Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination Law Ohio Judges CLE October 2001

1
Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination
LawOhio Judges CLEOctober 2001

• Ruth Colker
• Heck-Faust Memorial Chair
• Ohio State University College of Law

2
Age Discrimination

• Coverage
• Relief
• Proof of Discrimination
• OConnor v. Consolidated Coin Caterers Corp., 517
  U.S. 308 (1996)
• Kohmescher v. Kroger Co., 575 N.E.2d 439 (1991)

3
Summary Judgment Standard

• Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 120
  S. Ct. 2097 (2000)
• Post-Reeves developments
• Gliner v. Saint-Gobain Norton Industrial Ceramics
  Corp. 732 N.E.2d 389 (2000)
• EEOC v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp., 220 F.3d
  1184 (10th Cir. 2000)
• Dominquez-Cruz v. Suttle Caribe, Inc., 202 F.3d
  424 (1st Cir. 2000)

4
Disability Discrimination

• Definition of Disability
• physical or mental impairment that substantially
  limits one or more major life activities
• Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471
  (1999)
• Bragdon v. Abbott, 524 U.S. 624 (1998)
• record of having such an impairment
• regarded as having such an impairment

5
Disability Discrimination

• Qualified to perform the essential functions of
  the job
• Albertsons v. Kirkingburg, 527 U.S. 555 (1999)
• Proof of discrimination special issues
• relationship between reasonable accommodation and
  undue hardship
• reassignment to a vacant position
• medical examinations and inquiries

6
Disability Discrimination

• Defenses
• Albertsons v. Kirkingburg, 527 U.S. 555 (1999)
• Relief
• Kolstad v. American Dental Association, 527 U.S.
  526 (1999)
• Vicarious liability/direct liability
• Judicial estoppel

7
General Arbitration Clause

• Wright v. Universal Maritime Service Corp., 525
  U.S. 70 (1998)
• Green Tree Financial Corp.-Alabama v. Randolph,
  121 S. Ct. 513 (2000)
• Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Saint Clair Adams,
  ___ S. Ct. ___ (U.S. March 21, 2001)

8
Sexual Harassment

• Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S.
  742 (1998)
• affirmative defense
• but defense not available if harassment
  culminates in a tangible employment action such
  as discharge, demotion or undesirable
  reassignment
• Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523
  U.S. 75 (1998)