Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Assistant To Filmmaker Sues Film Production Company, Alleging Racial Discrimination
Whether or not you like the style of action-packed dramas about the criminal underworld that Randall Emmett and his film production companies produce is a matter of personal taste, but everyone can agree that he has been successful at getting a large number of films out of development and onto the silver screen. He… Read More »
The Cal State Ban On Caste Discrimination And The Ensuing Controversy
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent pieces of federal and state legislation have attempted to ban employment discrimination based on an employee’s physical characteristics, family background, beliefs, and aspects of the employee’s personal life unrelated to work. The language in statutes and case law has expanded the list of protected characteristics over… Read More »
Is Remote Work A Reasonable Accommodation For Employees With Disabilities?
Federal and state employment laws, including the employment-related provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, among other protected characteristics. The law requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities when the employee requests such accommodations. It is up to the employer and… Read More »
Corporate Downsizing Or Employer Retaliation?
When you read the depressing news about tough economic conditions and mass layoffs, it is easy to worry that your job will be next on the chopping block. When a lot of people get fired in the course of your employer’s efforts to reduce its cost, you can at least commiserate and strategize about… Read More »
House Of Representatives Passes Bill To Increase Whistleblower Protections For Federal Employees
Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would prevent retaliatory investigations against federal employees who notify their supervisors of wrongdoing at their places of employment and who speak directly to Congress about such wrongdoing. All Democratic members of the House voted in favor of the bill, as did the… Read More »
California Enacts Law Prohibiting Employer Retaliation Against Employees Who Refuse To Report To Work During Emergencies
Being a responsible adult involves honoring your promises, even when you don’t feel like it. When you sign an employment contract or accept a job on an at-will employment basis, you are agreeing to be present at your worksite when scheduled to work. Employment laws and the policies of individual companies outline the situations… Read More »
The Most Common Types Of Employment Discrimination Complaints
An investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit against your employer for workplace discrimination, wrongful termination of employment, or employer retaliation. Even if you are able to resolve your case without going to court, it is a good idea to hire a lawyer before you initiate… Read More »
Marketing Director Fired From CalArts Drops Age Discrimination Lawsuit
Nowadays, and in certain professions, it is common to find people in their 70s, and even older, with no plans to retire. These tend to be the kinds of jobs that people pursue for reasons other than money, the professions that people pursue because they love helping others or because the job gives them… Read More »
California Court Awards Woman $36 Million After Ex-Husband Killed Their 2 Kids In Insurance Fraud Scheme
LOS ANGELES (Oct. 19, 2022) — Obagi Law Group’s client, whose ex-husband killed their two sons by intentionally driving them off a Port of Los Angeles wharf in 2015, has been awarded $36 million in a Los Angeles County Superior Court. The judgment, entered on Oct. 11, calls for Eli F. Elmezayen, along with… Read More »
Employer Retaliation Against Employees Who Request Disability Accommodations
Requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability is a legally protected action; this means that it is against the law for employers to retaliate against employees who request accommodations, such as by harassing the employee at work or terminating the employee’s employment. It is not against the law, however, for the employer not to make… Read More »