Christine E. Webber, co-chair of Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights & Employment practice, represents victims of discrimination and wage and hour violations in class and collective actions. She is a tenacious, hands-on litigator, highly regarded for her ability to organize large, high-profile class and collective actions and work closely with economic and statistical experts on developing sophisticated statistical analyses for class claims.
Christine has been at the forefront of identifying the risk that using AI and algorithmic tools in making decisions about employment or housing can enable systemic bias. She was the only lawyer who regularly represents workers to participate in the Technical Advisory Committee on EEO and DEI&A Considerations in the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Decision Making, which issued detailed report in December 2022. Christine is currently litigating a case challenging the use of an algorithmic decision-making tool in tenant selection, Louis v. SafeRent Solutions (D. Mass.), alleging the tenant scoring system has an adverse impact on Black and Hispanic applicants, and unfairly excludes those who use housing vouchers to pay for their rent.
Christine has represented clients in some of the largest, groundbreaking discrimination and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) class and collective actions in the United States, including Keepseagle v. Vilsack (D.D.C.), a historic nationwide race-based discrimination class action brought by Native American ranchers and farmers against the United States Department of Agriculture resulting in a landmark $760 million settlement required the USDA to pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native Americans, to forgive up to $80 million in outstanding farm loan debt, and to improve the farm loan services the USDA provides to Native Americans.
She was lead counsel in In re Tyson Foods FLSA MDL (M.D. Ga.), a collective action involving FLSA claims at over 40 Tyson chicken processing plants, which ultimately resolved the claims of 17,000 chicken processing workers, and Hnot v. Willis Group Insurance (S.D.N.Y.), where she represented a class of women vice presidents in Willis’ Northeast region who complained of discrimination with respect to their salary, bonuses, and promotions. This “glass ceiling” case settled for an average payment of $50,000 per woman, a record-breaking settlement in 2007 for a sex discrimination class action.
Prior to joining Cohen Milstein, Christine received a Women’s Law and Public Policy fellowship which funded the first of her four years at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs in their Equal Employment Opportunity Project. There, she worked on employment discrimination cases, focusing on the sexual harassment class action Neal v. Director, D.C. Department of Corrections, et al. (D.D.C.). Christine participated in the trial of this groundbreaking sexual harassment class action in 1995. She also tried the race discrimination case Cooper v. Paychex (E.D. Va.), and successfully defended the plaintiffs’ verdict before the Fourth Circuit.
- Co-Chair, Class Action Committee, National Employment Lawyers’ Association
- Board Member for Farmworker Justice (2021 to present)
- Member, Law360 Editorial Advisory Board – Employment Law (2020, 2021)
- Member, Law360 Editorial Advisory Board – Wage & Hour (2022 – 2024)
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1991
- Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1988
- Fellow, Women’s Law & Public Policy, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Equal Employment Opportunity Project
- Clerk, the Hon. Hubert L. Will, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
Current Cases
Aetna Gender-Affirming Facial Surgery Litigation
Gordon, et al. v. Aetna Life Insurance (D. Conn.): Cohen Milstein is partnering with Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), now known as Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), and Wardenski P.C. in a putative civil rights class action against Aetna Life Insurance Company on behalf of three transgender women, who were denied coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming facial reconstruction procedures.
Bird, et al. v. Garland
Bird, et al. v. Garland (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represents a certified class action of 34 current and former female FBI agents, who claim they suffered systemic gender discrimination and subsequent termination from the FBI’s Basic Training program for new agents. The women bring their claims of disparate treatment and disparate impact under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On October 16, 2024, the court granted preliminary approval of a $22.6 million settlement against the FBI.
Connecticut Fair Housing Center, et al. v. CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions
Connecticut Fair Housing Center, et al. v. CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions (D. Conn.): Cohen Milstein is partnering with Connecticut Fair Housing Center and the National Housing Law Project in the representation of Carmen Arroyo, as well as the Connecticut Fair Housing Center itself, in a cutting-edge legal challenge to CoreLogic’s algorithmic background check system which allegedly discriminates against African Americans and Latinos seeking rental housing in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Because of the novel artificial intelligence (AI)-related discrimination claims, the case has been identified as one of Law360’s “3 Real Estate Cases to Watch in 2022.”
Louis, et al. v. SafeRent Solutions, et al.
Louis, et al. v. SafeRent Solutions (D. Mass.): Cohen Milstein represents individual plaintiffs and the Community Action Agency of Somerville against SafeRent Solutions (formerly known as CoreLogic) in a putative Fair Housing Act violation (FHA) class action. Plaintiffs allege that SafeRent, which provides tenant screening services to landlords and property managers, has been violating the FHA and related Massachusetts state laws because its tenant screening software algorithm disproportionately gives low scores to Black and Hispanic rental applicants who use federally funded housing vouchers, causing them to be denied housing. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development filed a statement of interest in this case. On April 25, 2024, the court granted preliminary approval of a $2.275 million settlement and significant injunctive relief.
Ndugga v. Bloomberg, L.P.
Ndugga v. Bloomberg, L.P. (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein represents a putative class of women who work or worked as reporters, producers, and editors at Bloomberg Media, and who allege that they were subjected to gender-based pay and promotion discrimination at the company.
Ralph Talarico v. Public Partnerships, LLC
Ralph Talarico v. Public Partnerships, LLC (E.D. Pa.): Cohen Milstein is leading a certified Rule 23 class action, consisting of over 15,000 past and present “direct care” homecare workers who brought Pennsylvania state law claims, and an opt-in class of more than 4,900 past and present homecare workers who have brought FLSA claims, for denied overtime wages against Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL). Homecare workers play a critical role in the care of individuals with disabilities. The case involves novel joint employer issues.
Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, et al.
Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, et al. (Cal. Sup., L.A. Cnty.): Cohen Milstein represents a certified class of current and former female employees of The Walt Disney Company and all Disney subsidiaries in gender pay equity dispute. Plaintiffs allege that Disney pays women workers in California tens of thousands of dollars less than their male counterparts in violation of California’s Equal Pay Act.
Salvation Army ARC Unpaid Wages Litigation
Salvation Army ARC Unpaid Wages Litigation: Cohen Milstein represents participants in Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation centers (ARC), who perform labor in support of the organization as a condition of their enrollment, in three lawsuits alleging that The Salvation Army violated federal and state laws when it failed to pay minimum wage to ARC workers.
Walmart Litigation
Walmart Litigation: Litigation against Walmart Stores has been ongoing since June 2001, in an effort dedicated to ensuring that millions of women who have worked for Walmart over the years receive equal pay and an equal chance at promotion.
Past Cases
Beck, et al. v. Boeing
Bird, et al. v. Barr (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented a group of about 29,000 female employees who had claims of sex discrimination against The Boeing Company, Inc. The certified claims address discrimination in compensation for salaried employees, access to overtime work for hourly IAM employees, and promotions for both. In granting class certification, the court noted that “the data yields statistically significant results of adverse impact on female employees in every facility and at every level within the Puget sound area.”
In Re Tyson Foods, Inc. FLSA Litigation
In re Tyson Foods FLSA MDL (M.D. Ga.), Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a collective action involving FLSA claims at over 40 Tyson chicken processing plants, which ultimately resolved the claims of 17,000 chicken processing workers who had been denied compensation for donning and doffing required safety and sanitary equipment.
Keepseagle v. Vilsack
Keepseagle, et al. v. Vilsack (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented a certified class of Native American farmers and ranchers, who alleged that the USDA systematically denied the same opportunities to obtain farm loans and loan servicing that had been routinely afforded white farmers. On April 28, 2011, the Court granted final approval of a historic $760 million settlement with the USDA, which agreed to pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers and forgive up to $80 million worth of outstanding farm loan debt. On March 26, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by two objectors for review of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit May 16, 2017 ruling, which affirmed the U.S. District Court’s April 20, 2016 decision approving the plan for distribution of $380 million in unclaimed cy pres funds from the historic settlement.
Reynolds et al v. Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company
Reynolds et al v. Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company (M.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein successfully negotiated a settlement of a nationwide FLSA class action involving thousands of employees at Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. call centers who were not paid overtime for mandatory pre-shift work. The court granted final approval to the settlement in January 2020.
Amicus Briefs
Moyle v. U.S.A. and Idaho v. U.S.A.
On March 28, 2024, the National Women’s Law Center filed an amicus brief, co-authored by Cohen Milstein, with the Supreme Court of the United States, addressing Moyle v. U.S.A. (No. 23-726) and Idaho v. U.S.A. (23-727) and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). This brief is also submitted on behalf of In Our […]
- Chambers USA Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs – Washington, D.C. (2023, 2024)
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year Employment Law – Washington, D.C. (2022, 2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers (2018-2024)
- Legal 500 Leading Lawyers (2022)
- National Law Journal Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America (2018-2025)
- Super Lawyers (2012-2024)
- Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs’ Roderic V.O. Boggs Award (2019)
November 16, 2024
Christine Webber Speaks on “Intelligent” AI in Employment Law
Christine Webber, co-chair of our Civil Rights & Employment practice is a vice chair of the ABA’s 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference Planning Committee. Christine will also speak on the panel, “Intelligent” Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Law, on Saturday, November 16. The panel will examine the rapidly developing area of AI […]
Events | ABA 18th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference
September 30, 2024
Justice Dept. to Pay $22 Million to Settle Gender Bias Claims Against FBI
As part of the proposed settlement, former female trainees can reapply to become agents and two outside experts will review the training program to make sure the evaluation process is fair. The Justice Department agreed to a $22.6 million settlement for 34 women who sued the F.B.I., accusing the bureau of unfairly dismissing them from […]
In the News | The New York Times
September 30, 2024
FBI Will Pay $22.6 Million to Settle Female Trainees’ Sex Bias Claims
The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to pay $22.6 million to settle a lawsuit by 34 women who claim they were wrongly dismissed from the FBI’s agent training academy because of their sex, according to a court filing on Monday. The settlement, which must be approved by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., would […]
In the News | US News
September 30, 2024
Women FBI Agent Trainees Vindicated: $22.6M Gender Discrimination Settlement Reached
U.S. Dept. of Justice Office of Inspector General’s 2022 Report Confirmed Claims of Gender Discrimination Women Who Were Dismissed from Agent Training May Be Eligible to Reenter the Program WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives of a proposed class of thirty-four women dismissed from the FBI’s agent training program filed a motion for preliminary approval of a […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
September 10, 2024
Aetna’s Denial of Gender-Affirming Care Taken to Court
A class-action complaint claims Aetna violated federal non-discrimination law by denying coverage of certain gender-affirming surgeries. Why it matters: The lawsuit filed Tuesday cites civil rights protections in the Affordable Care Act that are currently being challenged by conservative-led states. Driving the news: The lawsuit states Aetna “categorically excludes” coverage for facial reconstruction surgeries when […]
In the News | Axios
September 11, 2024
A Group of Trans Women Are Suing Aetna For Facial Feminization Insurance Coverage
The lawsuit alleges that the insurance giant has covered similar procedures for cisgender patients. Three transgender women have filed a lawsuit against U.S. health insurance company Aetna, alleging that their claims for gender-affirming facial surgeries have for years been unlawfully denied. The three women — Binah Gordon, Kay Mayers, and anonymous plaintiff S.N. — filed […]
In the News | Them
September 10, 2024
Aetna Hit With Class Action Over Gender-Affirming Care Pay
Three transgender women sued Aetna Life Insurance Co. Tuesday for allegedly denying them coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming facial reconstruction surgeries. Aetna’s categorical exclusion on the treatments constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex in a federally funded health-care program in violation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, a proposed class action complaint […]
In the News | Bloomberg Law
September 10, 2024
Advocates for Trans Equality Files Class Action Against Aetna for Denying Gender-Affirming Facial Surgeries
Today, Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, now known as Advocates for Trans Equality, Wardenski P.C., and Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, filed a federal class action civil rights lawsuit against Aetna Life Insurance Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of three transgender women denied coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming facial reconstruction procedures.
