discrimination
-
Judge dismisses retaliation, hostile work environment claims of Black Agriculture Department employee
A federal judge has agreed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a Black employee failed to show how a series of workplace grievances amounted to illegal retaliation or a hostile work environment based on his race or disability. However, the lawsuit from Kenith DeLesline will continue on his last remaining claim: that the USDA failed…
-
State Supreme Court explores role of shifting explanations in race-based juror dismissals
Over 30 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that purposeful racial discrimination in jury selection is unconstitutional, requiring prosecutors to now cite a “race-neutral reason” if a defendant challenges their decision to remove a juror of color. This week, the Colorado Supreme Court considered a narrow question implicating that protocol: If an appeals court…
-
Deaf woman allowed to sue Adams County sheriff for disability discrimination in jail
A federal judge declined to dismiss a deaf woman’s disability discrimination claim against Adams County Sheriff Richard Reigenborn over allegations she was held for 16 hours in the jail without access to a sign language interpreter and unable to communicate her needs effectively. U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney agreed last week that Cynthia…
-
Judge sides with CU in cancer researcher’s discrimination lawsuit
A federal judge agreed with the University of Colorado that a longtime cancer researcher failed to show he was subjected to a hostile work environment based on his race, religion or national origin, or was otherwise threatened with termination. Priya N. Werahera, an associate professor focused on prostate cancer research at the University of Colorado’s…
-
School’s equity training did not amount to hostile work environment, federal judge finds
The Cherry Creek School District said it fired experienced teacher Leslie Shannon after she continued to underperform, was unlikely to improve, and had taken extensive absences that created major burdens for her colleagues. Shannon, however, alleged the only thing that changed in her third and final year with the district was her decision to complain…
-
Federal judge sends DPS discrimination lawsuit to jury
A jury will now decide whether a former Denver Public Schools leader discriminated against a Black administrator by passing her over for a position in favor of a politically-connected and allegedly less-experienced white applicant. Tisha Lee, the vice president of student services at Emily Griffith Technical College, described in her lawsuit how a panel of…
-
Allegations of racist comment, retaliation against Colorado sheriff tossed
An American Indian man formerly employed with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office has not plausibly shown he was the victim of discrimination and retaliation, a federal judge has ruled, even though the defendants did not deny the elected sheriff had repeatedly made racist comments to employees. Shadowhawk A. Tiger, who worked as a detention deputy…
-
Judge green-lights ex-Denver police employee’s discrimination case for trial
Jurors in federal court will have the ultimate say about whether a former Denver Police Department supervisor experienced discrimination based on his national origin and sexual orientation, as a judge was unable to find either side could clearly prevail under the law. In a brief order earlier this month, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Christine…
-
Judge allows retaliation lawsuit to proceed against CSU officials
Two former faculty members of Colorado State University Pueblo may proceed to hold school officials liable for allegedly retaliating against them when they spoke up about sex-based discrimination, a federal judge has ruled. Kimberly Cowden and Joanne Gula were both assistant professors in CSU Pueblo’s Mass Communication Department when they posted on social media and…
-
10th Circuit finds judge mistakenly tossed inmate’s disability lawsuit
A federal judge was wrong to dismiss as frivolous a Colorado inmate’s lawsuit alleging prison officials discriminated against him on the basis of his disability, the federal appeals court based in Denver has ruled. Because the U.S. Supreme Court recognized more than two decades ago that the Americans with Disabilities Act “unambiguously” covers state detainees,…