Tag: Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Important Retaliation Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has just released a ruling in the case of Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, concluding that Title VII’s anti-retaliation provision extends to an employee who speaks out about discrimination while answering questions during an employer’s internal investigation.

Congress Approves Expanded Disability Bias Protections–Get Ready for the Changes

Last week, Congress approved important legislation, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406), to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide broader protections for disabled workers and turn back the clock on Supreme Court rulings that Congress deemed too restrictive of disabled employees’ rights. President Bush is expected to sign the Act, and […]

California’s High Court Puts the Kibosh on Noncompete Agreements

The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision that makes it clear that employers cannot restrain an employee’s ability to compete, regardless of how reasonable or narrow the restrictions. As a result of this ruling, employers should do a thorough review of their employment agreements to ensure they do not contain unlawful noncompetition provisions.

Benefits Denials Scrutinized When Plan Administrator Plays Dual Role

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the level of scrutiny courts must apply when an employee challenges a denial of benefits and the plan administrator, whether the employer or an insurance company, played the dual role of determining whether the employee was eligible for benefits and paying benefits out of its own pocket.1 The […]

Employee Benefits: U.S. Supreme Court Says Individuals Can Recover Damages for Mishandling of Retirement Accounts; Self-Protection Options for Employers

In an important new development, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that when fiduciary misconduct diminishes the value of an individual account in a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), the harmed employee can sue for damages. In the past, courts have taken the contrary position that the federal employee benefits law only […]