United States: Human Rights

Federal ADA Title III lawsuit filings have reached 5,006 cases at mid-year 2026, marking the highest level since 2021 and suggesting a potential record-breaking year ahead. California continues to dominate with 2,426 cases, while new plaintiffs' firms enter the market and filing patterns shift across states. Will 2026 surpass the all-time high of 11,452 lawsuits set in 2021?

The Virginia Human Rights Act expanded its workplace protections on July 1, 2026, now covering many employees previously left unprotected. The updates to the VHRA — including adjusted criteria for an employer to be subject to the law and an extended deadline to file a claim — is a game changer, especially for employees experiencing age discrimination. They now have less hoops to jump through to be able to seek justice. But what are the warning signs for age discrimination in the workplace?

The Department of Education has issued new guidance prohibiting schools from considering race in student discipline decisions, arguing that efforts to address racial disparities in disciplinary outcomes may violate Title VI. Two federal investigations have been launched against school districts, signaling an expansive interpretation of anti-discrimination law that could reshape how educational institutions approach equity considerations across all operations.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has launched a Title IX investigation into Smith College's policy of admitting transgender women and providing them access to campus facilities designated for women. This investigation represents a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement under the Trump Administration's interpretation that Title IX protections are based on biological sex rather than gender identity.

The Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of state laws requiring biological sex-based distinctions in school athletics, addressing challenges brought by transgender female student-athletes in Idaho and West Virginia. This landmark decision examines the intersection of Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause, and transgender rights in competitive sports, while leaving open questions about how these principles apply beyond athletics.

The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe fundamentally reshapes the landscape of international human rights litigation in American courts. By ruling that federal courts cannot create new causes of action under the Alien Tort Statute and that the Torture Victim Protection Act does not provide for aiding-and-abetting liability, the Court has effectively closed the door on decades of litigation targeting U.S. businesses for alleged human rights violations abroad. What does this

The U.S. Trade Representative has determined that 60 trading partners maintain practices actionable under Section 301, proposing sweeping ad valorem tariffs of 10-12.5% on imports from these economies due to inadequate forced labor import restrictions.

Both chambers of the New York Legislature have passed the No Severance Ultimatums Act and the Anti-Waiver of Employment Rights Act. The No Severance Ultimatums Act would add certain procedural hurdles to obtaining an enforceable post-employment release of claims, while the Anti‑Waiver of Employment Rights Act would bar certain waivers of employee rights under the State’s Labor Law and Human Rights Law in pre‑ and post‑employment settings.

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight celebrates two decades of growth and commitment to social justice. Firm leaders, including Chairman and Co-Founder David Sanford, reflect on the principles and mission that have driven the firm's success and expansion over the years.