Victory for Gay Discrimination Appeal

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:10:26 +0000

A recent Court of Appeal ruling has found that hotel owners directly discriminated against a gay couple. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has defended the appeal. In the case, Mr. and Mrs. Bull appealed a county court decision in which it was found that they should not have refused lodging to Mr Preddy and Mr Hall in their hotel. The owners held that they had a hotel rule in which based on their Christian faith they were not allowed to lodge unmarried couples to share a double room. The Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court’s decision in that the hotel’s rule directly discriminated against civil partners. As such, they were found to be treated differently because of their sexual orientation. Read More

Currently, discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but this law does makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Additionally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does not enforce the protections that prohibit discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation. Please visit the EEOC’s website for more information.

It is challenging and stressful when people are subjected to racism or discrimination, especially in a nation that was created on premises such as equal rights for all. The lawyers at Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, located in Nassau County, New York, have fought against discrimination for over two decades with much success. If you have been a victim of discrimination because of your age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, call 1-800-585-4658 to schedule an appointment for free consultation.

Sex Changes on the Rise in Children

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:34:46 +0000

In Chicago, Illinois, a rising number of teens and younger children are getting permission and help from parents to get sex change treatments. The Medical Journal of Pediatrics has reported that the increase in numbers has raised ethical questions. It is also reported that switching gender roles and thinking about being the opposite sex is a common condition in young children. However, some are labeled with “gender identity disorder,” which is a psychiatric diagnosis in which kids believe they were born in the wrong bodies and research suggests they may have brain differences more similar to the opposite sex. About 1 in 10,000 children have the condition, and doctors who provide the treatment have found that not performing the sex change treatment can be more harmful to the child. Read more

A rise in transgendered children and sex changes can increase exposure to discrimination. To date, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Additionally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does not enforce the protections that prohibit discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation. Please visit the EEOC’s website for further information.

The attorneys at Leeds Morelli & Brown, P.C., are dedicated to obtaining successful outcomes for their clients regarding discrimination claims. For any questions, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658.

Woman Fired After Donating Kidney to Boss

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:23:40 +0000

A Hicksville woman who donated a kidney so her ailing boss could move up on an organ donation list has filed a complaint with the state Division of Human Rights saying that the woman repaid her by giving her the boot.

Deborah Stevens, 47, said Jacqueline Brucia, her boss at Atlantic Automotive Group in West Islip, asked her to donate a kidney on her behalf to the National Kidney Registry, a donation that meant that Brucia would get a kidney in return. But Stevens said even before she recovered from the surgery, Brucia, 61, turned on her, chiding her when she went home from work sick or when she needed to take extra bathroom breaks during the day, according to the complaint. - Read Full Story on Newsday.com

Same-Sex Marriage Bill Vetoed by NJ Governor

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:49:44 +0000

Governor Chris Christie has vetoed a bill which allows same sex couples to marry. He said he wants the issue to be decided by a statewide referendum. Recent polls suggest that New Jersey voters are slightly in favor of legalizing same sex marriage. State lawmakers have until the end of the legislative session in January 2014 to override the veto, which would need a two-thirds majority in both houses to succeed. Currently, Washington state, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, New York and the District of Columbia currently allow these marriages. Read more.

While discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not yet protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this law does makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Please visit the EEOC’s website for more information.

Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. is a well established equal opportunity and anti-discrimination firm in New York. If you or someone you know has been affected by discrimination or a violation of their civil rights please feel free to contact Leeds, Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation or view their web page at www.lmblaw.com.

