Fifth Circuit Reverses a Jury Verdict in a Racial Harassment Case Because the Employer Took Prompt Remedial Action
- posted: Feb. 02, 2014
- Race Discrimination,  Recent Developments 2014
When one employee harasses another employee on the basis of sex, race, or another protected classification, the employer is not automatically liable for the misconduct of the employee. Instead, vicarious Read More
Fort Worth Court of Appeals Finds Non-Compete Unenforceable Due to Waiver and Overbreadth
- posted: Feb. 02, 2014
- Non-Competes,  Recent Developments 2014
In an unpublished opinion, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals found that a non-compete was unenforceable due to waiver and overbreath. Ally Financial, Inc. v. Gutierrez, No. 02-13-00108-CV (Tex. App. Read More
Fourteenth Court of Appeals Holds that Equitable Estoppel Bars an Employer from Asserting the Statute of Limitations in an FLSA Case
- posted: Feb. 02, 2014
- Wage and Overtime Claims,  Recent Developments 2014
The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay the minimum wage and overtime. The FLSA contains a two-year statute of limitations that can be extended to three years in Read More
Houston Court of Appeals Holds That an Employee Recently Released from a Drug Rehab Program Is a "Current" Drug Addict for Purposes of Disability Discrimination
- posted: Feb. 01, 2014
- Recent Developments 2013,  Disability Discrimination
The disability discrimination statutes under both federal and state law expressly exclude current drug addiction as a disability. In Melendez v. Houston Independent School District, No. 14-12-00946-CV (Tex. App. -- Read More
Houston Court of Appeals Affirms Denial of Injunction in Physician Non-Compete Case
- posted: Feb. 01, 2014
- Recent Developments 2013,  Non-Competes
Lasikplus of Texas, LLC v. Mattioli, No. 14-12-01155-CV (Tex. App. -- Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 21, 2013), addressed the availability of a temporary injunction to enforce the non-compete in a Read More
El Paso Court of Appeals Upholds Workers Comp Retaliation Verdict Despite the Employer's Reliance on a Cause-Neutral Absence Control Policy
- posted: Feb. 01, 2014
- Workers Compensation Retaliation
Chapter 451 of the Texas Labor Code prohibits an employer from retaliating or discriminating against an employee who files a workers compensation claim. The key issue in many cases under Read More
Houston Court of Appeals Holds That a Doctor's Employment-Related Claim Is Not a Health Care Liability Claim
- posted: Jan. 31, 2014
- Recent Developments 2013
Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code requires the dismissal of a health care liability claim unless the plaintiff files an expert report within 120 days. This Read More
San Antonio Court of Appeals Upholds Causation in a Retaliation Case Despite a Three-Year Time Gap
- posted: Jan. 31, 2014
- Recent Developments 2013
Unlike ordinary discrimination claims, retaliation claims require "but for" causation: that the retaliatory act would not have occurred but for the plaintiff's protected activity. It is common for plaintiffs to Read More
Austin Court of Appeals Affirms Summary Judgment on Constructive Discharge Claim
- posted: Jan. 31, 2014
- Recent Developments 2013
When employees quit, rather than being fired, they can still sue for wrongful termination under a constructive discharge theory. However, the legal standard for constructive discharge is high. This is Read More
Dallas Court of Appeals Reverses Retaliation Judgment Due to Deficient Charge of Discrimination
- posted: Jan. 31, 2014
- Recent Developments 2014
Yet another plaintiff lost his case because of the failure to check the correct box on the charge of discrimination form. In this case, the plaintiff had actually won the Read More