Missouri Court Rules that Gay Employee’s Sex Stereotyping Allegations Constitute Sex Discrimination Claim Under MHRA

On October 24, 2017, in Lampley v. Mo. Commission on Human Rights, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, held that sex stereotyping, including as it pertains to a gay or lesbian employee, is sex discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”).  That sex stereotyping claims would be recognized under the...

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Leveling the Playing Field – Missouri Governor Signs MHRA and Whistleblower Amendments

Last Friday, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens signed Missouri Senate Bill 43 (SB 43), amending the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) and codifying the requirements for a whistleblower claim under Missouri law. The bill can be found here. This bill, which will become effective on August 28, 2017, represents a significant change in certain...

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Management Committee Changes

The Firm has announced that its partners elected Douglas W. King to serve as chairman of the firm's management committee.  The firm also elected Charles S. Elbert to serve a three-year term on the management committee.

The firm, in business for more than 40 years, is known for business litigation, labor...

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Missouri Supreme Court Clarifies Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy Claim

On May 16, 2017, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an opinion in Newsome v. Kansas City, Missouri School District, No. SC95538 (Mo. banc), which clarified Missouri law by holding that on a wrongful discharge in violation of public policy claim:  (1) the judge, not the jury, decides whether a legal violation occurred;...

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Seventh Circuit Rules that Sexual Orientation Discrimination is Prohibited by Title VII

On April 4, 2017, in Hively v. Ivy Tech Cmty. Coll. of Indiana, No. 15-1720, the Seventh Circuit en banc (all of the judges), on rehearing of a panel decision disallowing the plaintiff’s claim, became the first federal Court of Appeals to hold that discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited by...

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U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies School Districts’ Obligation to Provide Free Appropriate Public Education

The United States Supreme Court handed down its decision on March 22, 2017 in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, No. 15-827 (3/22/2017), regarding the standard for determining whether a child has been offered a Free Appropriate Public Education ("FAPE").

In the unanimous (8-0) decision, the Court held that each Individualized...

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