Press Releases | Advocates for Trans Equality/Transgender Legal Defense Fund
August 16, 2024
How The Plaintiffs Bar Is Getting Creative To Combat AI Bias
The opacity of workplace artificial intelligence tools poses a daunting challenge for plaintiff-side employment lawyers who think that technology causes discriminatory results. Though the inner workings of AI systems remain difficult to access, lawyers say they’re bringing discrimination charges based on publicly available information. They’re suing the vendors of the tools directly, rather than the […]
In the News | Law360
August 15, 2024
3 Hurdles Facing Worker-Side Attys Looking To Tackle AI Bias
The growing use of artificial intelligence in hiring and other workplace decisions has the plaintiffs bar playing catch-up, trying to figure out how and when AI is being used. Employers aren’t often obligated to disclose when they’re using AI to evaluate applicants, and even if they are, the tools themselves are a so-called black box. […]
In the News | Law360
July 15, 2024
7 Wage-Hour Cases To Watch In 2024
Several legal fights that will dominate the rest of 2024 are variations on the debate around who has the power to make and change laws and who is considered an employee, with the cases challenging the breadth of the U.S. Department of Labor’s rulemaking authority in the spotlight. From multiple challenges to the DOL’s overtime […]
In the News | Law360
June 27, 2024
Christine Webber Speaks on Advance Class & Collective Action Practice
Christine Webber, co-chair of our Civil Rights & Employment practice has been invited to speak at the 2024 NELA Annual Convention, June 26 – 29, 2024 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Christine’s panel discussion, Advanced Class & Collective Action Practice, will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. EST. The panel includes:
Events | NELA
May 23, 2024
Attempts to Regulate AI’s Hidden Hand in Americans’ Lives Flounder in US Statehouse
The first attempts to regulate artificial intelligence programs that play a hidden role in hiring, housing and medical decisions for millions of Americans are facing pressure from all sides and floundering in statehouses nationwide. Only one of seven bills aimed at preventing AI’s penchant to discriminate when making consequential decisions — including who gets hired, […]
In the News | AP
March 5, 2024
AI Is Already Screening Job Resumes and Rental Apartment Applications and Even Determining Medical Care with Almost No Oversight
While artificial intelligence made headlines with ChatGPT, behind the scenes, the technology has quietly pervaded everyday life — screening job resumes, rental apartment applications, and even determining medical care in some cases. While a number of AI systems have been found to discriminate, tipping the scales in favor of certain races, genders or incomes, there’s scant government oversight. […]
In the News | Fortune
April 30, 2024
Rental Applicants Reach $2.28M Settlement Agreement for Discriminatory AI-Powered Screening Tool
“The changes SafeRent has agreed to make are key to ensuring the original intention of the nation’s voucher programs, helping to erase historic discrimination in the housing markets,” said Brian Corman, a partner at Cohen Milstein who leads the firm’s fair housing litigation efforts and helped negotiate the settlement. What You Need to Know Rental […]
In the News | Law.com
April 26, 2024
Rental Applicants Using Housing Vouchers Settle Ground-Breaking Discrimination Class Action Against SafeRent Solutions
On April 25, 2024, the United States District Court of Massachusetts allowed a $2.275 million settlement on behalf of Massachusetts housing voucher recipients to move forward, certifying the settlement classes and directing notice to be sent to class members. The Court will hold a final approval hearing in November. The settlement, if finally approved, will resolve a lawsuit against SafeRent Solutions, a national tenant screening provider formerly known as CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions, claiming that SafeRent’s algorithmic tenant screening program (the “SafeRent Score”) disproportionately harmed housing voucher recipients, including Black and Hispanic individuals, under Massachusetts law protecting individuals based on their source of income and race. In July 2023, the Court denied SafeRent’s motion to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Massachusetts Discrimination Law claims.
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
March 29, 2024
Experts in Law, Medicine, Business, Reproductive Rights, and Gender Justice Call on the Supreme Court to Protect the Right to Emergency Abortion Care
On March 29, 2024, the National Women’s Law Center issued the following press release: WASHINGTON D.C. – On Thursday, March 28, 2024, a broad coalition of major medical organizations, physicians, people who have been denied critical health- and life-saving emergency abortion care, former HHS officials, Members of Congress, states, cities, counties, prosecutors, public health experts, […]
In the News | National Women's Law Center
March 20, 2024
Five Cohen Milstein Attorneys Selected for Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards
Five of Cohen Milstein’s attorneys have been appointed to serve on Law360 editorial advisory boards for its Benefits, Competition, Consumer Protection, Discrimination, and Wage & Hour sections. The editorial advisory boards provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.
