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Full-Text Articles in Law
Reforming The Age Discrimination In Employment Act: Proposals And Prospects, Michael C. Harper
Reforming The Age Discrimination In Employment Act: Proposals And Prospects, Michael C. Harper
Faculty Scholarship
This article argues that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) should be amended to provide it with the same procedural and substantive strengths Congress has provided Title VII. The article highlights four gaps between the ADEA and Title VII: damage remedies; class actions; defenses to disparate impact actions; and causation standards for disparate treatment actions. The article also advocates other modifications of the ADEA to encourage the employment of older Americans. The article recommends compelling employers to retain productive incumbent older workers, regardless of the compensation previously promised experienced workers. It also recommends considering allowing employers to hire older …
The Second-Class Class Action: How Courts Thwart Wage Rights By Misapplying Class Action Rules, Scott A. Moss, Nantiya Ruan
The Second-Class Class Action: How Courts Thwart Wage Rights By Misapplying Class Action Rules, Scott A. Moss, Nantiya Ruan
Publications
Courts apply to wage rights cases an aggressive scrutiny that not only disadvantages low-wage workers, but is fundamentally incorrect on the law. Rule 23 class actions automatically cover all potential members if the court grants plaintiffs' class certification motion. But for certain employment rights cases--mainly wage claims but also age discrimination and gender equal pay claims--29 U.S. C. § 216(b) allows not class actions but "collective actions" covering just those opting in affirmatively. Yet courts in collective actions assume a gatekeeper role just as they do in Rule 23 class actions, disallowing many actions by requiring a certification motion proving …