DOL Amends Definition of Spouse in FMLA Regulations

The big news from the Department of Labor this week was the amendment of the definition of “spouse” in the regulations applying the FMLA. Of course, in 2013, the Supreme Court found that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) was unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. ___ (2013). Following this […]

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FMLA Interference v. Retaliation—No Interference Claim Where No Denial of FMLA Benefits

In the case of Downs v. Winchester Medical Center, et al., No. 5:13cv00083, the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia addressed the question of what constitutes a claim for interference in violation of the FMLA.  The plaintiff in this case asserted claims of both interference and retaliation in violation of the […]

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Request for Vacation Not Protected by FMLA and Cannot Support Interference Claim

Does an employee’s request for leave have to be protected by the FMLA to give rise to a potential interference or retaliation claim? Last month, the Eleventh Circuit answer said yes in the case of Hurley v. Kent of Naples, Inc., et al., No. 13-10298 (11th Cir. 2014). Hurley was employed as the CEO for […]

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