News

News

Tennessee Woman Wins $687,000 Settlement After Being Fired for Declining COVID-19 Vaccine on Religious Grounds

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Tennessee woman was awarded nearly $700,000 in a settlement after a federal jury agreed that her termination from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) was unjust. The company had fired her for not adhering to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which she opposed due to her religious beliefs. Tanja Benton, a former biostatistical research scientist at BCBST, challenged her 2022 dismissal in federal court, asserting that her refusal to receive the vaccine was rooted in a sincere religious conviction. The jury awarded Benton more than $177,000 in lost wages, $10,000 for emotional distress, … Read more

Anne-Marie Allgrove Reflects on Year of Change at Baker McKenzie, Dismisses Partner Exodus as Industry-Wide Trend

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Sydney, Australia – Anne-Marie Allgrove, who recently marked her first year as the national managing partner of global law firm Baker McKenzie’s Australian operations, is steering the company through a turbulent time characterized by significant staff turnovers. Despite the apparent setbacks, Allgrove offers a broader perspective on the changes taking place, suggesting they reflect broader industry trends rather than problems unique to the firm. Allgrove acknowledges the recent spate of departures among senior lawyers, but she contends that this phenomenon is hardly confined to Baker McKenzie. The reopening of markets such as London and Singapore … Read more

Young Thug’s Legal Team Seeks Judge’s Disqualification, Alleging Bias and Secret Meetings Undermine Fair Trial

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Atlanta, GA — Attorneys representing rapper Young Thug, legally named Jeffery Williams, have initiated a legal battle to disqualify the presiding judge in his racketeering and conspiracy trial. The lawyers claim a transgression in legal conduct following a clandestine meeting that allegedly included only the judge and prosecution team, compromising the fairness of the trial. The motion filed by Young Thug’s defense, led by attorneys Brian Steel and Keith Adams, argues that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville crossed ethical boundaries by conducting a private meeting with key prosecution witness Kenneth “Woody” Copeland and … Read more

NYU Reaches Landmark Settlement in Antisemitism Lawsuit, Enhances Discrimination Policies and Training

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New York — New York University has agreed to a comprehensive settlement in a discrimination lawsuit filed by three Jewish students, marking an aggressive stance against antisemitism on campus. The students had accused the institution of not doing enough to curb hateful sentiments, particularly in light of recent geopolitical conflicts. Filed last month in Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit argued that NYU’s handling of campus antisemitism worsened with the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to the plaintiffs, this included tolerating hateful rhetoric at rallies and failing to enforce existing policies against discrimination. Bella Ingber, … Read more