Category Archives: Federal Rights

After a Washington State Agency was successful in removing a case to federal court that alleges that the agency defied a ruling by the Supreme Court of Washington, a district court granted the Plaintiffs’ motion to remand to state court … Continue reading →

In an appeal after a jury awarded six employees damages on their hostile work environment claims, the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling, rejecting appeals from both plaintiffs and defendants.  The Circuit Court upheld the lower court’s evidentiary rulings, … Continue reading →

The Fifth Circuit granted qualified immunity to two school principals for their decisions to prevent students from distributing religious materials at school. In a thicket of specially concurring opinions, a separate majority also held that the principals violated the students’ … Continue reading →

The Ninth Circuit, applying the Supreme Court’s decision in Wal-mart Stores Inc. v. Dukes, 131 S.Ct. 2541 (2011), overturned a district court’s grant of class certification in a gender discrimination lawsuit against Costco. Ellis v. Costco Wholesale Group, No. 07-15838, … Continue reading →

In an interlocutory appeal, the Seventh Circuit held that it was unconstitutional for a prison chaplain to deny a prisoner’s dietary request on the grounds that the diet did not conform to the diet espoused by the traditional tenets of … Continue reading →

Relying on Fifth and Seventh Circuit precedent holding that Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act only applies to intentional discrimination and not disparate impact, a district court in Ohio dismissed a claim by the City of Cleveland and … Continue reading →

Sitting en banc, the Ninth Circuit struck down as unconstitutional a city ordinance that prohibits day laborers from standing on a street or sidewalk to solicit motorists for employment, business, or contributions. The court held by a 9:2 vote that … Continue reading →