By Jeremy J. Gray of Zuber & Taillieu LLP
In a 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has resolved a split among Circuit courts and has held that an ERISA claimant need not be the “prevailing party” in a lawsuit to receive an award of attorneys fees under 29 U.S.C. section 1132(g)(1). In Hardt v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance… More...
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee has passed the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, which would allow federal employees to give their same-sex partners health insurance, life insurance, government pensions, and other employment related benefits and obligations that are available to heterosexual married couples. More...
U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Herb Kohl (D-WI) have introduced legislation to help Americans ensure they do not outlive their retirement savings. More...
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representatives George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, and John McHugh (R-NY) have re-introduced legislation that would strengthen the law requiring employers to notify workers and communities of mass layoffs or plant closings. More...
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has decided to favorably report, by a vote of 23-12, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (“DBPO”), a legislation that would provide the same family benefits to lesbian and gay federal civilian employees as are already provided to employees with different-sex spouses. More...
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has voted in favor of the Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act of 2009 (S. 736), as amended, to streamline the Federal recruitment and hiring process. More...
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon has introduced a bill to protect gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination. More...
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have introduced the Compensation Fairness Act of 2009, a legislation to discourage excessive compensation by companies that have taken taxpayer funds, and recoup payments made to executives at recipient institutions of funds from the Troubled Assets Relief program (“TARP”). More...
By a vote of 53 to 44, with three members not voting, the U.S. Senate has approved legislation to make permanent the use of an electronic system for employers to check the documentation of prospective employees. More...
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has unanimously approved the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 (S. 372). More...
The California State Senate has approved on second reading a bill that exempts employees in a construction occupation and commercial drivers that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement from meal period laws. More...
