Justices rule against worker who lost job
Court Alerts
The Supreme Court says the Constitution's equal protection clause does not enable individual public employees to sue for workplace discrimination.
In a 6-3 decision, the justices said that Anup Engquist must be a member of a class targeted for discrimination in order to bring a claim.
The case revolves around an 8-year-old Supreme Court decision. In that case in 2000, the justices ruled that a person may assert an equal protection claim as a "class of one" rather than on the usual grounds of racial discrimination against an entire group.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said that the "class of one" theory does not apply in the public employment context, where the government has greater leeway in dealings with its employees.
Born in India, Engquist worked at a laboratory operated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. She says that after she complained about a colleague who allegedly harassed her, the man and a superior eliminated her position. A jury subsequently ruled in Engquist's favor.
Nine federal appeals courts have ruled that public employee claims similar to Engquist's can go forward.
Related listings
-
Va. court upholds women's college move to coed
Court Alerts 06/06/2008A former all-women's college did not break a contract with female students when it decided to enroll men, a divided Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday.In a 5-2 decision, the court rejected a claim by nine female students at Randolph College — former...
-
Court limits Vioxx monitoring payments by Merck
Court Alerts 06/05/2008Drugmaker Merck & Co. doesn't have to cover medical-monitoring expenses for Vioxx users who aren't claiming injury from the recalled painkiller, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled.Phyllis Sinclair and Joseph Murray sued Merck in 2004, seeking to ...
-
Court limits Merck monitoring in Vioxx case
Court Alerts 06/04/2008Drugmaker Merck & Co. is not liable for the medical monitoring of Vioxx users not claiming injury, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.The 5-1 ruling by the state's highest court means a class-action lawsuit by people who used the once-p...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.