Home > News
News & Events
We Worry About Getting Sued For Firing People, But Now Are We Being Sued For NOT Firing Someone?
NEGLIGENT HIRING, RETENTION AND SUPERVISION OF EMPLOYEES CAN COST YOUR COMPANY MONEY!
Employers are conditioned by discrimination lawsuits to avoid background checks and to avoid disciplining and firing workers. For example, so-called “ban the box” statutes forbidding including questions about past criminal convictions on employment applications have caused employers to be lax in hiring standards. Wrongful termination lawsuits have made employers wary of disciplining or firing underperformers.
Nevertheless, members of the public can and do sue companies whose workers commit crimes or cause other harm.
The employees stole from the customers???!!!
Employees of American District Telegraph Corporation (“ADT”) stole thousands of dollars worth of liquor from International Distributing Corporation (“liquor store”).
Supreme Court Broadens Ability To Vindicate Property Rights In Federal Court
On June 21st the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Knick v. Scott Township, which materially expanded the ability of private property owners to go to federal court to defend their property rights. The Court overturned a 34-year old decision that required property owners to litigate “takings” claims in state court before they were allowed to sue in federal court. The Knick decision broadly expands projections of private property rights by allowing property owners to bring a takings claim directly in federal court.
The key to Knick is identifying the point in time when a property owner can sue over an alleged taking—(1) as soon as government action causes an alleged “taking” of property; or (2) later, only when it refuses to pay just compensation.
Welcome to New Attorney Ian K Douglas!
Gammage & Burnham is pleased to welcome Ian K. Douglas to our team of experienced attorneys! Ian’s practice is focused on real estate and commercial finance. Ian has broad experience practicing law in Arizona as well as in New Mexico, where he is also licensed. When asked what he was most looking forward to about joining G&B, Ian said: “I am excited to be working with the firm’s team of excellent lawyers”.
Ian represents school districts, home builders, developers and investors in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition of real property. He also represents regional and national landlords and tenants and he has represented international mining companies and utility companies in real estate matters.
Richard Mahrle is named to Encanto Village Planning Committee!
We are pleased to announce that Gammage & Burnham attorney Richard Mahrle has been named to the Encanto Village Planning Committee in Phoenix. He looks forward to serving in this capacity and lending his considerable legal knowledge to his community.
In his professional life, Rick represents clients in state and federal court in commercial disputes involving construction, business dissolutions, corporate governance, contract enforcement, and employment matters. His experience handling employment matters includes restrictive employment covenants, defending wrongful termination and discrimination claims and advising employers on complying with employment laws.
Heather Boysel becomes Managing Partner
Arizona native, Heather J. Boysel, has become the first female managing partner of Gammage & Burnham, the Arizona law firm established in 1983 by Grady Gammage, Jr., Richard Burnham and Michael King. She joins an elite circle of female managing partners at Arizona law firms and, at 37, is one of the youngest. Heather was recently named by the Phoenix Business Journal to the 40 under 40 of 2019.
Heather graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University, earning both her Bachelors of Science in Engineering (B.S.E) (2004) and her J.D. (2007). She began her career with Gammage & Burnham as a summer associate and has never looked back.
