NJ Coffee Shop Owner Settles Sex Harassment Case

City Coffee owner Ronald Ford Jr. has agreed to settle allegations that he sexually harassed female employees.  New Jersey state officials say the owner of a Camden coffee shop must pay $15,000 and provide training about discrimination and harassment to all his employees.  The money will be divided among the six employees who made the allegations.  Ford made no admission of wrongdoing under the settlement agreement.  Under terms of the settlement, Ford will not have to pay an additional $60,000 if he lives up to terms of the agreement for three years.  Full article.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.  When investigating allegations of sexual harassment, EEOC looks at the whole record: the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual advances, and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. A determination on the allegations is made from the facts on a case-by-case basis.  For more information: EEOC Website.

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, dedicates a large area of practice to employment law.  Our firm has had considerable success in matters of employment discrimination throughout Long Island and the New York City area.  For more information, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation.

Employer in Georgia Fined $110,000 for Labor Law Violations

About thirty (30) Huddle House restaurants in Georgia, Missouri and West Virginia must pay fines and back pay for “significant” violations of labor laws and violations of child labor laws. Federal authorities found that 128 employees were not paid minimum wage or correct overtime pay according to law. Employees will get $60,594 paid back in owed wages. The employer must also pay $48,317 in fines for child labor violations after a 15 year old employee was allowed to work which is not allowable by law.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other laws specifically govern which employees can receive overtime pay and the minimum amounts that employers have to pay. If your employer has tried to circumvent or change these rules for their own benefit, please consider our law office to represent you.  Learn More

Our lawyers excel at helping its clients collect the compensation they have earned and the justice they deserve. If you or someone you know has been faced with a labor dispute, unpaid overtime, wage dispute, employer discrimination, or just looking to speak with an employment attorney, please contact our our office Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, 1-800-585-4658, One Old Country Road, Suite 347, Carle Place, NY, 11514-1851.

Nearly Half of Teens Report Taunting

A new study has found there is an epidemic in middle school and high schools around the country concerning sexual harassment, including hallway groupings to sexting and online bullying.  The American Association of University Women conducted a survey and found that 48% of students questioned experienced some form of sexual harassment in the past year.  The study shows that girls were more likely to be victims, only 9% of students ever reported being harassed to an adult at school and 87% of the victims said they had physical reactions like trouble sleeping or stomachaches. Full article.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.  When investigating allegations of sexual harassment, EEOC looks at the whole record: the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual advances, and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. A determination on the allegations is made from the facts on a case-by-case basis.  For more information: EEOC Website.

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC dedicates a large area of practice to employment law.  Our firm has worked with many employees in matters of employment discrimination throughout Long Island and the New York City area.  For more information, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation.

Dorothy Rodham, Mother and Mentor of Hillary Clinton, Is Dead at 92

Dorothy Rodham, mother of Hillary Clinton, passed away on November 1, 2011, at the age of 92.  Ms. Rodham stayed mostly in the background, appearing only occasionally in public and rarely giving interviews. But Mrs. Clinton credited her mother with giving her a love of the higher learning.  Ms. Rodham helped shape the life and career of her daughter.  With the help of her mother, Hillary Clinton went on to be the first lady, senator from New York, presidential candidate and now secretary of state.  Full article.

The new 2011 estate tax laws took effect January 1, 2011.  Estates with a taxable estate over $5 million will have to pay taxes.  All under estates under $5 million will be exempt.  There is also an advantageous “stepped-up basis” in all inherited property.  Stepped-up tax basis means that if you inherit property, the new tax basis of the property is its value on the date of death.  As a result, if you inherit property and later sell it, you will pay capital gains tax based only on the value of the property as of the date of death.

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. have worked with a variety of families in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island.  For questions regarding estate planning, please contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-556-2529 or visit the firm’s website at www.lbestatelaw.com.

Parenting.com Highlights Growing Trend: Parents Who Hit

An article on parenting.com has many parents asking, is it wrong to spank your child? Joyce Maynard spoke with many parents about disciplining a child, and almost every person admitted that at least one time or another they hit their child. Even restrained parents lash out. Maynard found that parents can become overtired, stressed and out of control, just like their kids. The risk of hitting a child decreases once you decide to pursue an alternative response to anger. Full article.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services maintains a Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment for reports made pursuant to the Social Services Law. The register is to track the abuse and neglect of children, as it is against the law in the State of New York. The purpose of the Child Protective Services Act of 1973 is to encourage more complete reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. The law established a Child Protective Service in each county in New York. Each Child Protective Service is required to investigate child abuse and maltreatment reports, to protect children under 18 years old from further abuse or maltreatment, and to provide rehabilitative services to children, parents, and other family members involved. NY State Office of Children and Family Services

The law firm of Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. has represented clients in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island. If you are involved in a domestic relations proceeding, it is important to hire lawyers that are capable of advocating your needs. For any questions, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658 or visit our divorce website at www.lbdivorcelaw.com.

