FDAR attorneys, Daniel Downey and Melanie Williamson, secured a defense verdict in federal court in the United States Southern District of Ohio following a six-day jury trial. The jury found that the Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies represented by FDAR did not violate the Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. The case stemmed from events that took place on [...]
Employers nationwide are facing more frequent internal and external workplace violence incidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workplace violence is a serious threat affecting nearly two million Americans each year. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults, affecting employees, clients, customers, and visitors. It is crucial for employers to [...]
On November 9, 2018, the Ohio Attorney General issued an opinion regarding a county sheriff’s authority to control the provision of security in a courthouse that is used to house the court of common pleas, as well as other county officers. OAG Opinion 2018-027. The opinion explains the role of the county sheriff, board of [...]
It is vital for employers and employees dealing with the ever-increasing cost of health care and insurance to stay updated on the yearly changes to contribution limits, minimums and maximums. The 2019 changes for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) may be small, but are still important [...]
On December 21, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) released an opinion letter addressing whether paying an employee an average hourly rate that may vary from week to week complies with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer at issue calculated weekly pay by multiplying the employee’s time with clients by his or her [...]
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) revoked a previous rule establishing incentive limits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Genetic Information Non-Disclosure Act (GINA) wellness regulations. This action follows a previous federal court decision vacating the incentive sections of the ADA and GINA wellness rules. Wellness programs are regulated in part [...]
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced a new grant program available to Ohio educational facilities aimed at improving school safety. The program makes available $4 million dollars for specific safety and security facility upgrades as well as the purchase of certain safety-related items. The $4 million set-aside comes in addition to a $4 [...]
House Bill 312, which aims to prevent fraud and misuse of political subdivision credit cards, went into effect on December 2, 2018. As a result, political subdivisions with an active credit card account have until February 2, 2019 to adopt a credit card policy in compliance with the law. House Bill 312 regulates the way [...]
On November 6, 2018, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) applies to all government employers, regardless of how many employees they employ. Mount Lemmon Fire Dist. v. Guido, 139 S. Ct. 22 (2018). The ADEA prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees age 40 and [...]