Office MeetingRecently an employer, Pepsico Pepsi Beverages Company, won a summary disposition in an age discrimination claim filed under Michigan law. (Damghani v Pepsico, 9/10/2015) But the real significance of this case has to do with the court rejecting the application of a common employment discrimination theory often referred to as the “cat’s paw

Record Pile.jpgOakland University, a southeast Michigan public university, was sued on November 1, 2013 by its former women’s basketball coach Beckie Francis. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and declaratory relief, as well as seeks to compel Oakland University to produce certain employee records concerning Ms. Francis pursuant to Michigan’s Bullard-Plawecki Employee Right to Know Act.

While this

Knockout.jpegThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was recently smacked down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in EEOC v Peoplemark, Inc. In that appeal, the Court agreed with a decision from the federal district court out of Western Michigan that awarded an employer its attorney’s fees and expert fees in defending against a discrimination claim

No in Red.jpgWhile maybe not quite as exciting as last night’s fantastic win by the Detroit Tigers, Michigan employers got a great win this week from the Michigan Court of Appeals involving a claim for wrongful termination in violation of a public policy.

Specifically, in Irwin v Ciena Health Care Management, Inc. (PDF), a nurse was employed

Shooting Self in Foot.jpgA recent Michigan Court of Appeals decision extended an employer’s liability for a retaliation claim by employees exercising a right afforded under Michigan’s Worker’s Disability Compensation Act (WDCA) even though the employee had yet to file a petition under the act.

This case is also a reminder that employers and their HR professionals need to