Product Fabricators in Minnesota Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:31:46 +0000

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Product Fabricators, Inc. will pay $40,000 to settle a disability discrimination suit which was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit was filed in 2009 and the EEOC charged Product Fabricators when they fired a long-time employee, Dennis Anderson. The former employee was fired because he was taking a low dosage prescribed narcotic medication for back pain. The company’s policy required all employees to report whether they were taking any prescription or over the counter medication. The EEOC found that this policy was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because it does not relate to the ability of employees to do their jobs. Therefore, the EEOC claimed that it was unlawful because employees complied with the policy and would likely be inclined to disclose information about any disabilities or impairments they may have. Learn More

Such alleged conduct violates the law which protects employees and applicants from discrimination based on perceived disabilities. It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant because of his/her race or color in regard to hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Please visit the EEOC’s website for more information

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. are experienced in all matters of discrimination, racial profiling, hate crimes, harassment and bigotry. For any questions concerning discriminatory matters, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-556-2529. Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C.’s divorce website is located at www.lmblaw.com.

Publix Supermarkets Cited for Willful and Repeat Violations

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:24:24 +0000

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Publix Supermarkets Inc. in Florida. The citations include 16 safety and health violations at one distribution facility in Jacksonville. The proposed penalties are totaling up to $182,000. One willful violation includes a $70,000 penalty for failing to follow rules to control potentially hazardous energy when employees clean equipment. Two repeat violations with penalties total $66,000 for failing to develop, document and follow lockout procedures as well as not conducting an annual inspection of the energy control regulations. As a result of these repeat violations, OSHA has placed Publix in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which requires follow up inspections to ensure compliance. Publix is made up of 1,026 supermarkets, operating in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has 15 days from receiving the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference, or contest the findings. Learn More

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 insures that employers remain responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. For more information, visit http://www.osha,gov. Under the 2007 Workers’ Compensation Reform Law, the New York State Department of Labor must administer two programs. In order to make workplaces safer and reduce workers’ compensation costs, one program is required, while the other is voluntary. The mandatory program, which is known as the Compulsory Workplace Safety and Loss Prevention Program, requires a comprehensive safety and loss prevention consultation and evaluation for an employer with: an annual payroll of over $800,000; and a workers’ compensation experience modification rating of more than 1.20. According to the New York State Department of Labor’s website, the NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board issues notices to employers that must participate in the Program. Employers that do not start a program will receive a 5% surcharge on the manual portion of their workers’ compensation premium. The surcharge goes up 5% for every year they do not comply. Employers that comply should see improved experience ratings and lower workers’ compensation costs. To get more information about the Workplace Safety and Loss Prevention Programs, click here.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a violation of labor laws or safety regulation, the lawyers at Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, have extensive experience in handling all matters of labor disputes regarding wage and hour law, child labor law, safety violations, and workers compensation lawsuits. Victims of such offenses may be entitled to compensation. For more information or a consultation, contact Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-888-5-JOBLAW.

Product Fabricators in Minnesota Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:38:13 +0000

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Product Fabricators, Inc. is a manufacturer that will pay $40,000 to settle a disability discrimination suit which was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit was filed in 2009 and the EEOC charged Product Fabricators when they fired a long-time employee, Dennis Anderson. The former employee was fired because he was taking a low dosage prescribed narcotic medication for back pain. The company’s policy required all employees to report whether they were taking any prescription or over the counter medication. The EEOC found that this policy was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because it does not relate to the ability of employees to do their jobs. Therefore, the EEOC claimed that it was unlawful because employees complied with the policy and would likely be inclined to disclose information about any disabilities or impairments they may have. Read more:

Such alleged conduct violates which protect employees and applicants from discrimination based on perceived disabilities. It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his/her race or color in regard to hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Please visit the EEOC’s website.

NY Class Action lawsuit against LEO Pharma Inc.

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:04:45 +0000

In New York, a federal class action lawsuit has been charged against LEO Pharma Inc. for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. It is alleged that the Parsippany, N.J. based pharmaceutical company misclassified sales representatives as salaried exempt employees. They also failed to pay overtime to its employees. The lawsuit does state how many employees are involved in the case. Read More

According to New York wage and hour laws, if you work more than six (6) hours in one day, you may be entitled to a lunch break or meal break of at least 30 minutes. Employers are not entitled to pay for his time, but an employer is not allowed to force an employee to work or allowing an employee to work during this break time. Furthermore, in all industries and occupations, employees are given an additional 20 minutes between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and for those employed on a shift starting before 11 a.m. and continuing after 7 p.m. Learn More at http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/meal.htm#NewYork.

