Circuit Holds Exclusive Representation by Teachers’ Union Does Not Violate First Amendment
In Thompson v. Marietta [OH] Education Ass’n, (6th Cir. No. 19-4217, 8/25/20), the court affirmed summary judgment for a teachers' union and school board against Thompson's claims that Ohio's system of exclusive representation for teachers violated her free speech...
Sixth Circuit Finds Incendiary Facebook Post Protected Under Section 1983
In Marquardt v. City of North Cleveland, Ohio (6th Cir., No. 19-4223, 8/19/20), the plaintiff Jamie Marquardt, a captain in the Cleveland EMS, made incendiary comments on his private Facebook page regarding the death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year old who was...
Failure to Enact OSHA Policy Constitutes “Illegal Activity” Under TPPA
In Davis v. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Tenn. Ct. App., M.S., 8/5/2020), Davis sued the defendant medical center alleging he was discharged because he refused to remain silent about the employer’s failure to enact policies to safeguard its...
D.C. Circuit Vacates FLRA Decision – Upholds Arbitration Award
In Weather Service Employees Ass’n v. Federal Labor Relations Authority (DC Cir., No 19-1163, 7/31/2020), the District of Columbia Circuit overruled a decision of the FLRA, for the second time in less than 60 days. In this case, the Weather Service Employees...