In the News | Law360
December 15, 2023
Cohen Milstein Team Among Legal Lions of the Week
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Andrus Anderson LLP, and Goldstein Borgen Dardarian & Ho made Law360’s Legal Lions of the Week list after a California state judge on Dec. 8 certified a class of at least 8,900 women who say The Walt Disney Co. paid them less than their male colleagues, rejecting Disney’s argument […]
In the News | Law360
December 11, 2023
Disney Employees Secure Class Certification in Gender Pay Class Action
For Immediate Release Judge also grants plaintiffs’ request to unseal discovery materials LOS ANGELES, CA – The Honorable Elihu M. Berle of the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for class certification in Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, et al., a gender pay […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
September 15, 2023
The Cohen Milstein Pay Equity Tip Sheet
Authored by Christine E. Webber Understanding Your Rights & Legal Resources If you are concerned about pay equity, this tip sheet can help you collect the information you need, provide an overview of your legal rights, and tell you where to turn for additional assistance. Things to Look For Pay Comparisons: Learn what others […]
Resources
July 7, 2023
Christine Webber Discusses Gender & Race-Based Pay Inequity on the Workplace Fairness Podcast
Christine Webber was featured on the podcast Let’s Talk About Gender & Race-Based Pay Inequity, produced by Workplace Fairness. The podcast also includes Carolyn York from the National Committee of Pay Equity. Together, Christine and Carolyn discuss the evolution of wage discrimination, pay transparency, advocating for equitable pay and how we can join the fight. Christine’s segment starts at the 29:00 […]
Multimedia
November 28, 2023
Tenant Screener Can Be Liable Under FHA, Feds Tell 2nd Circ.
A Connecticut federal court was wrong to rule that a tenant background screening company cannot violate the federal Fair Housing Act based on a finding that it does not make rental decisions, the United States has argued in an amicus brief to the Second Circuit. The federal government waded into a legal battle Friday between […]
In the News | Law360
November 30, 2023
Data Show Employers Get Pay Transparency Wiggle Room
Pay transparency compliance data from Colorado, Washington State, and New York City reveal how government agencies are prioritizing giving employers a second chance before wielding penalties, while also managing the challenge of counting on vulnerable job applicants for tips, attorneys say. Laws requiring the disclosure of compensation ranges and even benefits in job postings have […]
In the News | Law360
July 7, 2023
Christine Webber Discusses Gender & Race-Based Pay Inequity
Christine Webber was featured on the podcast Let’s Talk About Gender & Race-Based Pay Inequity, produced by Workplace Fairness. The podcast also includes Carolyn York from the National Committee of Pay Equity. Together, Christine and Carolyn discuss the evolution of wage discrimination, pay transparency, advocating for equitable pay and how we can join the fight. Christine’s segment starts at the 29:00 […]
Multimedia | Workplace Fairness Podcast
July 4, 2023
Disney Shorted Women Middle Managers $150M, Workers Say
The Walt Disney Co. has paid its women employees in middle management at least $150 million less than men in substantially similar positions, according to a lawsuit filed by a group of current and former Disney employees, who on Friday asked a Los Angeles judge for class treatment. The women, who first filed the proposed […]
In the News | Law360
July 27, 2023
Judge Says Tenant Screening Co. Subject To Fair Housing Act
A Massachusetts federal judge ruled this week that the company behind a tenant screening algorithm that caught the U.S. government’s eye is subject to the Fair Housing Act, rebuffing an attempt by the screening firm and a Boston landlord to duck potential tenants’ racial bias claims. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley on Wednesday largely denied […]
In the News | Law360
July 25, 2023
Bloomberg Can’t Narrow Ex-Producer’s Pay Bias Suit
A New York federal judge denied Bloomberg LP’s bid Tuesday to ax pay discrimination claims from a former news producer’s proposed class action claiming hundreds of female employees were systematically underpaid, saying she provided enough detail to sustain her lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods rejected Bloomberg’s bid to toss Naula Ndugga’s individual and […]
In the News | Law360
May 3, 2023
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Selected for Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards
MAY 3, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com THREE COHEN MILSTEIN ATTORNEYS SELECTED FOR LAW360 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDS Legal Insights Sought in Areas of Benefits, Competition, and Wage & Hour Washington D.C. – Cohen Milstein, one of the nation’s leading plaintiff-side law firms, has announced that three partners have been selected to serve on […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
March 14, 2023
Understanding Your Rights & Legal Resources – Pay Equity Tip Sheet
If you are concerned about pay equity, this tip sheet can provide an overview of your legal rights, help you collect the information you need, and tell you where to turn for additional assistance. Things to Look For Pay Comparisons: Learn what others with comparable experience and jobs in your company are being paid. Glass […]
Articles | Cohen Milstein
February 15, 2023
AI Bias Panel Shows EEOC Should Ditch Four-Fifths Rule
By Christine Webber The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission held a public hearing Jan. 31 examining the implications of artificial intelligence technology on equal employment opportunity. According to EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows: The goals of this hearing were to both educate a broader audience about the civil rights implications of the use of these […]
Articles | Law360 Expert Analysis
February 8, 2023
Judge Greenlights Wage-and-Hour Case Against Salvation Army by Adult Rehab Program Participants
“Plaintiffs claim that the Salvation Army was the primary beneficiary of their relationship, and back that allegation up with details about how essential and beneficial their work was for defendant, the minimal value and effectiveness of the rehabilitation services they received, and the way in which their work prevented them from pursuing rehabilitation,” the judge […]
In the News | The National Law Journal
January 12, 2023
Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination in Tenant Screening Tool
US Attorney says algorithms are susceptible to human biases Two Black Women from Massachusetts are at the center of what could become a landmark federal case about whether software that screens potential tenants is illegally biased against Black and Hispanic applicants. Rachael Rollins, the US attorney for Massachusetts, weighed in on the case, Louis vs. SafeRent […]
In the News | CommonWealth
January 10, 2023
Feds Say Tenant Screener Is Subject to Fair Housing Act
