Google to meet French regulator on privacy policy

Published May 16, 2012 - 11:00am CST

PARIS (Reuters)—Google Inc. will meet with France's data protection watchdog next week to answer questions about its new user privacy policy as part of a Europe-wide investigation being led by the French regulator.

Shareholders sue JPMorgan Chase over trading loss

Published May 16, 2012 - 10:30am CST

NEW YORK (Reuters)—JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Wednesday was the target of two separate lawsuits by shareholders accusing the bank and its management of excessive risk that led to trading losses of at least $2 billion.

OFF BEAT: Nudist colony deliveries too up close and personal for letter carriers

Published May 15, 2012 - 2:36pm CST

Two letter carriers have filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission contending that having to deliver mail to a nudist colony creates a hostile work environment.

Health care providers settle ADA claims over not treating patients with HIV

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 15, 2012 - 1:38pm CST

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Justice has reached settlements with two health care providers who allegedly refused to service people with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

FBI launches probe of JPMorgan, shareholders back Dimon

Published May 15, 2012 - 11:45am CST

TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters)—The FBI has opened a probe into trading losses at JPMorgan Chase & Co., stepping up the pressure on the bank after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve said they were also looking into the wrong-way bets that led to the losses.

The House Cyber Bill

Published May 15, 2012 - 9:39am CST

H.R. 3523, which passed the House of Representatives April 26, would help the private sector defend itself from cyber threats, according to its sponsor, but has been threatened with a veto from the Obama Administration.

Company settles age discrimination lawsuit with EEOC for $400,000

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 14, 2012 - 2:59pm CST

DALLAS—Central Freight Lines Inc. has agreed to settle an age discrimination lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of eight former dockworkers for $400,000, the agency said.

OFF BEAT: Man who claims he co-founded Facebook loses defamation suit

Published May 14, 2012 - 2:50pm CST

An alleged Facebook founder has lost a lawsuit in which he complained he was deprived of his day in the sun.

EEOC to publish discrimination charge statistics online

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 14, 2012 - 1:13pm CST

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Equal Employment Commission said Monday it is making its private sector workplace discrimination charge statistics for each of the 50 states and U.S. territories available online for fiscal years 2009-2011.

New Solution Arc: Toughest Workers Comp Claims

Published May 14, 2012 - 11:25am CST

With a relatively small percentage of workers comp claims responsible for a large proportion of employers' costs, how can workers comp managers better address those claims to yield big savings?

Hostile environment claim by gay employee upheld by court

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

HARTFORD, Conn.—In its first ruling on the issue, the Connecticut Supreme Court has upheld a hostile work environment claim brought by a gay employee.

Cyber security bills hit federal roadblock

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

WASHINGTON—Issues of whether business' cyber liability risks should be regulated and privacy protection are standing in the way of needed federal cyber security and privacy legislation, experts say.

Federal cyber legislation could simplify state laws

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

WASHINGTON—Federal cyber risk and privacy legislation is needed, many observers agree.

NIMA losing members, trend expected to continue

By: Mike Tsikoudakis

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

Three states' withdrawal from the Nonadmitted Insurance Multi-State Agreement has raised the question of whether there will be a clearinghouse arrangement to collect and distribute surplus lines premium taxes.

OPINION: Cyber security legislation hampered by partisanship

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

While Republicans and Democrats squabble over cyber security legislation provisions, businesses are being left in the lurch.

Hostile work environment parameters clarified by court

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

NEW YORK—A plaintiff can pursue a hostile work environment claim on the basis of three alleged instances of unwanted intimate contact over a five-month period, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.

76% of IT decision-makers predict cloud applications will be breached: Survey

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 11, 2012 - 5:49pm CST

SAN JOSE, Calif.—More than three-quarters of information technology decision-makers predict their cloud applications are likely to be breached, according to a survey of 1,300 officials in 13 countries by Cisco Systems Inc.

'Honest belief' that worker abused FMLA leave shields employer from retaliation charge

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 11, 2012 - 3:03pm CST

CINCINNATI—A company's “honest belief” that a worker had abused his disability leave shields it from being accused of retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act for his subsequent termination, says an appellate court.

Pentagon to tighten contractors' cyber security

Published May 11, 2012 - 2:00pm CST

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Defense Department invited all of its eligible contractors on Friday to join a previously restricted information-sharing pact aimed at guarding sensitive Pentagon program data stored on private computer networks.

OFF BEAT: Reporter fired for moonlighting as stripper files EEOC complaint

Published May 11, 2012 - 2:22pm CST

A Texas reporter got canned for showing her cans when her employer learned she moonlighted as a stripper.

Beazley offers data breach protection to small firms

By: Anna Gaynor

Published May 11, 2012 - 1:54pm CST

FARMINGTON, Conn.—Beazley P.L.C. has announced the launch of a data breach protection service for smaller firms.

Judge lets Fruit Roll-Ups lawsuit proceed

Published May 11, 2012 - 12:15pm CST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)—General Mills Inc. must defend a lawsuit that claims the food company deceived consumers into believing its Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot snacks are made with real fruit.

PERSPECTIVES: Chinese drywall ‘crisis': Its impact on insurers and the future of litigation

By: Andrea Cortland

Published May 11, 2012 - 8:35am CST

The “Chinese drywall crisis” hit when the southeastern United States suffered a shortage of building materials after several major hurricanes. Andrea Cortland, an associate in the global insurance group at Cozen O'Connor, looks back at the predictions made about insurance companies concerning drywall and how the crisis changed the industry.

Penn State's assistant coach McQueary plans to sue university

By: Mike Tsikoudakis

Published May 10, 2012 - 4:57pm CST

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Michael J. McQueary this week filed notice of his intention to bring a lawsuit against the university in connection with the child sexual abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Gerald A. Sandusky.