EMERGING EMPLOYMENT LAW ISSUES by ROBERT B. FITZPATRICK, ESQ. ROBERT B. FITZPATRICK, PLLC Suite 640 Universal Building South 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-5728 (202) 588-5300 (telephone) (202) 588-5023 (fax) [email protected] (e-mail) www.robertbfitzpatrick.com (website) “At that time there were two monks who were discussing the topic of the wind and flag. One said, "The wind is moving." The other said, "The flag is moving." They argued incessantly. Hui Neng stepped forward and said, "The wind is not moving, nor is the flag. Your minds, Kind sirs, are moving." Everyone was startled.” - The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra 8Copyright, 2008, Robert B. Fitzpatrick, Esq., Robert B. Fitzpatrick, PLLC, Washington, D.C. Drobo:Documents:Bob:-Website:Files:2009-05-22 RBF to TDL:Emerging Employment Law Issues Paper - 2008.doc DISCLAIMER OF ALL LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS BASED UPON SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AND RELIABLE -- INCLUDING SECONDARY SOURCES. DILIGENT EFFORT WAS MADE TO INSURE THE ACCURACY OF THESE MATERIALS, BUT THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY READER’S RELIANCE ON THEM AND ENCOURAGES READERS TO VERIFY ALL ITEMS BY REVIEWING PRIMARY SOURCES WHERE APPROPRIATE AND USING TRADITIONAL LEGAL RESEARCH TECHNIQUES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED OR CHANGED BY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. THIS PAPER IS PRESENTED AS AN INFORMATIONAL SOURCE ONLY. IT IS INTENDED TO ASSIST READERS AS A LEARNIUNG AID BUT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL, ACCOUNTING OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. IT IS NOT WRITTEN (NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE USED) FOR PURPOSES OF ASSISTING CLIENTS, NOR TO PROMOTE, MARKET, OR RECOMMEND ANY TRANSACTION OR MATTER ADDRESSED AND, GIVEN THE PURPOSE OF THE PAPER, MAY OMIT DISCUSSION OF EXCEPTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, OR OTHER RELEVANT INFORMARTION THAT MAY AFFECT ITS UTILITY IN ANY LEGAL SITUATION. THIS PAPER DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND ANY READER. DUE TO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NATURE OF THE LAW, INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PAPER MAY BECOME OUTDATED. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR, BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AND/OR RELATED TO THE USE OF THIS MATERIAL. 8Copyright, 2008, Robert B. Fitzpatrick, Esq., Robert B. Fitzpatrick, PLLC, Washington, D.C. TABLE OF CONTENTS ADA................................................................................................................................................................................1 ADA – CLASS ACTIONS............................................................................................................................................3 ADA – CLASS ACTIONS............................................................................................................................................3 ADMISSIBILITY OF E-MAILS............................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ADVERSE ACTION ....................................................................................................................................................4 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION...........................................................................................................................................5 AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT..............................................................................................9 ADEA - DISPARATE IMPACT ...............................................................................................................................11 AGENCY FEES – FIRST AMENDMENT ..............................................................................................................11 APPLICANTS.............................................................................................................................................................11 ARBITRATION..........................................................................................................................................................12 ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE........................................................................................................................16 ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE – INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.............................................................20 ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE – PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRMS ..............................................................21 ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE – OMBUDSMEN PRIVILEGE .................................................................21 ATTORNEYS’ FEES .................................................................................................................................................22 ATTORNEYS’ FEES – DISCOVERY OF DEFENSE FEES ................................................................................25 BACKGROUND CHECKS .......................................................................................................................................27 BANKRUPTCY ..........................................................................................................................................................28 BLOGS AND INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS...................................................................................................29 BLOGS – FREE SPEECH.........................................................................................................................................31 BONUS PLAN.............................................................................................................................................................32 CAREGIVER DISCRIMINATION..........................................................................................................................33 CASH BALANCE PLANS.........................................................................................................................................33 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1866 – 42 U.S.C. § 1981 .................................................................................................34 CLASS AND COLLECTIVE ACTIONS.................................................................................................................35 CLASS ACTIONS - CERTIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................36 CLASS ACTIONS - SETTLEMENT .......................................................................................................................36 CLASS ACTION FAIRNESS ACT (CAFA)............................................................................................................36 COMMON LAW ........................................................................................................................................................37 COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT .................................................................................................................40 COMPUTERS.............................................................................................................................................................40 COMPUTERS - COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT..................................................................................41 COMPUTERS – COMPUTER RELATED OFFENSES ACT (CROA)...............................................................42 i ©Copyright, 2008, Robert B. Fitzpatrick, Esq., Robert B. Fitzpatrick, PLLC, Washington, D.C. Drobo:Documents:Bob:-Website:Files:2009-05-22 RBF to TDL:Emerging Employment Law Issues Paper - 2008.doc COMPUTERS – EMPLOYER ACCESS TO EMPLOYEES’ COMPUTERS ....................................................42 COMPUTERS - MONITORING..............................................................................................................................43 COMPUTERS - PRIVACY .......................................................................................................................................43 CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT....................................................................................................44 CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE.............................................................................................................................45 CONTRACT - COMMISSIONS...............................................................................................................................46 CONVERSION OF ELECTRONIC DATA ............................................................................................................47 CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS.........................................................................................................................47 COSTS .........................................................................................................................................................................48 CREDIT UNIONS ......................................................................................................................................................48 DAMAGES..................................................................................................................................................................48 DAMAGES – FRONT PAY.......................................................................................................................................49 DAMAGES – LOST HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE ................................................................................50 DAMAGES – MITIGATION ....................................................................................................................................51