Annual update of significant employment law and other major cases from the Supreme Court's 2015-2016 term.

1. by Robert B. Fitzpatrick

2.  Robert Brian Fitzpatrick is the
principal in the boutique law
firm of Robert B. Fitzpatrick
PLLC in Washington, D.C.,
which represents clients in
employment law matters in the
federal and state courts of the
District of Columbia, Maryland
and Virginia. Mr. Fitzpatrick
has concentrated his practice
in employment law disputes
for over forty years. He has
been a member of the D.C. Bar
since 1968. He is the father of
three, and grandfather of
three.
2

4.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1769
 Appealed From
760 F.3d 1135 (10th Cir.
2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Sotomayor, J.
◦ 7-1
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting

5.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1642 (2016)
 Appealed From
774 F.3d 1169 (8th Cir.
2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Kennedy, J.
◦ 8-0

6.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1412 (2016)
 Appealed From
777 F.3d 147 (3d Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Breyer, J.
◦ 6-2
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting joined
by Alito, J.

7.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 663 (2016)
 Appealed From
768 F.3d 871 (9th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Ginsburg, J.
◦ 6-3
◦ Roberts, C.J., dissenting
joined by Scalia, J. and
Alito, J.

8.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1036 (2016)
 Appealed From
765 F.3d 781 (8th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Kennedy, J.
◦ 6-2
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting joined by
Alito, J.
◦ Roberts, C.J. concurring in which
Alito, J. joined as to Part III.

9.  Cite
195 L. Ed. 2d 511 (2016)
 Appealed From
758 F.3d 633
(5th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Kennedy, J.
◦ 4-3
◦ Dissents:
 Thomas, J.
 Alito, J. joined by
Thomas, J., and
Roberts, C.J.

10.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1540 (2016)
 Appealed From
742 F.3d 409 (9th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Alito, J.
◦ 6-2
◦ Ginsburg, J., dissenting
joined by Sotomayor, J.

11.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 758 (2016)
 Appealed From
788 F.3d 916 (9th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Per Curiam
◦ 9-0

12.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 463 (2015)
 Appealed From
225 Cal. App. 4th 338 (Cal.
App. 2d Dist. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Breyer, J.
◦ 6-3
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting.
◦ Ginsburg, J., dissenting joined
by Sotomayor, J.

13.  Cite
195 L. Ed. 2d 400 (2016)
 Appealed From
357 P.3d 532 (2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Thomas, J.
◦ 5-3
◦ Sotomayor, J., dissenting joined by
Ginsburg, J. as to Parts I, II, and III.
◦ Kagan, J., dissenting joined by
Ginsburg, J.

14.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 936 (2016)
 Appealed From
746 F.3d 497 (2d Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Kennedy, J.
◦ 6-2
◦ Thomas, J., concurring
◦ Breyer, J., concurring.
◦ Ginsburg, J., dissenting joined
by Sotomayor, J.

15.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 651 (2016)
 Appealed From
593 Fed. Appx. 903 (11th
Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Thomas, J.
◦ 8-1
◦ Ginsburg, J., dissenting.

16.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1557 (2016)
 Appealed From
◦ 778 F.3d 422 (3d Cir. 2015)
◦ 794 F.3d 1151 (10th cir. 2015)
◦ 793 F.3d 449 (5th Cir. 2015)
◦ 772 F.3d 229 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Per Curiam
◦ Sotomayor, J. joined by
Ginsburg, J., concurring

17.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1737 (2016)
 Appealed From
525 S.E.2d 78 (Ga. 2000)
 Author & Split
◦ Roberts, C.J.
◦ 7-1
◦ Thomas, J. dissenting.

18.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1989 (2016)
 Appealed From
780 F.3d 504 (1st Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Thomas, J.
◦ 8-0

19.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1979 (2016)
 Appealed From
605 Fed. Appx. 48 (2d Cir.
2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Kagan, J.
◦ 8-0

20.  Cite
195 L. Ed. 2d 423 (June 20, 2016)
 Appealed From
793 F.3d 1268 (Fed. Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Breyer, J.
◦ 8-0 (as to Parts I and III
◦ 6-2 (as to Part II)
◦ Thomas, J., concurring
◦ Alito, J., concurring in part and
dissenting in part, joined by
Sotomayor, J.

21.  Cite
195 L. Ed. 2d 456 (June 20,
2016)
 Appealed From
754 F.3d 217 (4th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Alito, J.
◦ 7-1
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting

22.  Cite
◦ 195 L. Ed. 2d 665 (June 27, 2016)
 Appealed From
◦ 790 F.3d 563 (5th Cir. 2015) and
◦ 790 F.3d 598 (5th Cir. 2015) (order
modifying earlier opinion)
 Author & Split
◦ Breyer, J.
◦ 5-3
◦ Sotomayor, J. and Kagan, J. joined by
Ginsburg, J., concurring
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting
◦ Alito, J., dissenting joined by Roberts,
C.J. and Thomas, J.

