With summer fast approaching, Dallas, Texas employment lawyer Keith Clouse offers the following tips for employers to help them embrace the summer season while remaining compliant with state and federal employment laws.

 
1. If you plan to hire an unpaid summer intern, know the laws regarding unpaid internships.
2. If you plan to hire seasonal workers, be sure that your policies and procedures address temporary workers. For example, these workers may not qualify for the benefits offered to other employees.
3. If you allow your employees to dress more casually in the summer, remind them that their casual dress must still convey a professional image.
4. Anticipate vacation requests and have a plan for handling them. Many employees ask for time off in the summer. To avoid understaffing and the appearance of favoritism, make sure that your vacation policies are solid and communicated in advance to your employees.

Companies turn to Mr. Clouse and the other Dallas, Texas employment lawyers at his firm for innovative and effective representation in all kinds of employment matters. To speak with one of the employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP about an employment law matter, contact them via email at info@clousedunn.com or telephone at 214 220 3888

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KEITH A. CLOUSE

Clouse Dunn LLP

214.220.2722
214.220.3833 ( fax)
keith@clousedunn.com

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San Francisco, CA — It’s been one year since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision that has since changed the landscape for consumer class action lawsuits, preventing consumers from rightfully seeing their day in court. Since AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, consumers have routinely been blocked from pursuing class action lawsuits and have been instead forced into arbitration where the odds are stacked in favor of the corporation, reports San Francisco protection lawyer Carey Been of Keller Grover LLP.

According to a Public Citizen and National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) report, since that landmark decision, the courts have stopped at least 76 potential class action lawsuits from going forward. Prior to the Concepcion ruling, for the most part, corporations could not keep themselves out of court by forcing their customers to settle any disputes in private by arbitration tribunals by incorporating such language into their contracts.

This ruling has systematically nullified 19 state laws that protected consumers’ ability to vindicate their rights in a class action—where consumers actually have a fighting chance against mega-corporations.

Following the highly debated Concepcion decision, the power of arbitration has been greatly expanded because the ruling allows corporations to force customers into individual arbitration, blocking them from pursuing cases as a class. Without the ability to pursue cases with small individual damages on a class basis, consumers will have a great deal of difficulty finding legal help. Carey Been, a Bay Area consumer protection attorney states, “This ruling has only created an even more uneven playing field—a David vs. Goliath scenario, where consumers have no options and nowhere to turn beyond arbitration.”

“Class actions are indispensable for allowing consumers to seek redress when a company’s practices harm thousands of consumers, particularly when the harm results in a small-dollar loss for each consumer,” said Christine Hines, consumer and civil justice counsel with Public Citizen and co-author of the report. “Under Concepcion, those cases can’t go forward, leaving millions of consumers without a remedy for corporate wrongdoing.”

But, not all hope is lost, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced Tuesday that it is beginning to study the practice of arbitration, as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The study is a prerequisite to the CFPB writing rules on this issue. In addition, the Arbitration Fairness Act, which is currently pending in Congress, would eliminate forced arbitration in consumer and non-union employment contracts.

“The Concepcion ruling has only made it increasingly harder for consumers to obtain justice in a court of law. Instead, corporations can hide behind the arbitration cloak, while consumers are left with nowhere to turn, except arbitration, where they likely won’t find a lawyer to represent them or receive a fair judgment,” explains San Francisco consumer protection lawyer Carey Been.

Keller Grover is an experienced employment law firm that has played leading roles in a wide variety of consumer protection and employment related claims, including wage and hour, breach of contract cases and discrimination and harassment cases based on race, sex, age, disability and other legally protected categories. Keller Grover LLP is dedicated to helping workers whose wage and hour rights have been violated. For more information about the Bay Area consumer protection lawyers at Keller Grover and employment law cases, please visit www.kellergrover.com.

To bookmark this article please click here: Report Highlights Concepcion Disaster Notes Bay Area Consumer Protection Lawyer.

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Washington, D.C. – Two cases concerning the controversial issue of marriage equality for gay couples are expected to reach the Supreme Court as early as this year. As reported by Reuters, the two major cases from California and Massachusetts concern whether same-sex marriage recognition can be refused by state or federal governments.

Attorneys for same-sex couples in the case from California, where voters agreed to pass a measure implementing a ban on marriage between gay couples in 2008, are seeking to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to discontinue being involved so that the issue could be settled by the Supreme Court. Same-sex marriage is permitted in Massachusetts, however, couples cannot receive federal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples, which is the issue some are seeking to have changed.

President Barack Obama recently revealed publicly that he supports gay marriage, which drew both strong criticism and favorable support this week.

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Chicago – Jennifer Hudson and her sister, Julia, released a statement following the conviction of Julia’s ex-husband for the 2008 slayings of three of their family members. As reported by E! Online, William Balfour was convicted on murder charges Friday in connection with the deaths of Hudson’s mother, brother, and 7-year-old nephew.

The Hudson sisters are quoted by E! Online as releasing the statement Friday, “We have many people to thank but our first thank you is to God… We are so grateful to prosecutors James McKay, Jennifer Bagby and Veryl Gambino and State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and her team for their dedication and tireless work from the beginning. We have the best police department, and they have been with us every step of the way. We thank all of the State’s witnesses who came forward on our behalf. We have felt the love and support from people all over the world and we’re very grateful.”

