A New Jersey woman is suing her former employer on grounds that her employer failed to make accommodation for a disability that prevented her from driving in rush-hour traffic.

Andrea DeGerolamo of Berlin, New Jersey, is suing Fulton Financial Corp. for wrongful termination. According to news reports, DeGerolamo took medical leave from the company for anxiety and depression, which, her lawsuit states, "was especially aggravated by crowded roadways experienced during the heavy traffic of rush-hour."  When DeGerolamo returned to work, she cited her medical condition as a qualifying disability that entitled her to a modified work schedule that would avoid rush-hour traffic. The company approved DeGerolamo's request to come into work after morning traffic died down, and then leave before the evening rush-hour started.

After returning to work, DeGerolamo was given a reduced work load, which she claims was an unwarranted demotion.  Shortly after, she says she was fired, prompting her lawsuit.

Fulton Financial Corp. declined to comment to The Huffington Post, citing pending legal matters.

—Source: The Huffington Post

An appellate court judge dismissed a recent lawsuit against Wal-Mart and Ticketmaster, calling the lawsuit “the most frivolous complaint I have ever seen.”

Edward J. Mierzwa sued the retail giant and ticket-service company after he couldn’t get the Beach Boys tickets he wanted at a self-service Ticketmaster at the local Wal-Mart. Rather than obtain tickets for the “reserved seats” that went on sale at 10 a.m., Mierzwa’s transaction wasn’t completed until 10:04 a.m., resulting in “outer perimeter” seats.

According to his lawsuit, “the opportunity was squandered” because a Wal-Mart employee was not immediately available to complete the transaction. Mierzwa claims the action was a violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

In tossing the complaint, the judge said Mierzwa still received the "best available seats" available when the order was entered.

In upholding the lower court ruling, the appellate court agreed with the dismissal of the suit, saying that Mierzwa failed to prove the three elements of fraud — unlawful conduct, a loss and a relationship between the unlawful conduct and the loss.
 
—Source: Texans for Lawsuit Reform

A New York baseball fan is suing ESPN after allegedly being mocked by two of its announcers for snoozing in Yankee Stadium during the April 13 night game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

Andrew Rector, who admits to catching a few zzzzs during the game, has filed a $10 million defamation suit against the team, the sports network, its play-by-play man Dan Shulman and big-leaguer-turned-commentator John Kruk.

In his lawsuit, Rector claims Kruk unleashed an “avalanche of disparaging words” over his nationally televised nap, including such "false statements" as Rector was "not worthy" to be a Yankee fan and “is a fatty cow that need (sic) two seats at all time (sic) and represent (sic) symbol of failure.” Rector further claims to have "suffered substantial injury" to his "character and reputation," as well as “mental anguish, loss of future income and loss of earning capacity.”

In a statement, ESPN refuted Rector’s claims. “The comments attributed to ESPN and our announcers were clearly not said in our telecast. The claims presented here are wholly without merit.”

Rector’s lawyer, Valentine Okwara, told news reporters, “We’ll settle this in court.”

—Source: nypost.com

A group of Illinois nuns are suing a neighboring strip club, charging the club is a public nuisance and violates state law.

According to news reports, the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo Scalabrinians claim that nearby "gentleman's club" Club Allure violates state law because it sits within 1,000 feet of their religious order.  Moreover, the nuns complain that the club keeps them up at night with "blinking neon lights and loud thumping music."

The club's owner, Sean O'Brien, who reportedly was raised Roman Catholic, though he admits he's no longer practicing, said the dispute with the nuns is "ideological."

"We have a right to be here as much as they do," he said. "We contribute to the community also, tax dollars, local jobs. We buy all of our supplies locally."

—Source: The Chicago Tribune