First Thursday

This month’s cases: Curious Court Decision Overturning Arbitrator’s Opinion, Forest Preserve District of Cook County v. Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, 33 PERI ¶ 91 (lll. App. 2017); Use Of Private Cell Phone Can Create Public Record, City of San Jose v. Superior Court, 2017 WL 818506 (Cal. 2017); Random Drug Testing For […]

Random Drug Testing For Corrections Employees Upheld, Washington v. Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas, 2017 WL 474322 (10th Cir. 2017). ‘Last-Chance’ Agreement Means What It Says, Village of Fox Lake, FMCS 16-00391-1 (Jay Grenig 2016). Transfer Of Ambulance Services To Contractor Is Negotiable, Lockport Professional Firefighters, 49 PERB ¶ 4578 (NY PERB ALJ 2016). […]

The cases covered in this month’s podcast are: Not Religious Discrimination To Refuse Muslim CO’s Request To Wear Khimar, Tisby v. Camden County Correctional Facility, 2017 WL 192887 (N.J. App. 2017) Social Networking Policy Violates Free Speech Rights, Liverman v. City of Petersburg, 2016 WL 7240179 (4th Cir. 2016) Union Lacks Right To Record Internal […]

In our first podcast of 2017, Will discusses a question received on our website about whether there are exceptions to management’s adherence to past practice when imposing discipline. He also cover the following cases: Denver Body-Cam Policy Negotiable, Denver Police Protective Association v. City of Denver, No. 15CV33862 (Colo. Dist. Ct. 2016) Grand Juries And […]

In our final podcast of 2016, Will reveals the five biggest mistakes employers make during internal affairs investigations and covers the following cases: Officer Has Privacy Rights In Personal Cellphone, Larios v. Lunardi, 2016 WL 6679874 (E.D. Cal. 2016) ‘Absolute Prosecutorial Immunity’ Of DA Shields Even Political Retaliation Against Sergeant, Barnett v. Marquis, 2016 WL […]

Included in this month’s podcast: Will Aitchison gives ten tips for employees facing a disciplinary interview Pre-Employment Health History Forms Violate GINA, ADA, EEOC v. Grisham Farm Products, Inc., 2016 WL 3221161 (W.D. Mo. 2016) Jacksonville Firefighter Hiring Consent Decree Allowed To Expire, Coffey v. Braddy, 2016 WL 4435614 (11th Cir. 2016) Transsexual Officer Win […]

The following cases are covered in this month’s podcast: Fire Captain Discharged For Refusing To Stop Using Department Email For Religious Messages, Sprague v. Spokane Valley Fire Department, 2016 WL 5239627 (Wash. App. 2016) Polygraph Examination Is An ‘Interrogation’ Covered By Bill Of Rights, Miller v. City of Gonzales, 2016 WL 4563729 (La. App. 2016) […]

Will discusses two very important recent cases. The first is a donning and doffing FLSA case out of New York – Perez v. City of New York, 2016 WL 4087216 (2nd Cir. 2016) – and the other involves a change in California;s law on pension reductions – Marin Association of Public Employees v. Marin County […]

This month’s topics: New decision concerning how to calculate the overtime rate under the FLSA, Hernandez v. City of San Gabriel, 2016 WL 3090782 (9th Cir. 2016) Decision from Virginia on whether firefighter captains are exempt under the FLSA, Morrison v. County of Fairfax, 2016 WL 3409651 (4th Cir. 2016) Florida supreme court holds unconstitutional […]

This month’s topics: Body-Worn Cameras And Bargaining, City of Oklahoma City (Zane Lumbley, 2016); Montgomery County, Maryland (Ira Jaffee, 2015 and 2016) Retirement Forfeiture Violates ‘Excessive Fine’ Clause Of Eighth Amendment, Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission v. Bettencourt, 474 Mass. 60 (Mass. 2016) Court Upholds Boston Sergeant Exam Even With Adverse Racial Impact,...

This month’s topics: New FLSA Exemption Rules Are Finally Announced The EEOC, The ADA, And Leave Incident Reports May Not (Or May) Be Protected By Garrity, United States v. Smith, 2016 WL 1719267 (11th Cir. 2016) Selling Shoes On E-Bay Not ‘Misconduct’ Disqualifying Trooper From Unemployment, Huff v. North Carolina Department of Commerce, 2016 WL […]

This month’s topics: Supreme Court Reinstates Officer’s Free Speech Lawsuit, Heffernan v. City of Paterson, New Jersey, 2016 WL 1627953 (U.S. 2016) Court Upholds Constitutionality Of California Factfinding Law, County of Riverside v. PERB, 2016 WL 1238737 (Cal. App. 2016); San Diego Housing Commission v. PERB, 2016 WL 1242539 (Cal. App. 2016) Step Increases After […]

Will discusses the impact of a divided Supreme Court’s Friedrichs decision upholding the constitutionality of “fair share,” and important decision on tattoo policy and impact bargaining out of Chicago, and more. Listen Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association Arbitrator Overturns Chicago PD’s Ban On Tattoos, Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7, No. 129-15-007 (Jacalyn [&#8230...

