This past Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear seven (7) Petitions seeking review of rulings that struck down gay marriage bans in five (5) states. The move suggested that SCOTUS was not going to insert itself in the wave of decisions favoring same-sex marriages. Then on Tuesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that same-sex marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada were … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Sends Mixed Messages about the Status of Same-Sex Marriage
KingSpry Blog
Revisiting Your Handbook Doesn’t Have To Be A Drag
As I was driving to work this morning, I saw an advertisement for electronic cigarettes and I started to wonder if existing policies concerning tobacco use on employer’s property would cover such a thing? This raises a common theme about which we employment attorneys are always cautioning our clients, that periodically, administration/management needs to look at existing policies or handbooks to … [Read more...] about Revisiting Your Handbook Doesn’t Have To Be A Drag
New Federal Law Affects Foster Children in Many Ways; Improves State Adoption Incentives; Also Beefs up Child Support Enforcement
On September 30, President Obama signed into law the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The provisions of the law are expected to reduce the deficit by $19 million over the next 10 years. Protecting Children At Risk of Sex Trafficking The law establishes a national advisory committee to provide guidance, over the course of four years, on best practices in responding to sex … [Read more...] about New Federal Law Affects Foster Children in Many Ways; Improves State Adoption Incentives; Also Beefs up Child Support Enforcement
No Right to a Jury Under Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law Strongly Affirmed
In a recent ruling, Bensinger v. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Pennsylvania Superior Court provided a clear answer to the question of whether parties are entitled to a jury trial under Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law. The Court began its analysis by noting that the Whistleblower Law is ‘chiefly a remedial measure intended to enhance openness in government and compel the … [Read more...] about No Right to a Jury Under Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law Strongly Affirmed
Using Smartphones in Divorce and Custody Disputes: the Good, Bad and Ugly
This week, NPR ran an interesting piece on how “Smartphones Are Used To Stalk and Control Domestic Abuse Victims,” explaining the danger of how someone can secretly spy on you through your electronic devices and social media such as a smartphone, tablet or computer from a distance in order to gain power over the other person, particularly when it relates to Domestic Violence. Typically, this type … [Read more...] about Using Smartphones in Divorce and Custody Disputes: the Good, Bad and Ugly
What Does “Good Faith” Reporting Mean, and What Will It Cost to Miss the Mark?
Ever since the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released the names of 55 institutions of higher education under scrutiny for possible Title IX violations in May, the media has been flooded with lurid personal accounts of mishandled sexual assaults on their campuses. A Time magazine cover story and a two different large spreads in the New York Times were perhaps the most … [Read more...] about What Does “Good Faith” Reporting Mean, and What Will It Cost to Miss the Mark?
