A recent ruling from New Jersey’s Appellate Division allows members of the Rutger’s women’s basketball team to continue with their lawsuit under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”). Sharee Gordon, Adayshia McKinnon, Jade Howard, Arianna Williams and Sarah Schwartz were students at Rutgers-Newark University and members of the women’s…
New Jersey Employment Lawyer Blog
Non-Disparagement Clauses Do Not Violate New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
Last week, in Savage v. Township of Neptune, the Appellate Division ruled that a 2019 amendment to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) does not prohibit parties from entering into non-disparagement clauses. The Appellate Division’s opinion involved Christine Savage, a Sergeant for the Township of Neptune Police Department. Sgt.…
No Protection to Employee Fired for Racist Remarks on Facebook
A recent opinion by New Jersey’s Appellate Division finds that an employee cannot bring a retaliation claim against a private employer for firing her for posting racially insensitive statements on Facebook. Heather J. McVey was a Corporate Director of Customer Service for AtlantiCare Medical System Incorporated and Geisinger Health System…
When Can an Employer Require a Fitness for Duty Exam?
As a New Jersey employment lawyer, I have had numerous clients tell me their employer has asked or required them to undergo a fitness-for-duty examination. However, anti-discrimination laws limit when an employer has the right to send an employee to a medical exam. Protection Under Anti-Discrimination Laws The Americans with…
Employer Can Fire Employee it Honestly Believes Abused FMLA Leave
A recent unpublished decision from the Third Circuit concludes that an employer can fire an employee because it honestly believes she abused her Family & Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) leave. Marsha VanHook worked as a patient representative for Cooper Health System for approximately nine years. One of her sons has…
Police Captain Can Pursue Harassment in Retaliation for Objection to Illegal Arrest Quota System
A recent decision from New Jersey’s Appellate Division recognizes it can be retaliation in violation of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”) for a police department to harass one of its members because he objected to a new policy he reasonably believed is an illegal arrest quota system. Calvin Anderson…
Appellate Division Reinstates Employee’s Whistleblower Claim
In a recent opinion, New Jersey’s Appellate Division reinstated Margaret Gatham’s whistleblower claim against Care One Management, LLC, its Executive Vice President, Elizabeth Straus, and its Deputy General Counsel, Thomas A. McKinney. Ms. Gatham worked for Care One from 2005 until she resigned in July 2012. In 2015, Care One’s…
Requiring Employee to Seek Another Job is an Adverse Employment Action
A recent case recognizes that an employer’s decision to remove an employee from her job and give her an opportunity to search for another position within the company is an adverse employment action. In other words, if it is done for a discriminatory reason, doing so can violate the New…
New Law Bans Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment and Assault Claims
Arbitration is widely believed to favor big business over individuals. I have written numerous articles about forced arbitration, including cases that enforced arbitration of employment law claims, and ones that overturned such provisions. In my law practice, I have fought against forced arbitration on many occasions. Yesterday, President Biden signed…
Employer Too Late to Compel Arbitration in Whistleblower Lawsuit
In a recent employment law case, New Jersey’s Appellate Division ruled that an employer had waived its right to compel arbitration by waiting 10 months before it sought to do so. Tevin Welcome worked as a van driver for Huffmaster, Inc. Before Huffmaster hired him, Mr. Welcome completed an online…