Appeals court orders new trial in Mittal suit

A federal appellate court set aside a lower court's jury verdict Friday that partly invalidated a patent ArcelorMittal held on a type of steel product produced in Indiana that has automotive industry applications.

Court: Companies cannot use subsidiaries to reduce taxes

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosier businesses cannot create subsidiaries consisting essentially of the original company in order to reduce their unemployment insurance tax rate, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Friday.

BUSINESS LAW: USERRA leave differs from FMLA leave

For employers, it is difficult to comply with just one of the employment statutes we often discuss. Just think how difficult it is when the employer must coordinate two or three statutes at the same time.

BUSINESS LAW: What is a similarly situated employee?

To prevail on a sex discrimination claim, a female employee must demonstrate that similarly situated men, subject to the same company policy, were treated more favorably.

BUSINESS LAW: Same-sex sexual harassment claims

Same-sex sexual harassment claims are rare. However, this type of harassment can be unlawful. An employer will be held liable if the victim's gender is a contributing factor for the offensive conduct.

BUSINESS LAW: Hostile environment claim can be based on single act

In order to maintain a hostile work environment claim, an employee must establish in part that she was subjected to unwelcome conduct due to her protected status (e.g., gender, race, age, etc.) and that the negative conduct was so severe or pervasive that it created a hostile environment.

BUSINESS LAW: Wage and hour claims increase

There was a time when most litigation arose at intersections, when cars, and later attorneys, collided. Now, unfortunately, the workplace is the most fertile place of litigation.

BUSINESS LAW: Employees in active service

One fact will not change as we enter 2011: the war on terrorism will continue, and many of the sacrifices will be borne by our employees.

BUSINESS LAW: Fair pay claims limited

The Fair Pay Act (sometimes called the Ledbetter Act) was the first piece of legislation signed by President Barack Obama. It is a discrimination statute aimed at prohibiting pay decisions from being made on a discriminatory basis (e.g., gender, age, race, national origin, etc.).

BUSINESS LAW: Same-sex sexual harassment can be unlawful

Same-sex sexual harassment claims are rare. However, this type of harassment can be unlawful.

Heed worker harassment claims

It is imperative that employers have adequate anti-harassment policies, that the policies are publicized and that supervisors are trained in them. But even the best written policy fails when not enforced.