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Ninth Circuit Rules Age Act Does Not Apply to Medical Residency Admissions

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the federal Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (Age Act) does not apply to decisions about whether to admit applicants to medical residency programs.

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Ninth Circuit Upholds LAUSD COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Employees During Pandemic

In Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc. v. Alberto Carvalho, et al. (9th Cir. July 31, 2025), Case No. 22-55908, __ F.4th __ , the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccination requirement for employees did not violate constitutional law because it was rationally related to protecting the health and s

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Ninth Circuit Affirms: Racist Images Circulated Via Personal Text Not a “Matter of Public Concern” Entitled to First Amendment Protection

The Ninth Circuit recently issued an amended opinion in Adams v. County of Sacramento (9th Cir. 2005) 143 F.4th 1027, a case involving a former Sacramento County sheriff’s captain, and former Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Rancho Cordova, Kate Adams (Adams) who alleged she was forced to resign after allegations surfaced that she forwarded racist images via text message.

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California Courts Provide Important Clarifications Regarding Public Employee Whistleblower Claims

In two separate back-to-back recent decisions, California courts have given important wins to public employers in defending against employee whistleblower lawsuits under Labor Code section 1102.5.

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School District Granted Immunity from Liability After Denying Remote Work as a Reasonable Accommodation

In a recent decision by the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, a public school district successfully asserted immunity from liability from an employee’s discrimination claims based on being denied permission to work exclusively from home after the COVID-19 pandemic as a reasonable workplace accommodation.

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Supreme Court Stays Order Requiring Reinstatement of Department of Education Employees

On July 14, 2025, in State of New York, et al. v. McMahon, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a temporary stay of a preliminary injunction issued by a federal district court which had halted the United States Department of Education (U.S. DOE) from moving forward with the reduction of staff.

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Mahmoud v. Taylor: Supreme Court Affirms Parental Opt-Out Rights in Curriculum Dispute

The Supreme Court has held that the parents of elementary school students challenging a school board’s introduction of LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks, along with the board’s decision not to provide notice or allow opt outs, are entitled to a preliminary injunction.

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No Special Hurdles U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Higher Burden for Students in Disability Discrimination Claims

On June 12, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in A.J.T. by and through A.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279 (U.S., June 12, 2025, No. 24-249) 605 U.S. __, holding that students bringing disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 cannot be held to a higher legal standar

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U.S Supreme Court Clarifies Majority-Group Plaintiffs Are Not Held to a Higher Evidentiary Standard in Title VII Employment Discrimination Cases

On June 5, 2025, in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services (2025) 145 S.Ct. 1540, the United States Supreme Court unanimously vacated the Sixth Circuit’s decision to dismiss the plaintiff’s reverse discrimination lawsuit, rejecting the lower court’s reasoning that the plaintiff failed to establish “background circumstances” to support the plausibility of r

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