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New Department of Labor Guidance on Whether Workers are Employees or Independent Contractors

On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) provided a “final rule” to clarify the distinction between employee status and independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers frequently f… Read More
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The Virtual Courtroom is…

The Virtual Courtroom is Now in Session

“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.”[i] The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated change to our lives and touched every industry across the country. For schools, students were moved to online platforms in place of cla… Read More
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Categories: Articles, Litigation
Families First Coronaviru…

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the President signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act). This new law, which goes into effect on April 2, 2020, provides additional, paid employment leave for employees affected by COVID-19, a… Read More
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Medical Marijuana Update:…

Medical Marijuana Update: New Law Signed by Governor Stitt

On March 14, 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law House Bill 2612, titled the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act. This new law, which goes into effect 90 days after the close of this year’s legislative session, contains num… Read More
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Striving for a Positive C…

Striving for a Positive Corporate Culture

In the last few months, we have become familiar with a new routine: a high-profile executive is accused of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct, resulting in bombshell headlines, followed by “me too” allegations. Now more than ever, board… Read More
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Changing Exhaustion of Ad…

Changing Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in Employment Lawsuits

The Case Law and Its Implications for Both Plaintiffs’ and Defense Counsel By Kimberly Lambert Love and Jason L. Callaway In many types of employment claims, a plaintiff must first exhaust administrative remedies, typically by filing a charge o… Read More
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Dram Shop Liability Exten…

Dram Shop Liability Extended to Retail Sales of Alcohol to an Adult Over the Age of 21 for Off-Premises Consumption

The Oklahoma Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision extended dram shop liability to commercial vendors for the sale of alcohol, including low-point beer, sold for off-premises consumption to an adult over the age of 21. The decision comes just as State Ques… Read More
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Categories: Articles, Litigation, News
Avoiding Disputes After a…

Avoiding Disputes After a Settlement Conference or Mediation

Recently, in Tucker v. Mercy Tishomingo Hospital Corporation, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals considered an issue related to the scope of releases commonly given by plaintiffs in settlement agreements for employment-related lawsuits.[1] The case h… Read More
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EEOC Takes the Lead in Ch…

EEOC Takes the Lead in Challenging Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Read the full article, “EEOC Takes the Lead in Challenging Sexual Orientation Discrimination,” by co-author Mary L. Lohrke in The Oklahoma Bar Journal, Vol. 88, No. 2, January 2017. Read More
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OSHA Issues Guidance on D…

OSHA Issues Guidance on Discipline Policies, Incentive Programs, and Post-Accident Testing

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published guidance explaining its new regulations and clarifying its position with regard to the new anti-retaliation provision. To be clear, the new anti-retaliation provision only re… Read More
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