The U.S. government told a Massachusetts federal court that tenant-screening firm SafeRent Solutions is subject to the Fair Housing Act, giving a boost to claims by two would-be renters that the company’s algorithm was unfairly used against them. In a brief filed Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys at the U.S. Department of […]
In the News | Law360
December 21, 2022
Tenant Group Asks to Keep Third-Party Screening Suit Alive
Two Massachusetts renters and an advocacy group asked a federal judge not to dismiss their lawsuit against SafeRent Solutions LLC, saying they can prove the company’s scoring tool disproportionately denies housing to people of color by using credit scores. Nancy Louis and Monica Douglas, along with Community Action Agency of Somerville Inc., told Judge Angel […]
In the News | Law360
November 11, 2022
Christine Webber to Speak on Using Artificial Intelligence in Hiring and Recruiting
Christine Webber will participate in the panel discussion “Using Artificial Intelligence in Hiring and Recruiting: The Future is Here” during the ABA’s 16th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference which will be held will be held on November 11, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. EST at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC. Employers are increasingly seeking to leverage technology that will […]
Events
October 6, 2022
Helping Unaccompanied Minors Find Safety in the U.S.
The recent influx of migrants to the District has shined a renewed spotlight on the difficult immigration landscape of the past decade and beyond. Prior to and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, immigrant children have been fleeing gang violence, governmental instability, lack of educational opportunity, and other traumatic conditions in their home countries and arriving in […]
In the News | DC Pro Bono Week
August 18, 2022
How I Lawyer: Christine E. Webber – Plaintiffs’ Class Action Employment & Civil Rights Lawyer
Georgetown Law Professor Jonah Perlin, host of “How I Lawyer Podcast!” interviews lawyers from across the profession about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it well. In today’s episode Professor Perlin speaks with Christine E. Webber, who is a leading plaintiff-side class-action civil rights and employment attorney at Cohen Milstein. In […]
Multimedia | How I Lawyer Podcast
July 2, 2022
Christine Webber to Speak on Evidence in Summary Judgment v. Trial Day
Christine E. Webber will speak at the 2022 NELA Annual Convention on Saturday, July 2, 2022 (3:45 – 5:00 p.m. PST) at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. This is an in-person CLE program for plaintiff attorneys. Ms. Webber’s panel discussion, “Evidence in Summary Judgment v. Trial Day,” will focus on how to best determine what evidence to […]
Events | 2022 NELA Annual Convention
June 1, 2022
SafeRent Accused of Unfairly Labeling Black, Hispanic Applicants High-Risk
Tenant-screening service allegedly discriminated against voucher holders A tenant-screening service is being accused of violating fair housing laws by discriminating against low-income tenants of color. The National Consumer Law Center filed a lawsuit in federal court last week against Texas-based SafeRent Solutions, Law360 reported. The center alleged SafeRent violated the Fair Housing Act and state […]
In the News | The Real Deal
May 25, 2022
Screener Faces FHA Claims Over Tenant Scoring Algorithm
Two Massachusetts women and a fair housing organization on Wednesday accused a tenant screening company of racial discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act, saying its scoring tool disproportionately denies housing to Black and Hispanic renters. Tenants Mary Louis of Malden and Monica Douglas of Canton, along with the Community Action Agency of Somerville, […]
In the News | Law360
May 25, 2022
SafeRent Solutions Accused of Illegally Discriminating Against Black and Hispanic Rental Applicants
Federal Lawsuit Alleges SafeRent Solutions Violated the Fair Housing Act, State Law by Discriminating Against Black and Hispanic Voucher Holders in Tenant Screenings SafeRent Employs Algorithm That Assigns Disproportionately Lower “SafeRent Scores” to Black and Hispanic Applicants BOSTON– A lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against SafeRent Solutions, LLC […]
In the News | Cohen Milstein
May 18, 2022
Not ‘Fake Equal Pay’: Soccer CBA Hailed as Game-Changer
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team is finally on equal footing with their male counterparts thanks to landmark new collective bargaining agreements announced Wednesday that experts say provide a framework for other similarly structured organizations to even out pay disparities. The deals, which run through 2028, are critical to resolving a $24 million equal pay […]
In the News | Law360
May 13, 2022
Pa. Home Care Workers Get Class Cert. in OT Pay Suit
A group of home care workers suing a Medicaid-funded corporation over allegedly unpaid overtime won class certification after a Pennsylvania federal judge rejected the company’s argument that no evidence could point to it being the aides’ employer. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl disagreed with Public Partnerships LLC’s argument that there was no common evidence […]
In the News | Law360
April 28, 2022
How Remote Work May Change W&H Group Actions
Remote work challenges the framework of class and collective actions, raising tactical questions about jurisdiction and whether a work-from-home employee’s geographical location may affect their participation in such suits, attorneys say. Many remote workers now do their jobs in a different state from the one they used to work in, having abandoned daily commutes to […]
In the News | Law360
April 28, 2022
Christine Webber to Speak on Advancing Women’s Economic Security Through Pay Equity
Christine E. Webber speak at AnitaB.org’s Elevating Conversations: A Series for Women & Non-Binary Technologists on April 28, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. EST/ 3:00 p.m. PCT. Ms. Webber joins Anita F. Hill, Monique L. Thompson and Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President & CEO of AnitaB.org for an in-depth discussion on “Advancing Women’s Economic Security Through Pay Equity.” […]
Events
April 21, 2022
To Close Pay Gaps, Laws Must Shift Burden to Employers
The persistent gender- and race-based pay gaps have many contributors. A recurring culprit is employers’ reliance on candidates’ prior inequitable pay, a phenomenon known as “start low, stay low.” Another is applicants’ lack of information about what the job should pay. While some have placed the onus on underpaid employees to cure inequities through increased […]
Articles | Law360 Employment Authority
April 18, 2022
Feds Can’t Get Female FBI Trainees’ Bias Suit Trimmed
A D.C. federal judge shot down an attempt by the Justice Department to throw out the bulk of a proposed class action by more than a dozen women alleging they were systematically driven out of the FBI agent training program and subjected to sexist double standards. In a one-page order filed Friday, U.S. District Judge Jia M. […]
In the News | Law360
March 14, 2022
Trial To Ask: Was Tenant Screener’s Conduct Discriminatory?
