The Law of Employment Discrimination, Cases and Materials - 15th Edition - Joel Wm. Friedman

The Law of Employment Discrimination Cases and Materials 15th Edition Joel Wm. Friedman

ISBN 9798317706234

This casebook provides comprehensive coverage of employment discrimination law, including major legislative, administrative, and judicial developments in the field. Widely recognized as one of the most thorough and frequently updated texts available, the 15th Edition continues that tradition by incorporating all significant developments through March 2026, including every relevant Supreme Court decision from the Court’s 2024–2025 term.

Among the most important Supreme Court cases discussed is Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, in which a unanimous Court rejected the argument that majority-group plaintiffs in reverse discrimination cases must satisfy a heightened evidentiary standard to establish a prima facie case. Reaffirming the traditional McDonnell Douglas framework, the Court declined to impose any additional “background circumstances” requirement.

The edition also examines Stanley v. City of Sanford, where the Court addressed whether a retired employee who neither held nor sought employment at the time of filing could qualify as a “qualified individual” under the ADA. Focusing on the statutory language, the Court concluded that standing exists only where the plaintiff held or sought a position and could perform its essential functions at the time of the alleged discrimination.

The casebook also highlights important circuit court decisions. In Henry v. Southern Ohio Medical Center, the Sixth Circuit held that exempting an employee from a hospital’s COVID-testing requirement constituted an undue hardship for the employer. In Thomas v. EOTECH, LLC, the Fourth Circuit ruled that employers may not contractually shorten the time limits established under Title VII and the ADEA for filing EEOC charges or civil actions.

The Ninth Circuit’s decision in Asuncion v. Hegseth clarified that the ninety-day filing period for Title VII claims begins when the right-to-sue notice is transmitted electronically. Additionally, the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling in Stanley v. City of Sanford addressed ADA standing requirements for retired employees.

The edition also discusses developments under the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA), enacted in 2021. In the landmark case Bruce v. Adams and Reese, the Sixth Circuit held that where a plaintiff alleges both sexual harassment and related non-harassment claims, the EFAA renders the arbitration agreement unenforceable as to all claims arising from the dispute.

Through its detailed treatment of evolving doctrine and current case law, the 15th Edition remains an essential and up-to-date resource for the study of employment discrimination law.

The Law of Employment Discrimination Cases and Materials 15th Edition ISBN ISBN 9798317706234, 979-8317706234, 979-8-31770-623-4, 979-8-3177-0623-4

Joel Wm. Friedman, Arizona State University College of Law