Mealey's & Law360 News Headlines

Hensel Phelps, Subcontractors Pay $8.1M To End Labor Fight

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:52:28 GMT

The California labor commissioner said Monday more than 2,000 workers who built a Hilton hotel in San Diego will recover nearly $8.1 million in unpaid wages after the office reached an agreement in a prevailing wage case against Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and subcontractors. Read More......(read more)

Producer Slams Saudi Prince In Suit Over Unpaid Salary

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:49:16 GMT

Film producer Steven Saxton told a Los Angeles jury Tuesday that a Saudi prince who alleges Saxton stiffed him on commissions and other monies was not entitled to a salary for work unrelated to raising investment capital, saying the prince was “barely qualified” to be an intern. Read More......(read more)

Ex-Tribe Accountant Wants Fraud Conspiracy Suit Dismissed

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:34:15 GMT

The former senior accountant for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida on Monday moved to dismiss the tribe's suit in Florida state court accusing her of taking part in conspiracies to defraud the tribe of millions of dollars and revealing confidential information. Read More......(read more)

Winston & Strawn Sues Disgruntled Partner Over Legal Threats

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:31:02 GMT

Winston & Strawn LLP hit a partner and former head of the firm's Los Angeles labor and employment group with a suit in Illinois court Tuesday, saying the attorney violated his partnership agreement by threatening to sue the firm over a compensation dispute. Read More......(read more)

Union Carbide Loses Bid To Reverse Calif. Asbestos Ruling

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:25:39 GMT

A California appeals court affirmed Tuesday that Union Carbide Corp. is liable for a deceased construction worker's mesothelioma, even though he suffered from a form of the disease typically associated with a type of asbestos not found in the company's product. Read More......(read more)

Abercrombie Can't Prove Hijab Hurt Sales, EEOC Says

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:12:42 GMT

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission urged a California federal judge Tuesday to find that Abercrombie & Fitch Stores Inc. wrongly failed to accommodate a Muslim employee's headscarf, arguing that the retailer has no evidence that the worker's hijab harmed its reputation or sales. Read More......(read more)

AT&T Can't Escape Field Technicians' Wage Suit

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:29:08 GMT

An Indiana federal judge on Monday denied an attempt by units of AT&T Inc. to dismiss a collective action brought by 11 field technicians alleging the telecom did not properly pay for meal periods, ruling that the plaintiffs claims are strong enough to allow the case to advance. Read More......(read more)

Boehner Sets Potential Roadblock For Immigration Reform

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:56:47 GMT

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Tuesday that he would not bring an immigration reform package up for a vote unless it had the support of a majority of Republicans, setting a potentially high hurdle for any proposed legislation. Read More......(read more)

7th Circ. Throws Out Suit Over Navistar Nonunion Labor

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:27:49 GMT

The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday tossed a lawsuit by former Navistar Inc. workers, ruling they didn't provide specifics when alleging their union ignored hundreds of grievances that Navistar illegally fired them in favor of nonunionized subcontractors. Read More......(read more)

Commerce Bank Founder Wants New Trial Over $17M Severance

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:55:12 GMT

Commerce Bancorp LLC founder Vernon Hill II asked a New Jersey federal judge Monday for a new trial over a $17.2 million severance payment he sought after an investigation into real estate dealings led to his resignation, saying a jury instruction made jurors believe the payment was legally prohibited. Read More......(read more)

Law Firm's Arbitration Clause Doesn't Cover Age Bias Claims

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:51:48 GMT

A New Jersey appellate panel Tuesday agreed to bifurcate certain charges against a law firm accused of discriminating against an older attorney, sending counts of alleged breach of contract to arbitration while leaving the discrimination counts to be tried in court. Read More......(read more)

Pa. McDonald's Hit With Class Action Over Debit Card Wages

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:41:52 GMT

A Pennsylvania woman hit a McDonald’s franchisee with a putative class action in state court on Thursday, alleging that the employer violated state laws by paying employees solely via debit cards. Read More......(read more)

Minority Reps. Raise Concerns About DOL Fiduciary Rule

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:11:52 GMT

Members of U.S. congressional minority caucuses on Friday expressed concerns that the U.S. Department of Labor's plan to repropose controversial regulations broadening the definition of "fiduciary" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act could actually disadvantage those the agency is trying to help. Read More......(read more)

Cancer Testing Co. Blasts False Claims Suit As 'Speculation'

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:09:06 GMT

Cancer diagnostic company Caris Life Sciences Inc. told a Texas federal court Monday that allegations that it overbilled Medicare and gave hospitals kickbacks were based on "mistaken assumptions and speculation" from former employees who couldn't possibly have known about any false claims. Read More......(read more)

Dignity Health Blasts ERISA Suit Over $1.2B Pension Shortfall

Law360: Employment — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:16:52 GMT

Dignity Health on Monday asked a California judge to dismiss a putative class action alleging that the health care conglomerate underfunded its pension plans by $1.2 billion, arguing its status as a religious institution exempts it from the law. Read More......(read more)