A bench trial starting Monday in Connecticut federal court will determine if a third-party company’s conduct while screening tenants was racially discriminatory in violation of the Fair Housing Act, a claim that is typically leveled at individual housing providers. The 2018 suit against CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions, which has since been spun off as SafeRent […]
In the News | Law360
February 3, 2022
NFL Race Bias Suit Shows a Good Playbook Isn’t Enough
A Black former Miami Dolphins head coach’s blockbuster suit accusing the NFL of systemic discrimination demonstrates that even employers with strong policies aimed at boosting diversity can get flagged for bias violations if those policies aren’t carefully applied, experts say. Brian Flores filed his Manhattan federal court class action against the league weeks after being […]
In the News | Law360
January 28, 2022
Regulation of AI Hiring Tools Is a Work in Progress
Expert Analysis Last October, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission launched its new initiative on artificial intelligence and algorithmic fairness. In doing so, EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows affirmed that while [a]rtificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making tools have great potential to improve our lives, including in the area of employment … the EEOC is keenly aware […]
Articles | Law360 Employment Authority
January 19, 2022
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll Appoints Christine E. Webber as Co-Chair of Civil Rights & Employment Practice
Appointment recognizes nationally renowned class and collective action civil rights and employment litigator and industry thought leader Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a leading U.S. plaintiffs’ law firm, has appointed Christine E. Webber co-chair of the firm’s nationally recognized Civil Rights & Employment practice. A civil rights and employment class and collective action law […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
January 13, 2022
Comment: CoreLogic Use of Algorithms to Screen Housing Candidates Challenged in Approaching Trial
If a bank, landlord or employer illegally discriminates against a person based on an automated decision by a computer algorithm, who is guilty of discrimination — the algorithm, or the individual or organization that denies the job, apartment or service? A US District Court trial in early 2022 may decide whether there is any crack of […]
In the News | MLex
January 11, 2022
40 May Not Be the Magic Number to Certify a Wage Class
A year after the Seventh Circuit ruled that fewer than 40 workers in an overtime suit may be enough for class certification, attorneys told Law360 the decision highlights other factors to consider when assessing whether a class action meets a key requirement in a category called numerosity. In Anderson v. Weinert Enterprises Inc., the appeals court […]
In the News | Law360
January 3, 2022
3 Real Estate Cases to Watch in 2022
While the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic is still front of mind for real estate attorneys, a diverse range of legal challenges are expected to take the spotlight in 2022, touching on everything from fair housing law to eminent domain. Here, Law360 looks at three real estate-related disputes lawyers will be watching in 2022. […]
In the News | Law360
December 10, 2021
A New Law Governing the Use of A.I. in Hiring May Trigger Lawsuits
There may be more discrimination-related lawsuits coming in the near future thanks to a recently passed New York City bill governing the use of artificial intelligence in hiring. One of the major implications of the bill, which New York’s city council passed in November and has now “lapsed” into law, is that companies will be […]
In the News | Fortune
November 12, 2021
Christine Webber to Speak on Using Impact Litigation to Fight AI Bias in Employment & Housing
Christine E. Webber has been invited to speak at Yale Law School’s ISP/WIII AI Governance Symposium 2021 on November 12, 2021 at 11:50 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Ms. Webber will give a presentation as a part of a panel program, called “Impact through Litigation and Legislative Advocacy.” Ms. Webber’s presentation is called, “Using Impact Litigation to Fight […]
Events | Yale Law School’s ISP/WIII AI Governance Symposium
July 23, 2021
3 Tips for Acing Wage and Hour Depositions
Depositions often provide essential testimony that can make or break a wage and hour case, meaning thorough questioning, deep research of the opposing side’s case and in-depth client preparation are crucial for employers and workers as well as their counsel, attorneys say. Here, Law360 shares some best practices that lawyers can use to ferret out […]
In the News | Law360 Employment Authority
June 17, 2021
10 Years of Dukes: Workplace Bias Class Claims Are Still Alive
In Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Dukes,[1] the U.S. Supreme Court on June 20, 2011, decertified a class of approximately 1.5 million women, depriving the group of the chance to vindicate claims of systemic workplace discrimination. In doing so, the Supreme Court revised the requirements for establishing commonality, reversed decades of unanimous circuit authority permitting certification […]
Articles | Law360 Employment Authority
April 26, 2021
Adopting AI? Examine the Algorithm ‘Early and Often,’ EEOC Official Says
Legal experts shared tips for choosing an AI solution at a recent American Bar Association conference. HR professionals hoping to integrate artificial intelligence tools into workplace processes “have their work cut out for them,” a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission official told attendees at an April 8 American Bar Association conference. The technology was gaining […]
In the News | HR Dive
April 20, 2021
The Limitations of 5th Circ. FLSA Class Cert. Ruling
Swales v. KLLM Transport Services LLC has recently received considerable attention for directing district courts in the Fifth Circuit to abandon the two-step certification process for Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions that has been widely followed in every circuit for over two decades. While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit adopted […]
