Gov. Mark Dayton yesterday signed into law the Women's Economic Security Act. Among other things, the new law will expand leave rights for many Minnesota employees. The new law will be covered in detail at the Eleventh Annual West Central Minnesota Employment Law Update to be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Alexandria Technical and Community College.
Seminar to address Women's Economic Security Act
Legislative Update: MHRA jury trials and Women's Economic Security Act Advance
Both houses of the Minnesota Legislature on May 8, 2014 took action to advance legislation which, if signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton, will have significant impacts on Minnesota employers and employees.
MN Senate adds jury trial right to Human Rights Act
By changing a single sentence in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), the Minnesota Senate on May 1, 2014 passed a bill which, if it becomes law, will significantly change the way MHRA disputes are decided in the courtroom. Currently, the law (Minn. Stat. § 362A.33, subd. 6) provides that, "Any action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be heard and determined by a judge sitting without a jury." However, the Senate's version (SF 2322), which passed on a 55-0 vote, would change that sentence to read, "A person bringing a civil action seeking redress for an unfair discriminatory practice or a respondent is entitled to a jury trial." The change would be significant, for it would drastically change the way MDHR cases -- such as claims for employment discrimination -- would be litigated. Generally speaking, jury trials are far more expensive and complicated than are cases tried to a judge alone. A jury of six people can also be far more difficult to predict than a single judge. The change would, however, make state law consistent with its federal counterpart (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), which already allows for jury trials. For more information about this article, please contact me at alexandriamnlaw.com or [email protected].