The sisters further extended prayers to the Balfour family in their statement. William Balfour faces life in prison.

Justice News Flash delivers the latest in Chicago legal news.

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Mount Salak, Indonesia – Remains have been found after a plane crash in Indonesia killed 45 passengers on board. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the Russian made plane, the Sukhoi Superjet-100, used in a demonstration flight crashed into the volcano, Mount Salak, last week.

Due to inclement weather, helicopters used in the search for remains had been unable to land prior to late Friday or early Saturday. The helicopters have reportedly transported four body bags that contained remains found by search and rescue teams to be identified in Jakarta.

Investigators are still searching for the black box recorder that could aid in identifying the cause of the crash. Gagah Prakoso, a spokesperson for the search and rescue agency, is quoted by the AP as stating, “We also have deployed a team to find the black box, but so far it had yet found.”

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London, Ontario – The trial of a Canadian man charged with assaulting and murdering an 8-year-old girl has concluded after two-months. As reported by Reuters, the man, 31-year-old Michael Rafferty, was found guilty of the kidnapping, assault, and murder of the child on Friday.

As noted in the report, Rafferty’s girlfriend, Terri-Lynne McClintic, previously testified that she killed the child; however, jurors dismissed the claim.

Rodney Stafford, the father of the victim, is quoted in the report as stating to reporters after the verdict, “We got him. We got justice… It was for every little girl in Canada. Nobody deserves what happened to her.”

Rafferty is facing life imprisonment.

Justice News Flash delivers the latest in Toronto legal news.

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At least 10 people were injured Saturday, April 21, 2012 after a three-vehicle accident spilled onto a sidewalk at 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas, explains Manhattan injury lawyer Jonathan C Reiter. The Midtown accident occurred shortly after 9 pm.

According to information received by New York City auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter, a black Jaguar heading westbound on 42nd Street struck a gray Chevrolet Impala stopped at a traffic light. Upon impact, the Impala swerved into a taxicab that was transporting two individuals and the Jaguar lost control and careened onto a sidewalk. Manhattan injury lawyer Jonathan C Reiter explains the Jaguar struck at least four pedestrians before rolling onto its side and crashing into a tree.

Manhattan injury lawyer Reiter quotes a police spokesman that stated no one was “likely to die,” but that eight people were taken to Bellevue Hospital Center. According to the spokesperson, two additional people involved in the collision refused medical treatment at the scene. Four of those injured were pedestrians.

The driver of the black Jaguar was trapped inside the vehicle as a result of the accident explains New York City auto accident attorney, and required emergency assistance.

The intersection at 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas remained closed for two hours after the accident, and the accident remains under investigation.

The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter, leading New York City auto accident attorneys, provided this news story. For more information about accident cases or The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter visit www.jcreiterlaw.com or call 888-464-1952 to schedule an appointment with a Manhattan injury lawyer.

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Oregon – “Lost” star Matthew Fox was taken into police custody last week after being suspected of drunk driving. As reported by TMZ, Fox, who gained notoriety after starring in the popular 1990s series “Party of Five,” and later the hit show “Lost,” was arrested early Friday morning and released the same day.

According to TMZ, the actor was reported to have been pulled over for failing to signal or maintain the correct lane. Fox was stated to have been arrested at the scene due to an officer suspecting him of being intoxicated.

Fox previously made headlines last year after a female bus driver accused him of punching her. He was not charged for any related offense, but he is being sued by the driver.

Fox, who resides in Oregon with his family, is reportedly expected to return to court in connection with the recent incident in June.

The actor is set to appear in the upcoming film, “World War Z.”

Justice News Flash delivers the latest in Oregon DUI news.

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Michigan – Former Miss USA Rima Fakih will not be required to serve jail time in connection with her DUI arrest last December. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Fakih was sentenced to six months probation, 20 hours of community service, and ordered to pay a $600 fine by Judge William McConico in a Michigan court on Wednesday.

Fakih, who pleaded no contest to the charge of driving while visibly impaired, is quoted as stating about the outcome of the case, “I’m very relieved… But let’s say it got to that point. I was willing to pay the price it took because I knew I made mistakes.”

The 26-year-old became the first Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA in 2010. Fakih is expected to appear in an upcoming Fox dating show called “The Choice,” which premieres in June.

Justice News Flash delivers the latest in Michigan DUI news.

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Los Angeles – Two male masseurs are accusing “Pulp Fiction” star John Travolta of sexual battery in two recently filed lawsuits. As reported by omg! Now, a second lawsuit was filed against the actor Tuesday after the first filing occurred Friday.

The first masseur accused Travolta of propositioning him for sex when he was hired for a massage in January. The second person to bring suit, is making the claim that days after the first alleged incident, he was also propositioned by the star for sex after being hired to give him a massage.

Each lawsuit is reportedly seeking $2 million in damages. Marty Singer, an attorney for Travolta is quoted in the report as stating of the claims, “The problem in America is anyone can sue anyone. However, in this case this unidentified plaintiff and his lawyer will regret they filed this fabricated suit. We intend to sue both of them for malicious prosecution.”

Justice News Flash delivers the latest in Los Angeles personal injury news.

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