Tag: discrimination
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Native American Discrimination Suit Against USDA Settles
A federal court has reportedly approved a $760 million government settlement with Native American farmers and ranchers who claimed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) discriminated against them by denying them equal access to credit through the agency’s Farm Loan Program. Keepseagle v. Vilsack, No. 99-03119 (D.D.C., settlement approved April 28, 2011). A final dispute…
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Court Sets Hearing on Fees in Native American Discrimination Suit Against USDA
A federal court in the District of Columbia has reportedly scheduled an April 26, 2011, hearing to determine whether attorneys representing Native American farmers and ranchers in the settlement of claims alleging discrimination against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should receive $60.8 million in fees. Keepseagle v. Vilsack, No. 99-03119 (D.D.C., preliminary settlement approval…
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Hispanic Farmers Allege Unfair USDA Treatment in Settlement of Discrimination Claims
Five Hispanic farmers have filed a putative class action in a D.C. district court against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to seek “redress from Defendants’ unconstitutional treatment in the proposed settlement of discrimination claims by these Hispanic Plaintiffs . . . as compared to the manner in which Defendants have settled identical discrimination claims…
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Diabetic Sues Sushi Restaurant, Can’t Eat All-You-Can-Eat Rice
A diabetic man has reportedly filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeking at least $4,000 in mental anguish damages from a Studio City sushi restaurant that requires those patrons paying an all-you-can-eat price to eat all of the food served and not just the fish. Martin v. A Ca-Shi Sushi, No. __…
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Federal Court Urges Parties to Negotiate in USDA Gender Discrimination Case
According to a news source, a district court in the District of Columbia has denied a request seeking an order that the Justice Department submit a proposal for settling claims of loan program discrimination filed by female farmers against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Instead, the court apparently urged the lawyers representing the litigants to…
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Burger King Franchisees Seek Declaration of Non-Liability
A number of Burger King Corp. franchisees in California have filed a complaint for declaratory relief in federal court, claiming that the company has no basis for demanding that they pay the cost of settlement or its attorney’s fees and costs in a recently settled disability discrimination lawsuit. Newport v. Burger King Corp., No. 10-4511…
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EEOC Sues Meatpacker for Alleged Discrimination Against Muslim Employees
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reportedly filed lawsuits in Colorado and Nebraska federal courts against a meatpacking company that allegedly “created a hostile work environment for its Somali and Muslim employees due to their race, national origin, and religion.” According to the EEOC, the workers’ supervisors and co-workers “threw blood, meat, and bones…
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Federal Appeals Court Sends Obesity Disability Litigation Back to Trial Court
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has returned to a federal district court litigation alleging that a karate instructor was fired because he was obese in violation of a New York City law that forbids disability-based workplace discrimination. Spiegel v. Schulmann, No. 06-5914 (2d Cir., decided May 6, 2010). According to the appeals court, no cases…