The University of Washington is an “arm of the state.” Thus, it has 11th amendment immunity for claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that employees were fired for failure to comply with the Governor’s COVID vaccine mandate. The fired
Ross Runkel
Ross Runkel is a publisher that provides detailed legal analysis and updates primarily focused on labor and employment law, administrative law, and federal court decisions. The content often covers significant Supreme Court cases, federal appellate rulings, and regulatory issues involving agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The publisher also shares comprehensive employment discrimination law updates and commentary on jurisdictional and procedural questions in arbitration and administrative law. The materials are aimed at legal professionals seeking current and practical insights into labor relations, employment discrimination, and administrative law developments.
NLRB lacks authority to impose successor bar (2-1).
The NLRB found that a successor employer committed an unfair labor practice by withdrawing recognition to a union. The employer had evidence that the union had lost majority support. But NLRB precedent—the successor bar—prohibits any challenge to an incumbent union’s…
$14,636.50 in sanctions for filing motion with misquotes.
In an appeal in an employment discrimination suit, the employee’s lawyer filed a motion that contained misquotes. This was not the lawyer’s first misconduct incident.The 3rd Circuit ordered him to reimburse the employer “for the attorney’s fees that it paid…
Employment Law Insight # 78
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/DjfQ5f-u_6Q…
SCOTUS: President can remove FTC Commissioners at will (6-3).
When the President fired two FTC Commissioners, he did not comply with the statute which says they may be removed only “for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” One of them sued, and the trial court permanently enjoined…
SCOTUS: Last mile drivers can qualify for Federal Arbitration Act §1’s exemption without crossing state lines or interacting with vehicles that do.
Flowers Foods v. Brock (US Supreme Ct 05/28/2026) [PDF]Flowers Foods depends in part on franchisees such as Angelo Brock who buy the distribution rights to Flowers’s products in specific geographic territories. Brock picks up Flowers’s products from a…
Cert granted: Title IX private right of action
The US Supreme Court has granted certiorari to decide whether Title IX creates a private right of action for employees claiming sex discrimination in their employment.Crowther v. Board of Regents (05/18/2026) [Briefs] There is a 3-4 split of authority…
Unanimous US Supreme Court arbitration decision
After a federal district court (exercising federal claim jurisdiction) compelled arbitration and stayed an employee’s discrimination claim, the arbitrator issued an award in favor of the employer.The employer moved to confirm, and the employee moved to vacate.The issue was whether…
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act applies to non-victim who provides information during an investigation
When a former employee sued claiming that the employer retaliated against him because he had participated in a workplace sexual harassment investigation, the Oregon Court of Appeals held that arbitration was barred by the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault…
Supreme Court, DOL, & Article III — Cert granted
The 3rd Circuit held that the US Dept. of Labor’s imposition of hundreds of thousands of dollars in civil penalties through administrative proceedings was unlawful without an Article III judicial proceeding. DOL had imposed fines for violation of the H-2A…