Recent Blog Posts
New Federal Bill Seeks to Expand Fair Housing Act to Cover Gender Identity
Earlier this year, a new bill was introduced in the Senate, that if passed, could significantly expand the protections offered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Currently, the FHA prohibits housing discrimination based on color, race, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. The law’s proponents seek to expand the protections offered by the… Read More »
Employees File Suit Against Restaurant for Violation of Overtime/Minimum Wage Laws
Last month, six current and former employees of Farmers Restaurant Group filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against their employer, which is the parent company of a number Farming Founders restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. According to the complaint, the company’s managers require their employees to… Read More »
New York City Residents Allege Discrimination by Metropolitan Transportation Authority
In April, a group of disability organizations and disabled residents filed a class action lawsuit in both state and federal court against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which it claims does not provide users with adequate elevators and electric lifts in the New York City subway system. According to the complaints filed by the… Read More »
Drastic Cuts to HUD’s Budget Proposed
Recently, the Trump Administration proposed significant budget cuts for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the tune of around six billion dollars. In response, many fair housing advocates and experts in urban policy have voiced concerns that the budget cuts would have devastating consequences for low-income families by stalling backlogged repairs… Read More »
New Bill May Limit Rights Under the ADA
The House Judiciary Committee is currently considering a bill known as the ADA Education and Reform Act, which if passed may end up complicating the process of filing claims against businesses who are allegedly failing to comply with “public access” section of the the Americans with Disabilities Act. Current Law The ADA requires that… Read More »
Protections for Disabled Individuals Under the ADA: Service Animals
Both federal and state law prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities, both in the employment setting, and the public accommodation setting. This means that most businesses are required to take certain steps to ensure that disabled individuals have reasonable access to their property, which includes allowing them to use service animals. What Qualifies as… Read More »
House of Representatives Passes New Overtime Law
In May, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Working Families Flexibility Act (HR 1180), which would provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector. In lieu of overtime pay, employees could receive compensatory time off for which overtime pay would otherwise have been required. The bill is currently being reviewed by… Read More »
Supreme Court Says Students With Disability Claims can File in Federal Court
In February, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that will have important repercussions for students with disabilities. According to the Court’s unanimous opinion, students are now permitted to file a claim in federal court under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without first being required to request an administrative hearing under the Individuals… Read More »
HUD Agrees to Settle With Florida Insurer Accused of Violating Fair Housing Act
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reached an agreement with a Florida insurance company that had been accused of violating the Fair Housing Act. According to the complaint, the company had routinely denied insurance coverage to properties that offered subsidized, or low-income housing. Rather than disputing the issue… Read More »
The Current State of the New Federal Overtime Laws
Last May, the Obama administration announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) would be issuing a new rule that overhauled federal overtime regulations. If enforced, the new rule would have extended overtime pay protections to more than four million workers. However, in December, a federal judge issued an injunction preventing implementation of the recent… Read More »