Articles | Law360 Employment Authority
April 16, 2021
4 Wage and Hour Mistakes Even Smart Employers Make
Employers have become more flexible, especially in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. But during the pandemic and beyond, employers can run into wage and hour violations if they don’t stay on top of employees’ remote work locations, job responsibilities and more, attorneys say. Here, Law360 examines the common mistakes employers can avoid. . . […]
In the News | Law360 Employment Authority
April 8, 2021
Christine Webber to Speak on The Use of Technology in Managing the Workplace
Christine E. Webber, a partner in Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights & Employment practice, will speak at the ABA 2021 National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law Midwinter Meeting, which will be held virtually from April 7-9, 2021. Ms. Webber’s panel, “The Use of Technology in Managing the Workplace,” is scheduled for April 8 at 3:00 […]
Events | 2021 ABA National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law
April 2, 2021
4 Things to Know About the EEOC’s Conciliation Revamp
A recently enacted U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rule aiming to resolve more workplace bias claims outside of court has made big changes to the long-standing way the agency handles conciliation. The rule, which was greenlit by the agency’s three Republican commissioners in a party-line vote in January and went into effect a month later, […]
In the News | Law360 Employment Authority
March 23, 2021
3 Things Employers Should Be Watching on Equal Pay Day
Wednesday marks Equal Pay Day — the day on which women’s average 2020 pay catches up with what men made last year. With a worker-friendly administration in the White House and many states taking matters into their own hands, here’s an overview of what employers should expect on the pay equity front in 2021. One […]
In the News | Law360 Employment Authority
March 19, 2021
Christine E. Webber to Speak at NELA 2021 Spring Seminar
Christine E. Webber, a partner in Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights & Employment practice, will speak at the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) 2021 Spring Seminar. The seminar, “New Issues, Creative Solutions: Emerging Issues in Wage & Hour,” will take place virtually March 18-19, 2021. Ms. Webber will take part in the session “What’s the Defense Bar Up […]
Events
March 5, 2021
Christine Webber to Present a Review of 2020 Supreme Court Employment Decisions
Christine E. Webber, a partner in Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights & Employment practice, has been invited to speak at the 2021 Annual Conference of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA) on March 5, 2021. Ms. Webber will present a “Review of 2020 Supreme Court Employment Decisions.” MWELA, an affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers […]
Events
February 4, 2021
How to Ensure Employees Receive Class Action Notices
Whether a Section 216(b) collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act, or a Rule 23 class action under state wage and hour law, notice to the potential class members will be required at some point for any class case.This may arise with the initial notice of the opportunity to opt in to an FLSA […]
Articles | Law360 Employment Authority
February 3, 2021
3rd Circ. Won’t Revisit Joint Employer Ruling in OT Suit
The Third Circuit on Wednesday declined to revisit its ruling that a payroll company must face a proposed overtime class and collective action from Pennsylvania Medicaid-funded home care workers because jurors could find that the company was a joint employer. In an order, a Third Circuit panel denied a petition by Boston-based Public Partnerships LLC […]
In the News | Law360
December 8, 2020
3rd Circ. Says Gov’t Contractor Needs to Face FLSA Suit
The Third Circuit has upended a Pennsylvania federal court ruling that a business wasn’t a joint employer to Medicaid-funded home care workers and thus didn’t have to face class claims it failed to pay them overtime, saying jurors could find otherwise based on the company’s role in the program. In a nonprecedential opinion, a circuit […]
In the News | Law360
November 14, 2020
Current Employee Joins Discrimination Suit Against Bloomberg LP
Bloomberg L.P. is again being accused of discriminatory workplace practices, this time by a current employee who is joining the lawsuit of a former reporter. Naula Ndugga, currently a news producer for Bloomberg’s Quicktake vertical, is now part of the discrimination lawsuit filed in August by Nafeesa Syeed. She joins Syaeed’s allegations of pay and […]
In the News | WWD
October 28, 2020
Past Salary Is Losing Steam as Sex-Based Pay Gap Excuse
Rizo v. Yovino,[1] has finally reached a conclusion after an unusual history, in which an en banc decision was vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court due to having been issued several days after its author, U.S. Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, passed away. Upon the case’s return to the […]
Articles | Law360
October 1, 2020
Your Data Is Discriminating…Against You
For some, privacy infringement doesn’t just mean annoying ads; it could mean being denied a job or housing. Prachi Gupta investigates big data’s big problem. In 2016, Carmen Arroyo’s 22-year-old son, Mikhail, regained consciousness from a six-month coma. He had been electrocuted while atop an electrical pole and had fallen nearly 30 feet, leaving him […]
In the News | Marie-Claire
August 7, 2020
Judge Advances Fair Housing Case Citing Racial Implications of Criminal Record Screening
HARTFORD—On August 7, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut allowed a fair housing lawsuit against CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions (“RPS”) to proceed to trial. The plaintiffs, Connecticut Fair Housing Center (“the Center”) and Carmen Arroyo, allege that RPS’s tenant screening product, CrimSAFE, discriminates against people of color because it prevents landlords […]
