retaliation
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Federal judge advances retaliation-related claims of Castle Rock employee
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A federal judge on Thursday largely declined to dismiss multiple retaliation-related claims from a Castle Rock employee, while cautioning that the discovery of evidence would shed light on the circumstances surrounding the town’s actions. Matthew Gasser, a senior athletics supervisor, alleged Castle Rock learned in summer 2023 that an employee may have manipulated certain receipts…
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Federal judge lets prisoner’s claim proceed over strip search video shared with others
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A federal judge agreed last week that an incarcerated man’s claims could proceed against two state corrections employees, alleging they retaliated against him for complaining about recorded strip searches and also showed the video of one search to inmates and staff. Representing himself, Ryan James Griffin filed suit based on multiple strip searches he underwent…
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10th Circuit clarifies what judges should do when juries turn in conflicting verdicts
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The Denver-based federal appeals court put judges and lawyers on notice Monday that if a jury produces a verdict too confusing to interpret, a judge may ask jurors to reconsider their decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit acknowledged its prior decisions did not permit judges to let juries clarify certain kinds…
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Judge reluctantly lets appeal proceed in case of prisoner who missed SCOTUS deadline due to library closure
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A federal judge on Wednesday declined to let a jury trial proceed as scheduled and instead opted to let the Denver-based federal appeals court decide if two prison employees have immunity in an incarcerated man’s constitutional rights lawsuit. U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney previously ruled a jury should decide if law librarian Yvette…
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Federal judge sides with CU in former student’s retaliation lawsuit
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A federal judge concluded last month that a former University of Colorado medical student failed to establish the school unlawfully retaliated against her, as the evidence instead showed faculty raised numerous concerns about her conduct over the years. Mindy Szeto was enrolled in CU’s School of Medicine between 2014 and 2020, through a program combining…
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Judicial Department paid $155,000 in settlements from 2 judges’ misconduct
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The Judicial Department paid more than $155,000 to former employees and their attorneys in connection with the misconduct of two trial judges who the Colorado Supreme Court publicly disciplined in 2024. Last May, the Supreme Court censured former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione for failing to disclose an intimate relationship with a staff…
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Denver police sergeant to face civil trial over alleged First Amendment retaliation, judge rules
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A federal judge ruled last month that a jury will evaluate whether a Denver police officer violated a man’s First Amendment rights by knocking his cell phone onto the ground in retaliation for video recording. Brian Loma was recording the city’s operation to dismantle a homeless encampment in November 2020 when he began yelling at…
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Federal judge sides with Teller County sheriff in whistleblower lawsuit
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A federal judge concluded last month that a whistleblower lawsuit could not succeed against Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, nor could the related claims of retaliation lodged by a former commander in the office. Ronald “Greg” Couch worked for the sheriff’s office between 2014 and 2021. In his telling, his relationship with Mikesell began to…
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Federal judge sides with Denver Health in ex-paramedic’s discrimination lawsuit
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A federal judge concluded last month that evidence showed a former Denver Health paramedic was not fired because of his sexual orientation, as he alleged, but because his employer believed he exhibited poor judgment and resisted efforts to coach him professionally. Jordan Christensen filed suit under federal and state civil rights law asserting unwelcome treatment…
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Judge allows ex-Aurora VA doc to proceed with employment discrimination case
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A federal judge last month permitted a former anesthesiologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Colorado to proceed with some of her employment discrimination claims, even though a different judge previously found the VA was justified in removing her. Elizabeth Schacht worked for the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora between 2015 and…