In addition to New York wage and hour laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), is an Act that establishes standards for minimum wages, overtime pay, record-keeping, and child labor. These standards affect more than 130 million workers, both full time and part time, in the private and public sectors. As a penalty, willful violators of these rights may be prosecuted criminally and fined up to $10,000. A second conviction may result in imprisonment. Employers who willfully or repeatedly violate the minimum wage or overtime pay requirements are subject to civil money penalties of up to $1,100 per violation. See: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/minwage.htm#EmplRights; For more information, see: http://www.dol.gov/

If your company requires you to be on duty during your lunch break, or fails to provide you with a meal-time break, you may have a claim for wage and house law violation. At Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, our lawyers have extensive experience in handling overtime claims and wage and hour law violations, which include violations based on meal-time policies, servicing injured parties throughout Long Island, the New York Metropolitan area, as well as nation-wide. Contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for more information or for a free consultation.

Complaints of Job Discrimination at Highest Record Levels

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:30:41 +0000

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 99,947 workplace discrimination complaints in 2011, higher than 2010, and this has been attributed to the slow economy and increased diverse workforce. It is expected that these complaints will continue. It was found that claims for age discrimination, disability discrimination, and workplace retaliation rose in 2011, but less claims for race and sex discrimination.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his/her race or color in regard to hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Please visit the EEOC’s website for more information.

Additionally, employers should be mindful that safe labor standards must be in place for all US citizen employees, such as those individuals who are exposed to dangerous work condition. According to the New York State Department of Labor, violations of any provision of the Labor Law, the Industrial Code, or any rule, regulation, or lawful order of the Department of Labor is a misdemeanor. Violators can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both, as well as even civil penalties. Learn More

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. are experienced in all matters of discrimination and labor law. For any questions concerning discriminatory matters, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-585-4658. Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C.’s website is located at www.lmblaw.com.

Two Charter Schools to Close in NYC

Leeds Morelli & Brown — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:08:47 +0000

The New York City’s Department of Education has decided to close two charter schools in Brooklyn and Queens at the end of the 2012 school year. These schools are Williamsburg Charter High School and Peninsula Preparatory Charter School. The Williamsburg Charter High School was put on probation in Fall 2011 for not following the city’s improvement recommendations. The Peninsula Preparatory Charter School is set to close because students test scores fell below the goals in the school’s charter. After the schools close, there will only be eight charter schools left in New York City. Learn More

At times like these, teachers who lose their jobs without cause may have a legal claim. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects teachers at both public and private schools, allowing them to enjoy rights in their contracts which are similar to due process rights. This includes the inability of a private school to dismiss the teacher without cause, notice, or a hearing. Learn More.

In order to file a claim, a charge may be filed by mail or in person at the nearest EEOC office. Individuals may consult their local telephone directory or call 1-800-669-4000 to contact the nearest EEOC office for more information on specific procedures for filing a charge. As a time limit, laws enforced by EEOC, except for the Equal Pay Act, all charges must be filed with EEOC within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation, in order to protect the charging party’s rights. This 180-day filing deadline is extended to 300 days if the charge also is covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law. For ADEA charges, only state laws extend the filing limit to 300 days. The information which must be provided to file such a charge are as follows:
I. The complaining party’s name, address, and telephone number;
II. The name, address, and telephone number of the respondent employer, employment agency, or union that is alleged to have discriminated, and number of employees (or union members), if known;
III. A short description of the alleged violation (the event that caused the complaining party to believe that his or her rights were violated); and
IV. The date(s) of the alleged violation(s).
Learn More

Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. is an established equal opportunity and civil rights firm in New York which works to achieve successful judgments that are in the best interests of their clients. If you or someone you know has been affected by civil rights violations, contact Leeds, Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 or view their web page at www.lmblaw.com.