In the News
July 10, 2020
High Court’s LGBT Bias Blockbuster Headlines Packed Term
While the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ employees resolved a closely watched question that had been brewing for years, the justices also devoted time this term to workplace law issues like religious employers’ rights and causation standards in civil rights cases. The LGBTQ rights decision, known as Bostock, […]
In the News | Law360
May 14, 2020
Law360’s Weekly Verdict Legal Lions & Lambs: Emoluments Litigation
Legal Lions Rounding out this week’s legal lions group are the Maryland and D.C. attorneys general offices, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Gupta Wessler PLLC. The Fourth Circuit on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s request to throw out a lawsuit by Maryland and the District of Columbia […]
In the News
May 14, 2020
4th Circ. Revives Emoluments Case Against Trump
The Fourth Circuit on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s request to throw out a lawsuit by Maryland and the District of Columbia over allegations that his ownership stake in the Trump International Hotel violates the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause. The appeals court voted 9-6 to allow the case to move forward at a Maryland district […]
In the News | Law360
March 26, 2020
Latham-Led US Soccer May Have to Pay Up in USWNT Suit
The U.S. Soccer Federation, with its new legal team at Latham & Watkins LLP and a new president, appears ready to settle a pay discrimination lawsuit by players on the U.S. Women’s National Team, but experts say a misstep by former lead counsel at Seyfarth Shaw LLP has put the federation at a disadvantage in […]
In the News | Law360
September 18, 2019
Walmart to Resolve Sex-Bias Claims
Walmart Inc. has agreed to work toward resolving the cases of 178 female employees who claim they were paid less than male co-workers or denied promotions because of their sex, a spokesman for the Bentonville retailer said Tuesday. Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said the company told the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission it is “willing to […]
In the News | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
September 17, 2019
Walmart Likely Discriminated Against Female Store Workers, EEOC Finds
Retailer tells agency it is willing to engage in conciliatory process Walmart Inc. likely discriminated against 178 female workers by paying less or denying promotions because of their gender, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in memos viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The EEOC documents ask Walmart and the women who filed complaints to […]
In the News | The Wall Street Journal
August 13, 2018
Keepseagle Settlement Makes Final Payments, Closing Out Landmark Racial Discrimination Case Against Federal Government
For Immediate Release $38 million to benefit non-profit organizations serving Native American farmers and ranchers, and $266 million to fund The Native American Agriculture Fund – Largest Native American Philanthropic Institution WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of the Supreme Court’s March 26, 2018 decision declining to hear an appeal over the disposition of $380 million […]
Press Releases
March 8, 2018
Is That Illegal Harassment? What Should I Do?
There’s been a lot of media coverage about sexual harassment in the workplace, leaving many women – and men – wondering exactly what sort of behavior crosses that sometimes-invisible threshold and rises to the level of illegal harassment. You may have the feeling you’re being harassed at work, but you’re not sure whether you have […]
Articles
November 17, 2017
Does My Company Discriminate Against Women? Frequently Asked Questions by Women in Tech
In August, our colleague Anita Hill addressed the current state of women in technology in an Op Ed in the New York Times. As she points out, Silicon Valley is far from a “seat of human progress” when it comes to its treatment of women ̶ many have recently reported experiences of sexual harassment and hostile workplaces, […]
Articles | Medium
May 16, 2017
Court OKs Plan for $380M in Native American Farmer Lawsuit
An appeals court panel on Tuesday approved a lower court’s plan for distributing $380 million left over from the U.S. government’s loan discrimination settlement with American Indian farmers and ranchers six years ago. President Barack Obama’s administration agreed in 2011 to pay $680 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 1999 by Indian farmers […]
In the News | Associated Press
April 28, 2017
Legal Issues in the Use of Pre-Employment Testing, Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Conference
Read Legal Issues in the Use of Pre-Employment Testing. This paper, which was presented at the 2017 Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Conference, addresses pre-employment testing and the legal issues surrounding it.
Articles
April 1, 2017
Taking Effective 30(B)(6) Depositions in Wage & Hour Cases
By Christine E. Webber This paper was presented at the 2017 NELA Spring Seminar “Litigating Wage & Hour Cases: Challenges & Opportunities.”
Articles | 2017 NELA Spring Seminar
March 31, 2017
The Numbers Game: Demystifying the Use of Data in Class Actions
By Christine E. Webber This paper, presented at the American Bar Association EEO Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, addresses the process of obtaining and analyzing data in class action litigation. The Numbers Game: Demystifying the Use of Data in Class Actions
Articles
June 25, 2014
Requests for Production of Databases: Documents v. Data
This paper was presented by Christine Webber at the National Employment Lawyers Association 2014 Annual Convention, “Blazing the Trail: Courage │Challenge │Change.” Employer databases contain rich stores of information; understanding how a particular database works and what it contains is the key to unlocking its value as a source of discoverable information. Before considering common […]
Articles | National Employment Lawyers Association