» Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination:  A Title VII retaliation claim must allege objectively deterrent action

September 23rd, 2011
In Cook v. Billington, 2011 U.S. Dist. Lexis 88284 (D.D.C. Aug. 9, 2011), the United States District Court for the District of Columbia emphasized that to successfully state a claim for retaliation under Title VII, an employee must allege that when he or she engaged in, or attempted to engage in, a protected activity, his o… Read More
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Categories: Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination action dismissed in favor of arbitration under employment agreement

September 9th, 2011
In Ratliff v. Costar Realty Information, Inc., No. 11-0813 (D. Md. July 7, 2011), the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted a motion to compel arbitration of an employment discrimination action. At the time she was hired, the plaintiff signed an employment agreement with Costar, which included an arbitrat… Read More
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Categories: Arbitration, Employment Discrimination, Maryland

In DCHRA case, Court affirms $1 compensatory damages and $42,677.50 in punitive damages

July 4th, 2011
In Howard University v. Wilkins, Nos. 09-CV-318, 09-CV-319, and 09-CV-544 (D.C. June 30, 2011), the Court affirmed the plaintiff’s verdict, in a District of Columbia Human Rights Act action for retaliation, of $1.00 in compensatory damages, and $42,677.50 in punitive damages. The plaintiff had alleged that Howard Univ… Read More
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Categories: District of Columbia, Employment Discrimination

Fourth Circuit affirms summary judgment on Title VII claims

January 17th, 2011
In Bonds v. Leavitt, No. 09-2179 (4th Cir. Jan. 3, 2011) the Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s award of summary judgment to the defendant employer for three Title VII claims. (Note: the Court reversed the dismissal of the federal whistle blowing statute claims which are not addressed here.) The employment r… Read More
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Categories: Employment Discrimination

Fourth Circuit affirms award of summary judgment to defense in employment discrimination case

January 13th, 2011
In Mascone v. American Physical Society, Inc., the Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s award of summary judgment to the defendant, and the District Court’s denial of the plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration. The Court affirmed summary judgment on the wrongful termination claim, finding that the… Read More
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Categories: Employment Discrimination, Maryland