Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Law

Fair Labor Standards Act And Sovereign Immunity: Unlocking The Courthouse Door For Texas State Employees., Melinda Herrera Jan 2001

Fair Labor Standards Act And Sovereign Immunity: Unlocking The Courthouse Door For Texas State Employees., Melinda Herrera

St. Mary's Law Journal

Unless Texas expressly waives its Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity, its state employees will not have similar legal recourse and protection as those available to private employees. As in many other states, a party may not sue the State of Texas without its consent. Thus, in the absence of constitutional or statutory provisions to the contrary, a state may claim sovereign immunity against any suit brought by a private party in both federal and state court. As a result, the Eleventh Amendment effectively precludes private individuals from suing a state in both federal and state court for violating a federal statute …


A Proposal To Protect Injured Workers From Employers' Shield Of Immunity., Catherine A. Hale Jan 1989

A Proposal To Protect Injured Workers From Employers' Shield Of Immunity., Catherine A. Hale

St. Mary's Law Journal

The current workers’ compensation system shields negligent employers from liability and fails to encourage compliance with safety standards. A practical solution is to broaden the judicial definition of intentional conduct and reinstate a common-law negligence action in workers’ compensation statutes. The Texas Workers’ Compensation Act awards compensation to employees for accidental injuries sustained in the course of employment. The Act bars an employee who accepts these benefits from bringing a common-law suit for damages against the employer. The exclusive nature of the workers’ compensation remedy thus leaves employers immune from common-law negligence actions by employees who accept the plan. An …


Fair Employement Of The Handicapped In Texas., Bennett L. Stahl Jan 1985

Fair Employement Of The Handicapped In Texas., Bennett L. Stahl

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Commission on Human Rights Act may help prevent discrimination against handicapped individuals and ensure they have adequate employment opportunities in Texas. Employment discrimination against handicapped individuals often happens because of unfair job qualifications, or fair qualifications they would be able to meet if employers made reasonable accommodations. Establishing legal mechanisms to ensure fair opportunity for handicapped citizens to obtain employment is a comparatively new goal of American jurisprudence. The Federal Rehabilitation Act in 1973 made significant progress in fair employment practices. Texas made more progress by establishing the Commission on Human Rights Act, which creates a commission in charge …