Jun 11, 2020
In December of 2018, Ian Cooper and Mollie Mohan won a Judgment for the City of Columbia, Missouri in Boone County Circuit Court. The case, Sanders v. City of Columbia, involved a former Police Officer for the City who was dismissed following his use of force on a prisoner in a holding cell. The former Officer filed suit seeking reinstatement, back pay, benefits, and other relief. A Judge in the Cole County Circuit Court initially ruled in favor of the
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Jan 29, 2020
Tueth Keeney is proud to announce the addition of two new Shareholders, Diane Metzger and Mollie Mohan, to the firm, as of January 1, 2020. Diane Metzger is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law (’08) and Saint Louis University (’05). She practices primarily in the area of employment-based immigration. In particular, Diane provides legal advice and counsel regarding the hiring of foreign workers and compliance with the nation’s immigration laws. Mollie Mohan graduated
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Mar 1, 2019
In two decisions handed down on February 26, 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court waded into two questions under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA): whether sex stereotyping is enough to constitute a claim under the MHRA, and whether a student transitioning from female to male can insist on access to restrooms and locker rooms reserved for males. The court also waded into a question of proper procedure under Missouri administrative law. But in no respect did the Court””or at least
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Feb 20, 2019
Ian Cooper and Mollie Mohan won a Judgment for the City of Columbia, Missouri, on December 31, 2018, in Boone County Circuit Court. The case, Sanders v. City of Columbia, involved a former Police Officer for the City who was dismissed following his use of force on a prisoner in a holding cell. The former Officer filed suit seeking reinstatement, back pay, benefits, and other relief. A Judge in the Cole County Circuit Court initially ruled inread more
Feb 5, 2018
Firm Attorneys Melanie Keeney, Kate Nash, Jim Layton, Mollie Hennessee and Mollie Mohan recently presented a Legal Update for a Continuing Legal Education Program on behalf of the Association of Corporate Counsel. The program addressed: 1) MHRA liability standards, individual liability, and damage caps in light of recent court decisions; 2) issues to consider from the moment of an adverse decision (or the appeal by the opponent of a favorable decision) to denial of the
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Jan 29, 2018
In October of 2017, the Western District Court of Appeals became the first Missouri appellate court to extend the United States Supreme Court’s sex-stereotyping theory to allow a gay employee’s Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) claim to proceed. In this case, the plaintiff, a gay man, alleged he was discriminated against on the basis of his sex, “because his behavior and appearance contradicted the stereotypes of maleness held by his employer and managers.” Lampley v. MCHR, No. WD80288,
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May 24, 2017
UPDATE: MISSOURI LEGISLATURE PASSES MINIMUM WAGE BILL, OVERRIDING ST. LOUIS CITY ORDINANCE (BUT ORDINANCE REMAINS IN PLACE, AT LEAST THROUGH AUGUST) At the end of the most recent legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly passed a minimum wage bill (HB 1194 & 1193), prohibiting “political subdivision[s]” (including municipalities) from establishing a minimum wage that exceeds state law. This bill effectively overrides the City of St. Louis ordinance establishing a minimum wage of $10/hour. Prior discussion about
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Apr 10, 2017
On April 4, 2017, the Seventh Circuit issued a landmark decision, holding that sexual orientation discrimination qualifies as sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). The 8-3 ruling is the first by an U.S. Court of Appeals to hold that sexual orientation is prohibited under federal employment discrimination law. As noted, in a previous Tueth Keeney Insight regarding this case, Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, a panel of
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Nov 30, 2016
On October 11, 2016, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a prior decision in its most recent sexual orientation case under Title VII and ordered rehearing en banc. Kimberly Hively was a part-time adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community College, beginning in 2000. In 2013, she sued Ivy Tech, claiming she was “blocked from full time employment without just cause” based on her sexual orientation. Specifically, she claimed that Ivy Tech refused to interview her for full time positions
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Apr 4, 2016
Missouri employers are currently facing conflicting guidance on how to confront LGBT discrimination issues in the workplace. In October of 2015, a Missouri Court of Appeals held that the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”)””the state law that governs employment discrimination””does not prohibit sexual orientation discrimination. In contrast, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the agency tasked with enforcing Title VII””the federal law that governs employment discrimination””has held that Title VII does prohibit sexual orientation discrimination and recently filed two lawsuits
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Ian P. Cooper
Mollie G. Mohan
Diane E. Metzger
James R. Layton
Michelle H. Basi
Kate L. Nash
Melanie Gurley Keeney