Chili’s Age Discrimination Case Gets New Life in 6th Circuit Court

CINCINNATI — A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit alleging age discrimination against the restaurant chain Chili’s, enabling a former employee’s claims to proceed. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturns a lower court’s dismissal of the case, which centers on accusations surrounding age-related biases in employment practices. The lawsuit was brought forth by a Chili’s employee who contends that he was wrongfully terminated due to his age, which was 48 at the time. The employee claims that managerial decisions disproportionately targeted older workers for layoffs and that … Read more

Ohio Court Ruling Highlights Financial Risks of Age Discrimination in Employment Decisions

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A recent appellate decision has raised alarms among business leaders regarding the implications of workforce management. In a ruling vacating the employer’s claims, the court affirmed a jury’s $2.1 million award to Cheryl Shephard, a former senior accountant at CrossCountry Mortgage, after they found she was dismissed due to age discrimination. Shephard joined the company in 2016 and consistently received positive reviews and salary increases through her tenure. However, her position dramatically shifted after the hiring of a much younger account manager in 2022. Following her assignment to train him, her responsibilities … Read more

Texas Enacts New Alcohol Law After Heartbreaking Loss: Mother Advocates for Electronic Age Verification to Prevent Underage Drinking

DALLAS — A new Texas law mandates electronic age-verification scanners at cash registers in convenience stores and retailers selling alcohol, a measure spurred by the tragic loss of a young man in a drunk-driving accident. The legislation emerged from the efforts of Charlotte Stephens, a North Texas mother whose son, DeShawn Jagwan, died after consuming alcohol purchased without identification checks. Jagwan was just 18 years old when he died in a single-car crash shortly after attending his high school prom. On April 9, 2022, Stephens sent Jagwan off to Plano Senior High School’s prom. Described … Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Texas Law Mandating Age Verification on Porn Sites, Enhancing Child Protection

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law mandating age verification for users accessing pornography, allowing the measure to remain in effect. In a ruling delivered on June 27, the Court voted 6-3, asserting that Texas has the right to implement such regulations to protect children from exposure to explicit material. Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the majority opinion, emphasized that allowing minors to access sexual content online without age verification poses significant risks. He noted that unlike a retail clerk, a website operator cannot visually assess a user’s age. The ruling … Read more