Sheppard v. David Evans & Assoc., 694 F.3d 1045 (9th Cir. 2012)

Kathryn Sheppard filed a brief, two-and-a-half page complaint in federal court alleging discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and wrongful termination under Oregon state law. The district court dismissed Sheppard’s complaint with prejudice under FRCP 8(a)(2) after concluding she had failed to plead a cause of action with sufficient

On March 29, 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued its final rule to amend its Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) regulations concerning disparate-impact claims and the reasonable factors other than age (“RFOA”) defense.

We invite you to review our newly-posted March 2012 California Employment Law Notes – a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law. The highlights include:

Shelley v. Geren, 666 F.3d 599 (9th Cir. 2012)

After Devon Scott Shelley applied for but was not promoted to be Chief of Contracting for the Army Corps of Engineers, he filed this lawsuit alleging age discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The district court granted summary judgment to the Corps based upon the Supreme Court’s opinion in Gross v.

Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 129 S. Ct. 2343 (2009)

Jack Gross worked for FBL as a claims administration director until he was reassigned to the position of claims project coordinator. At the time of his reassignment, many of Gross’s job responsibilities were transferred to a newly created position (claims administration manager) that was filled by Lisa Kneeskern, one of

Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 129 S. Ct. 2343 (2009)

Jack Gross worked for FBL as a claims administration director until he was reassigned to the position of claims project coordinator. At the time of his reassignment, many of Gross’s job responsibilities were transferred to a newly created position (claims administration manager) that was filled by Lisa Kneeskern, one of

14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett, 556 U.S. 247, 129 S. Ct. 1456 (2009)

Plaintiffs, members of the Service Employees International Union (the “SEIU”), filed a complaint with the EEOC alleging age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and, after receiving their right-to-sue letters, filed suit against their employer alleging age discrimination. In response, the employer filed a motion to compel arbitration

Proskauer Prevails As The Court Holds That Collectively Bargained Agreements for The Arbitration of Statutory Discrimination Claims are Enforceable

On April 1, 2009, the United States Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of Proskauer Rose’s client 14 Penn Plaza LLC, holding that a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) that clearly and unmistakably requires union members to arbitrate Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) claims is enforceable as a matter of federal law. The Court’s decision validates the right of an employer and a union to negotiate about the way disputes can be resolved, even when those disputes involve individual statutory rights. Accordingly, 14 Penn Plaza LLC. v. Pyett, is significant to all employers who have collective bargaining relationships.

Proskauer negotiated the CBA at issue on behalf of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc., (“RAB”) and handled this litigation on behalf of 14 Penn Plaza — from the district court through argument of the matter before the Supreme Court by Paul Salvatore, co-chair of Proskauer’s Labor and Employment Law Department.

Diaz v. Eagle Produce, 521 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2008)

Phoenix Agro Invest, Inc. and SAM Management, Inc. operate a commercial broccoli and melon farm in Arizona and usually lay-off workers during the winter months. Among others, the company laid off plaintiffs, four workers over the age of 50 years old, who challenged the lay off under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”).