Disabled Man Facing Barriers to Finding Work

Ray Borgaard became disabled after suffering from polio as a child and is currently facing barriers to finding employment. The disease left Borgaard paralyzed in his left arm and right leg, but he believed he could compete with everyone else in the career world.  However, Borgaard, who is now 63 years old, has found that despite about 20 years of management experience he has a dismal career outlook as competition from non-disabled workers is high.  There is a presence of employment discrimination and a rise in the lack of jobs given as a result of the US economy.  According to Richard Burkhauser, a professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell University, the percentage of disabled people who are working is down to 21 percent from about 35 percent in the early 1980s.  Read Full Article

Employers who fail to follow ethical and legal responsibilities put the careers as well as rights of their employees at risk.  The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN); 20 CFR Part 639  protects workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notification of 60 calendar days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs. Advance notice gives workers and their families some transition time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment and to seek and obtain other jobs and, if necessary, to enter skill training that will allow them to compete successfully in the job market. WARN also provides for notice to state dislocated worker units so that they can promptly offer dislocated worker assistance.  WARN does not apply to closure of temporary facilities, or the completion of an activity when the workers were hired only for the duration of that activity.

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC lawyers help clients with wrongful termination, unjust dismissal, handles overtime claims, wage and hour law violations, and unemployment compensation claims.  Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC lawyers service injured parties who have been affected by employers who violate these important equal opportunity and employment rights throughout Long Island and the New York City area.  For a free consultation, contact Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC at1-800-585-4658.

Nurses Get $2.3 Million in Compensation for Gender Discrimination

Over 400 nurses in Ottowa, Canada, have been awarded $2.3 million for pain and suffering caused by decades of sex discrimination suffered at the expense of their employer, the federal government. The women work for the Canada Pension Plan.  The individual rewards range between $4,000 and $8,000. However, the settlements have yet to be paid.  The case was won in 2007 when the human rights tribunal determined that the pay differences between male and female nurses was the equivalent to sex discrimination which extended back to the 1970s.  Read Full Article

When faced with a sex discrimination claim, the plaintiff can rely on the law for recourse.  The United States Department of Labor created Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. This law is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  In addition, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.  Learn More

Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. works to obtain the best judgments and settlements for its aggrieved clients.  If you or someone you know has been affected by discrimination or a violation of their civil rights please feel free to contact Leeds, Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation or view their web page at www.lmblaw.com.

 

Senate Panel Passes Defense of Marriage Act Repeal

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to repeal the federal law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.  Of the eighteen members of the Judiciary Committee, the eight Republicans on the Judiciary Committee voted “no” Thursday, while the 10 majority Democrats supported the measure.  The majority vote of “yes” will send the proposal to the full Senate floor.  While many speculate that there is no chance the measure will be passed by the Republican-led House, if passed the repeal  would provide equal federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.  Read Full Article

The federal government of theUnited Statesdoes not recognize same-sex marriages and is prohibited from doing so by the Defense of Marriage Act.  Under the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, only legally married couples as defined by the law are entitled to more than 1,000 federal marriage benefits such as continued Social Security payments to spouses after death.  Repealing the measure means that same-sex couples wed in the six states,  Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and the District of Columbia, which have legalized gay and lesbian marriages, would be eligible for full federal benefits afforded other couples, regardless of where they live.

The attorneys at Leeds Morelli & Brown, P.C., dedicate a large amount of their practice to discrimination claims.  For any questions, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658. Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C.’s website is located at www.lmblaw.com.

Whole Foods Worker Says he Was Fired from Supermarket Chain Because he is Muslim

Glenn Mack Jr., a former Whole Foods Market employee, says he was fired because he is Muslim.  Mack stated that he experienced harassment by his supervisors because of his Islamic faith, resulting in his termination.  Mack, 24, started working for Whole Foods in 2008.  Mack requested vacation time for Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Meccain Saudi Arabiaduring the last month of the Islamic calendar, although he did not disclose to his supervisors his vacation destination.  Mack had kept his Islamic faith a secret after overhearing comments that disturbed him. He requested time for the vacation two months in advance of the November 2010 trip.  After learning of Mack’s Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city, Mack’s supervisors gave him a choice of keeping his job or going on the trip.  Mack took the trip.  He was terminated in February 2011 for absenteeism.  A spokeswoman for the natural-food supermarket chain said the company denied Mack’s allegations.  Read Full Article

In the workplace, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their religion.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was intended to even out the playing field by making it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.  The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.  Please visit the EEOC’s website for further information: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC has won precedent-setting decisions involving employment discrimination for clients represented on Long Island, throughout the New York City area. For a free consultation, please contact Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658.

Wealth Gap Between Younger and Older Americans is Widest Ever?

According to the U.S. Census the wealth gap between the young and old is at its widest.  The typical U.S.household headed by a person age 65 or older has a net worth 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35.  While people typically accumulate assets as they age, this wealth gap is now more than double what it was in 2005 and nearly five times the 10-to-1 disparity a quarter-century ago, after adjusting for inflation.  The cause of the disparity is the impact of the economic downturn, which has hit young adults particularly hard.  Read Full Article

It is important to have your estate planned, no matter how big or small your estate.  Proper estate planning includes having a valid will, health care proxy, living will, and power of attorney.  A Last Will and Testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death.  A Health Care Proxy is a document which allows you to designate a person to make health care decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself.  These decisions can involve the management of your health care in order to keep you healthy.  These decisions can also involve the termination of life support. A Living Will is a written statement that expresses your desires with regard to health care treatment if you become mentally incapable and/or physically incapable of expressing those desires. It may include instructions concerning the termination of life support.  It is important to consider these documents when planning your estate.  No estate is too small to be excluded from estate planning.

For questions regarding estate planning, please contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658 or visit the firm’s website at www.lbestatelaw.com.