Employment Law
Worker Wins $20 Million From San Francisco Marriott Marquis in Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
A San Francisco jury awarded a former Marriott Marquis employee $20 million in damages after finding that the hotel failed to provide reasonable accommodations for his disability. The verdict was announced in San Francisco Superior Court after a 13-day trial. The case highlights the important rights that workers with disabilities have when seeking accommodations in…
Read MoreBay Area Subway Franchisee Faces Closure and $1 Million Penalty for Wage Theft
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a 14-unit Subway franchisee in the San Francisco Bay Area to either close or sell their stores. The employers must pay workers almost $1 million in damages and backpay going as far back as 2019. They are also required to pay thousands of dollars…
Read MoreBay Area Fire District Pays $100,000 Settlement for Withdrawing Job Offer Based on Applicant’s Criminal Record
The Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District (MOFD) agreed to pay nearly $97,500 to settle a case brought against it by a job applicant. The settlement, announced by the California Civil Rights Department, stems from the district’s alleged violation of the state’s Fair Chance Act. The law prohibits employers from wrongfully considering an individual’s criminal history during…
Read MoreDeaf FedEx Package Handler Gets $2 Million in Disability Discrimination Case
A former package handler at FedEx Ground who is deaf won a $2 million jury award in a disability discrimination lawsuit. The case highlights the need for employers to proactively address workers’ concerns about reasonable accommodations. The employee struggled with anxiety and frustration when FedEx did not fully participate in the interactive process to consider…
Read MoreWhat the California Supreme Court’s Decision in the Uber Lawsuit Means for Gig Workers
For years, there has been an ongoing struggle between maintaining the convenience and flexibility of the gig economy and protecting the rights of workers who try to make a living within its framework. Now, a recent court decision in a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. could pave the way for better gig worker rights in…
Read MoreWorkday AI Hiring Tool Discriminates Based on Age and Race, Says Lawsuit
The topic of Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly dominating headlines and raising various ethical questions. While some view AI as a tool that benefits humans and makes life easier, others claim that it is bound to lead to the destruction of civilization. The debate is ongoing as technology continues to evolve at a breakneck speed.…
Read MoreMisclassified Delivery Drivers Get $650,000 in Back Wages from Romero’s Food Products
A food manufacturer in Santa Fe Springs, California, is on the hook for $650,000 after the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) efforts to recover back wages for a group of misclassified delivery drivers. Worker misclassification is a serious issue that can cheat workers out of their rightful pay. Romero’s Food Products misclassified 26 delivery drivers…
Read MoreMarin County Home Consignment Center Worker Wins $1.3 Million in COVID-19 Whistleblower Lawsuit
People often think of whistleblowing in relation to exposing a major scandal or government wrongdoing. However, being a whistleblower does not always have to be so dramatic in the context of workplace issues. A whistleblower is a worker who reports workplace activities that they believe are illegal. Whistleblowing can occur in a variety of ways.…
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