Author: JGL Law

The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has recognized Jeffrey N. Greenblatt as one of Maryland’s 10 best attorneys for the fourth straight year. Click below for more on Jeffrey. 

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Our Jeffrey N. Greenblatt was quoted in the Maryland Daily Record’s Family Law section. Click below for the full story. 

Law360 asked JGL’s Jay Holland about a recent landmark ruling that expands protections to sexual orientation. Click below for the full story. 

Since June 26, 2015, when jubilant masses swarmed First Street in front of the Supreme Court and the White House illuminated the night with rainbow lights, lawyers, scholars, and many citizens have waited with bated breath to see how the legacy of Obergefell v. Hodges would shape the next generation of jurisprudence.

On Tuesday, the first Court of Appeals in our nation’s history ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Case No. 15-1720 (7th Cir. 2017) (en banc). The decision over-ruled over 50 years of jurisprudence. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals took this opportunity to revisit the Act’s prohibition against “sex” discrimination “to take a fresh look at our position in light of developments at the Supreme Court extending over two decades.” One of the most critical developments on which the Court based its decision was Judge Kennedy’s decision in Obergefell, which held that the liberties granted in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment “extend to certain personal choices central to individual dignity and autonomy, including intimate choices that define personal identity and beliefs.” Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 2597, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015) (ruling that same-sex couples had a fundamental right to marry). 

Though the pending confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch could alter this legal course, the balance of the Court still supports Kennedy’s holding that same-sex couples are entitled equal dignity and equal protections under the law. This is because the conservative originalist Justice Scalia was a dissenting vote in Obergefell and Gorusch (assuming he would also side with the conservative Justices) would merely replace Scalia’s vote in the minority on this issue.

The civil rights and employment attorneys at Joseph Greenwald & Laake are following this case closely, ready to utilize it as persuasive authority in our Title VII cases to seek justice for victims of discrimination.

Principal Darin Rumer was interviewed by The Washington Business Journal on his career and life. Click below for the full article. 

Our Brian Markovitz was quoted in Law 360 about recent cabinet apointee Alexander Acosta. Click below for the full story 

 

We are proud to announce Jay Holland has received the status of Super Lawyer from Reuters. Only 5% of attorneys nationwide receive this designation. Jay has been quoted in the news media 8 times so far this year. 

A principal in Joseph, Greenwald & Laake’s Civil Litigation Group and chair of the firm’s Labor, Employment, and Qui Tam Whistleblower practice, Jay Holland is a renowned employment and qui tam litigator known for taking on tough cases and achieving exceptional results. Jay counsels clients in individual and class action cases involving gender and race discrimination and sexual harassment, violations of the wage and hour laws, and wrongful termination. Jay has an active qui tam practice, representing whistleblowers in actions under the federal False Claims Act.

Jay has been lead counsel in several high-profile cases that have received national media attention. In Clark v. Prince George’s County, he represented a group of 64 highly qualified firefighters whose employment offers had been rescinded based on the county’s illegal affirmative action policy. Jay obtained the extraordinary relief of an affirmative injunction requiring the county to hire the firefighters. Jay also successfully blocked the Maryland Board of Elections’ attempts to oust Elections Administrator Linda Lamone for political reasons.

Click the image below to see his Super Lawyer profile. 

Veronica Nannis wrote an article for the Maryland Daily Record’s new medical law publication titled “When health care fraud turns criminal.” Click the Image below for the full article. 

Holland gave several insights on the False Claims Act and its first-to-file rule. For the full article, click the image below: 

 

JGL’s Brian Markovitz recently discussed the intersection of Hurricane Katrina and the False Claims Act on the Legal Current Podcast. Click below to listen. 

 

Reza Golesorkhi sponsored a Persian New Year event at the National Museum of Women in the Arts! Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin were keynote speakers. Here is a photo of Sen. Van Hollen at the event.