Listen Will tackles a question on physical fitness standards testing and HIPAA When Must An Employer Bargain Over The ‘Effects’ Of A Management Right? El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, 2016 WL 542342 (Cal. App. 2016) Ex-fire chief sues over firing, www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20160125/ex-fire-chief-sues-over-firing Court Reverses Trooper’s Suspension For Failing To Take Action, N...

Will discusses three important news stories and three recent cases. LRIS would also like to introduce our Q&A hotline where podcast listeners can submit questions directly to Will. To leave a voice mail, call 503-836-5255. In addition to your question, please let Will know the state where you’re employed and whether you work in a […]

In this month’s podcast, Will discusses the reasons why police and fire personnel have lower health care utilization than civilian employees. He also covers the following cases. Boston PD Rank-Ordered Promotions Held Discriminatory, Smith v. City of Boston, 2015 WL 7194554 (D. Mass. 2015) ‘Disrespectful Speech’ May Be Protected By Labor Laws, Borough of Carteret, […]

In this month’s podcast, Will discusses attacks on police union bargaining rights from both the left and right sides of the political spectrum and covers the following cases. City May Recoup Costs From Former Peace Officer For Peace Officer Standards And Training (“POST”) Certification, In re Acknowledgment Cases, 239 Cal. App.4th 1498 (2015) In Georgia, Deputy […]

In this month’s First Thursday podcast, Will reviews an important Brady decision out of Texas and cases involving Weingarten, Garrity, police officer bill of rights, presumptive causation and protected speech. Major Brady Case From Texas, Brown v. Nero, 2015 WL 5666172 (Tex. App. 2015) Questioning About Use Of Force Incident Triggers Weingarten Rights, New York […]

Topics discussed in this month’s podcast include: The Negotiability Of A Disciplinary Matrix, Middletown Borough Police Officers Association, 47 PPER ¶ 30 (Penn. LRB 2015) Acquittal In Criminal Case Does Not Mean Firefighter Could Not Be Fired, City of Seattle, (Lankford 2015) Deputy Sheriff Can Be Fired For Conduct While On Unpaid Leave, Negron v. […]

Topics discussed in this month’s podcast include: Review of the Department of Labor’s rule changes concerning who is exempt from overtime under the FLSA A Cleveland firefighter was ordered to pay $2,500 for personal calls on city phone San Jose mayor changes position on police officers paying training costs Daily log is not a “personnel […]

Topics discussed in this month’s podcast include: The ‘Firefighter’s Rule’ Marches On, Nagy v. Arsenault, 2015 WL 3685212 (Conn. Super. 2015) Payroll System Failures No Defense To FLSA Violation, Souryavongv. Lackawanna County, 2015 WL 3409472 (M.D. Pa. 2015) Administrative Leave Can Last Too Long, City of Waltham v. Waltham Police Patrol Officers’ Union, 2015 WL […]

Topics discussed in this month’s podcast include: Supreme Court To Hear Case Threatening Public Employee Unions, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association No Right For Non-Members To Vote On Contract, AFSCME Council 25 v. Yunkman, 2015 WL 3505668 (Mich. App. 2015) The Department of Labor Issues Draft FLSA Exemptions Regulation Health Care Cashback, Merit Pay Must […]

Cases discussed in this month’s podcast include: Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down Pension Reform Legislation, In re Pension Reform Litigation, 2015 IL 118585 (Ill. 2015) San Bernardino Allowed To Cancel Contract With Firefighters’ Union, May Privatize Department, In re City of San Bernardino, California, 2015 WL 2153448 (C.D. Cal. 2015) Sheriff Ordered To Sign Collective […]

Cases discussed in this month’s podcast include: The negotiability of workplace cameras, IAFF, Local 3315 v. Snohomish Fire District 3, 2015 WL 1013220 (Wash. PERC 2015) Arbitrator’s reinstatement of officer in excess force case does not violate public policy, City of Bloomington v. Policemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, 2015 IL App (4th) 140192-U (Ill. App. […]

This month’s podcast features an overview of the anti-public safety collective bargaining legislation making its way in various state houses across the country and an important new genetic information discrimination case involving a firefighter. Cases discussed: Firefighter Wins Age Discrimination, GINA Claims, Lee v. City of Moraine Fire Department, 2015 WL 914440 (S.D. Ohio 2015) […]