| Volume 103 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Don't ever click on a link in an email message from a financial institution. There are so many scams involving fake emails from banks, credit unions, credit card companies, and other types of lenders that my advice is to assume everything you receive is fake. If you think it might be genuine, call the institution to verify it.
For more general information about the law, check out my website.
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EEOC Files Transgender Discrimination Suits
For the first time ever, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) has filed lawsuits for alleged transgender discrimination.
In Florida, Brandi Branson began wearing female clothing in February 2011. When confronted by her employers, she informed them that she was undergoing gender transformation. She was later told her position was being eliminated and she would be fired. A replacement was hired shortly after her dismissal.
In Michigan, a funeral home director was fired two weeks after she told her employers she was undergoing gender transformation and planned to wear appropriate female clothing. Before being fired, she was told her behavior was unacceptable.
To read about the EEOC's transgender discrimination lawsuits,
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FCC to Review Washington Team Name
The National Football League (NFL) has been facing some serious issues recently. Notably, Commissioner Roger Goodell, team owners, and players must appropriately address issues of domestic violence, child abuse, concussions, injuries, and more. To put all of these issues together shouldn't devalue any of one of them. Although a lot is going on right now, each issue should be treated with great importance and sensitivity.
This week, a new wrinkle popped up in another of the league's long-standing and much-debated issues. The football team in Washington DC uses a name considered by many to racially insensitive. Owner Dan Snyder has refused to change the team name. Although some newspapers have made policies to limit or eliminate use of the team name, not much of significance has happened to foster a meaningful push for change.
Until now.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be reviewing a petition regarding the football team name. If it is accepted, it will be officially declare use of the word as an "obscene slur." Thereafter, no sportscaster on network television or terrestrial radio would be allowed to use the name without facing penalty.
If the media isn't allowed to use the team name, will Dan Snyder be forced to change it?
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34 Ways to Use Coffee Grounds
Are you a big coffee drinker? Rather than throwing out your coffee grounds every day, you might be able to put them to use.
BuzzFeed has compiled a list of 34 unexpected ways you can get more out of your used coffee grounds.
Certain types of flowers will turn blue when coffee grounds are mixed into the soil. The coffee grounds will reduce the pH of the soil, turning the blooms blue.
If you want to keep bugs out of your garden, coffee grounds will do the trick. However, it won't drive away the worms that turn the soil over. In fact, it'll attract more.
If you have a compost pile or bin, coffee grounds will add much-needed nitrogen.
With a special recipe, coffee grounds can be used to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean.
From removing excess hair buildup to clearing snow off your driveway, used coffee grounds can be used for many incredible things. Next time you finish a pot of coffee, check the list before you toss the remains in the trash.
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Your Money
What will it take to save for a college education?
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For the Lawyers
Whether arbitration agreement authorizes classwide arbitration is for court to decide.
Former employees filed suit on behalf of themselves and others, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Both had signed employment agreements that contained arbitration provisions: “[a]ny dispute or claim arising out of or relating to Employee’s employment, termination of employment or any provision of this Agreement” shall be submitted to arbitration.
Neither agreement mentions classwide arbitration. Defendant moved to compel arbitration on an individual basis. The district court granted the motion in part, compelling arbitration but holding that the propriety of individual versus classwide arbitration was for the arbitrator to decide.
Defendant proceeded with arbitration until the arbitrator ruled that the employment agreements permitted classwide arbitration. The district court denied a motion to vacate the arbitrator’s partial award.
The Third Circuit reversed, noting that because of the fundamental differences between classwide and individual arbitration, and the consequences of proceeding with one rather than the other, the availability of classwide arbitration is a substantive “question of arbitrability” to be decided by a court absent clear agreement otherwise.
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