Justices rule against public employee who lost job
Lawyer Blogs
Individual government workers generally cannot make a constitutional case out of their workplace discrimination claims, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that leaves public employees with fewer legal options than those in the private sector.
The case before the court concerned arbitrary employment decisions that do not involve race, gender or other categories that are explicitly protected by federal law.
Individual public employees typically have a variety of protections from personnel actions, but invoking the equal protection clause of the Constitution is not one of them, Chief Justice John Roberts said in his majority opinion.
The court's 6-3 decision in the case from Oregon was one of four opinions handed down Monday as the justices race to complete their work before their customary summer break begins in late June. Twenty-two cases remain to be decided and more opinions are expected Thursday.
Major cases still undecided include the rights of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the ban on handguns in Washington, D.C., and whether people convicted of raping children can be given the death penalty.
Related listings
-
Justices allow RICO lawsuit in Illinois case
Lawyer Blogs 06/09/2008The Supreme Court on Monday allowed businessmen to use a powerful law enforcement tool in a lawsuit alleging fraud in tax sales in Cook County, Ill.The unanimous decision came in a case involving the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizat...
-
High court rules against multiple royalties
Lawyer Blogs 06/09/2008The Supreme Court has limited the ability of companies to collect multiple royalties on their patents.The unanimous decision Monday was helpful to customers of Intel Corp. and is the latest step by the justices to scale back the power of patent-holde...
-
Court: Vt. ruling stands in lesbian custody case
Lawyer Blogs 06/07/2008The Virginia Supreme Court says that a Vermont court's ruling should stand in a child visitation dispute between two former lesbian partners.Friday's decision is a victory for Janet Jenkins, who entered a civil union with Lisa Miller in Vermont in 20...
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.