Episode 07: "Next Gen" Reasonable Accommodations And Disability Law Trends
Last year’s Minnesota legislative session resulted in a 1,000-page omnibus bill that included significant changes to the state’s labor and employment laws. As this year’s legislative session comes to a close, we predict a...more
On April 29, 2025, in Fisher v. City of Lansing, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan ruled that the City of Lansing did not fail to accommodate an employee’s request to bring an emotional support dog...more
A recent case from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida illustrates how businesses should handle scenarios where service animals present health risks to others with severe allergies....more
Dogs are a human’s best friend – but are they the hospitality industry’s best friend, too? Restaurant owners may be wondering what their rights, responsibilities, and options are with respect to letting our furry friends...more
In general, as long as such restrictions are drafted clearly, the North Carolina Courts will uphold their enforcement; however, there are several factors community associations should consider when establishing and enforcing...more
The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business....more
New York City employees may soon be entitled to take sick leave to care for their pets if a newly introduced bill is passed by the city council....more
Many employees consider their pets to be family members and rely on them for emotional support and mental health wellbeing. Two New York City legislators recently took this a step further, introducing a measure that would...more
Dogs seem to be everywhere you go these days: whether it’s an outdoor restaurant, the hardware store, or your local brewery. While many may wish it were true, employers are not obligated to allow employees to bring an...more
Co-op and condo boards have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations to residents with disabilities. Residents often request permission to live with their so-called emotional support or therapy animals (“ESAs”)...more
In attempting to assess the complicated balance between an individual employee’s need for a service animal and the requirements of clients, customers, patients, and the workplace as a whole, the Eighth Circuit has weighed in...more
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued several significant decisions that employers doing business in Minnesota should be aware of. Here are a few highlights of recent Eight Circuit Decisions that have addressed...more
The Equal Opportunities Commission recently issued Guide Dogs: A Practical Guide with a view to better protect the rights of guide dog users in public settings....more
Requests by a resident to have an emotional support animal that would violate a housing unit’s occupancy agreement must be analyzed under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled. As...more
Pennsylvania law, as currently written, does not have any special provisions for pets when their owners get divorced. Even though many individuals consider pets as children, Pennsylvania courts do not. ...more
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill significantly amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) on May 15, 2024. The MHRA, otherwise known as Minnesota’s anti-discrimination statute, already prohibited discrimination...more
A Puerto Rico federal court holding reminds us that an animal that performs work or tasks for a person with a psychiatric disability – such as identifying the onset of a panic attack and taking action to mitigate its effect –...more
Tennessee restaurant owners have likely experienced patrons bringing emotional support animals (ESAs) into their restaurants. Those owners have also likely wondered what restrictions exist under current law on allowing ESAs...more
The concept of service animals in the workplace has been around for quite some time, but many managers, especially those at smaller companies, may not have yet had to address it. With regard to employees, you can treat a...more
Recently, we discussed whether a miniature horse qualified as a service animal allowed to enter public accommodations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The answer is yes, but what does that mean for...more
A right to an emotional support animal has been a heavily discussed topic for years, especially for certain extreme requests involving the use of an exotic animal for emotional support purposes, or when there is a claim that...more
We have received an increasing number of questions about service animals — and most recently — an inquiry about miniature horses. While the statutory definition of "service animal" under Title III of the Americans with...more
...What are employer obligations when an employee asks to bring a service animal into the workplace? This is a question faced more and more by employers, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently offered guidance,...more
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are pets prescribed by a licensed mental health professional for those with disabling mental illness. While emotional support animals are commonly cats and dogs, any animal can serve in this...more
With the surge of return to work policies cropping up through out the US, we have received an uptick of landlord inquiries about pets and animals in leased spaces. While it is a landlord's prerogative to prohibit pets in...more