23.  Cite
◦ 136 S. Ct. 1083 (2016)
◦ Reh’g denied 84 U.S.L.W. 3704
(June 28, 2016)
 Appealed From
No. 13-57095, 2014 U.S. App.
LEXIS 24935 (9th Cir. Nov. 18,
2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Per Curiam
◦ 4-4 (affirmed)

24.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 2159 (2016)
 Appealed From
746 F.3d 167 (5th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Per Curiam
◦ 4-4

25.  Cite
◦ 136 S. Ct. 2271 (2016)
◦ Petition for reh’g pending
 Appealed From
809 F.3d 134 (5th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Per Curiam
◦ 4-4

26.  Cite
Motion to file bill of complaint
denied 136 S. Ct. 1034 (March
21, 2016)
 Appealed From
N/A
 Author & Split
◦ 7-1
◦ Thomas, J., dissenting

27.  Cite
136 S. Ct. 1539 (2016)
 Appealed From
601 Fed. Appx. 461 (9th Cir.
2014)
 Author & Split
◦ Dismissed without decision
pursuant to Rule 46

29.  Cite
◦ Cert. Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3703
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/fry-v-napoleon-
community-schools/
 Appealed From
788 F.3d 622 (6th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

30.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 4010
(June 20, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/national-labor-
relations-board-v-sw-general-
inc/
 Appealed From
796 F.3d 67 (D.C. Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

31.  Cite
Cert Granted 136 S. Ct. 2386
(2016)
http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/state-farm-fire-
and-casualty-co-v-united-
states/
 Appealed From
794 F.3d 457 (5th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

32.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3548
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/lynch-v-morales-
santana/
 Appealed From
804 F.3d 521 (2d Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

33.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3703
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/ivy-v-morath/
 Appealed From
781 F.3d 250 (5th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

34.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3703
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/czyzewski-v-
jevic-holding-corporation/
 Appealed From
787 F.3d 173 (3d Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

35.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 4273
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/visa-inc-v-
osborn/
 Appealed From
797 F.3d 1057 (D.C. Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

36.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3703
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/case
-files/cases/lightfoot-v-cendant-
mortgage-corporation/
 Appealed From
769 F.3d 681 (9th Cir.
2014)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

37.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 84 U.S.L.W. 3704
(June 28, 2016)2
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/wells-fargo-co-v-
city-of-miami/
 Appealed From
◦ 801 F.3d 1258 (11th Cir. 2015)
◦ 800 F.ed 1262 (11th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

38.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 136 S. Ct. 2409
(2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/-v-stephens/
 Appealed From
623 Fed. Appx. 668 (5th Cir.
2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

39.  Cite
◦ Cert Granted 136 S. Ct. 2407
(2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/moore-v-texas/
 Appealed From
470 S.W.3d 481 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

41.  Cite
◦ Cert Denied 136 S. Ct. 536
(Nov. 30, 2015)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/paske-v-
fitzgerald/
 Appealed From
785 F.3d 977 (5th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ N/A

42.  Cite
◦ Cert Denied 84 U.S.L.W. 3702
(June 27, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/home-care-assn-
of-america-v-weil/
 Appealed From
799 F.3d 1084 (D.C. Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ N/A

43.  Cite
◦ Cert Denied 84 U.S.L.W. 4262
(June 28, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/case
-files/cases/stormans-inc-v-
wiesman/
 Appealed From
794 F.3d 1064 (9th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Alito, J., dissenting, joined
by Roberts, C.J., and Thomas,
J.

44.  Cite
◦ Cert Denied 136 S. Ct. 1607
(2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/united-student-
aid-funds-inc-v-bible/
 Appealed From
799 F.3d 633 (7th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ Thomas, J, dissenting.

45.  Cite
◦ Cert Denied 84 U.S.L.W. 3702
(June 27, 2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/att-inc-v-united-
states/
 Appealed From
791 F.3d 112 (D.C. Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ N/A

47.  Cite
◦ Petition for Cert Pending
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/the-bank-of-
new-york-mellon-v-american-
fidelity-assurance-co/
 Appealed From
810 F.3d 1234 (10th Cir. 2016)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

48.  Cite
◦ Petition for Cert Pending
◦ Solicitor General invited to file
brief 136 S. Ct. 2405 (2016)
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/case
-files/cases/endrew-f-v-
douglas-county-school-district/
 Appealed From
798 F.3d 1329 (10th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

49.  Cite
◦ Petition for Cert Pending
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/schulman-v-
lexisnexis-risk-and-
information-analytics-group-
inc/
 Appealed From
807 F.3d 600 (4th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

50.  Cite
◦ Petition for Cert Pending
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/cas
e-files/cases/geico-general-
insurance-co-v-calderon/
 Appealed From
754 F.3d 201 (4th Cir. 2014)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD

51.  Cite
◦ Petition for Cert Pending
◦ http://www.scotusblog.com/
case-files/cases/mclane-co-
v-eeoc/
 Appealed From
804 F.3d 1051 (9th Cir. 2015)
 Author & Split
◦ TBD