» civil rights
The legitimacy of the Supreme Court in question?
October 11th, 2018
The Republican-controlled Congress recently voted to confirm the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh by President Donald Trump to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Congress voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh by one of the narrowest margins in t…
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Categories: Blog
By the slimmest majority, the Supreme Court turns its back on working people and the public interest yet again
July 2nd, 2018
In another sharply divided opinion, the United States Supreme Court again disregarded decades of settled law to undercut workplace rights. In Janus v. AFSCME, 5 Justices of the Supreme Court declared that employees in the public sector no longer need…
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Categories: Blog
Supreme Court and Congress act in the same week to undercut the rule of law
June 1st, 2018
In Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, the United States Supreme Court recently declared that employees can be forced to give up their rights to participate in class actions or collective actions when they face wage theft, retaliation, discrimination, haras…
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Categories: Blog
Federal tax “reform” will deform the economy and undercut workplace rights and other core protections
January 1st, 2018
Without any public hearings, Congress rushed to pass a tax “reform” law that will likely cause the largest redistribution of wealth in the nation’s history. In particular, tax rates for country’s most wealthy individuals and corporations will…
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While tweets distract, Trump administration dismantles vital protections
October 2nd, 2017
Since assuming power, the Trump administration has sent a barrage of messages on a regular basis through social media. Such communications, particularly tweets from President Donald Trump, have often included aggressive and even inflammatory rhetoric…
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Categories: Blog
Minnesota Supreme Court upholds legislative fix of whistleblower law
August 9th, 2017
In the wake of several recent pro-plaintiff rulings in employment law or civil rights cases, the Minnesota Supreme Court has just ruled in a unanimous decision authored by the Chief Justice that a “good faith” report by a whistleblower means any…
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Categories: Blog
Anti-retaliation protections apply to all employees
July 3rd, 2017
The Minnesota Supreme Court just reaffirmed a longstanding legal principle that helps to promote workplace fairness for all. In Sanchez v. Dahlke Sales, Inc., the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the anti-retaliation protections under the State wor…
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Categories: Blog
Important victory in housing discrimination case
May 8th, 2017
The Supreme Court has ruled that local governments have the right to sue banks for civil rights violations against, for example, city residents. In Bank of America Corp. v. City of Miami, the Supreme Court held that the City of Miami may continue to…
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Categories: Blog
Recent Minnesota Supreme Court rulings favor employees
April 17th, 2017
Employees and other plaintiffs tended to have difficulty succeeding before the Minnesota Supreme Court in the past. That trend appears to be changing, as reflected by two recent decisions that should have significance well beyond the cases themselves…
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Categories: Blog
Proposed “preemption” laws threaten local democracy and civil rights
March 13th, 2017
Counties, cities, towns, and other local governmental units across the country have been leaders in developing public policies that expand civil rights and otherwise promote the public interest. Minneapolis and St. Paul have both exemplified this tre…
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Categories: Blog
