A lawsuit filed by a whistleblower working with the Office of the Inspector General of Pennsylvania against Johnson & Johnson and one of their subsidiaries, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., was recently settled for $158 million.  The case was filed in 2004 after the whistleblower, Allen Jones, discovered the company was putting money into a pharmacist's unregistered account for promoting their anti-psychotic medication, Risperdal.

The whistleblower's discovery led to several claims of fraud against Janssen.  In addition to providing kickbacks to pharmacists, the pharmaceutical manufacturer was found to have improperly and fraudulently marketed Risperdal to Medicaid patients in Texas.  Prescriptions for Medicaid patients in Texas accounted for $579 million out of billions of dollars of revenue the company generated selling the costly drug.

Moreover, Janssen was accused of exaggerating Risperdal's effectiveness and safety.  And, the company allegedly promoted the drug as safe for children, despite not having approval from federal officials.  Jones said after the settlement was announced that Janssen "subverted science and influenced others to betray the people they were supposed to be taking care of."  The whistleblower will receive part of the settlement.

Contact the Houston whistleblower protection lawyers of Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910, if you or someone you know has questions about reporting illegal employer activities.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that recognizes a "minsterial exception" to employment laws against religious discrimination, and establishes precedent for federal district and circuit courts across the country.

The ruling suggests that religious institutions and groups should be able to hire and fire leaders freely, without complying to religious discrimination laws.  "The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important, but so, too, is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith and carry out their mission," said Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

The decision did not include a specific definition of who this exception should apply to, but rather, it places discretion in the hands of the lower courts.

If you or someone you know has questions about discrimination law, contact the Houston discrimination attorneys of Ross Law Group by calling 800-634-8042 today. 

Several celebrations of Martin Luther King Day are taking place in Houston today.  For example, the 34th Annual "Original" MLK Birthday Parade organized by the Black Heritage Society began at 10 a.m. this morning at the intersection of Texas and Crawford.  The parade's grand marshal was Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

In addition, the MLK Grande Parade began at Elgin and San Jacinto at the same time.  After both parades, the BHF is continuing their celebration with a party at Discovery Green.  The party also includes a concert, and will last until 5 p.m. tonight.  

At 12 p.m., the Children's Museum of Houston held a peace rally with a reading of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s  "I Have a Dream" speech.  The speech was read by Pleansantville Elementary School's MLK Oratory winner, 10-year old Matthias McBride.  The museum has MLK Day events all day and is $5 to visit.

Rice University is celebrating MLK Day with a candlelight vigil at 5 p.m.  The event is being held at Rice Memorial Center Chapel, and will feature Rev. William Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

The Houston employment lawyers of Ross Law Group hope everyone has a chance to enjoy these Martin Luther King Day events.  To read more about today's celebrations, see Culture Map Houston.

Last month, 8 club dancers employed by a Dallas-based adult entertainment business filed suit against their employer.  The plaintiffs work or previously worked at clubs in Lubbock, Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Odessa.

The dancers' claim states that their employer classifies them as contract workers, instead of hourly employees.  As a contract worker, individuals are able to set their own hours and typically use their own equipment to do their work.  However, the dancers say that they are assigned the hours they will work by the club and they are fined if they do not show up for their assigned hours.

According to the lawsuit, the dancers do not receive hourly pay and are not granted overtime for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours a week.  

To speak with an attorney about a wage or hour dispute you have with an employer, contact the Houston wage and hour dispute attorneys of Ross Law Group by calling 800-634-8042 today. 

A pharmacist has filed a lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc., her former employer, over her termination, which she claims was a form of disability discrimination.

The woman was hired in 1999 and was pharmacist-in-charge at the time of her firing. She claims that she told her supervisor about her disability and requested accomodation. The accomodation was made, but the pharmacist claims she was subjected to harassment and retaliation before she was fired in January 2011.

According to the lawsuit, the prosecution claims that her termination was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is seeking compensation for lost wages, reinstatement or front pay, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional pain, inconvenience, suffering, punitive damages, court costs, and attorneys' fees. 

If you have been a victim of disability discrimination, contact the Houston disabilty discrimination attorneys of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910.

A woman is now suing a daycare for wrongful termination after she claims they fired her for reporting a possible child abuse situation.

According to the lawsuit that was filed on Dec. 12, the Beaumont woman was fired from Kiddie Korner Day Care after she admitted that she reported this case. The woman claims she is the victim of discrimination and wrongful termination. She is currently seeking punitive damages. 

If you or a loved one has been the victim of wrongful termination, you need representation on your side that may be able to help you fight for the compensation that you deserve for being treated unfairly at your place of employment. Contact the Houston wrongful termination lawyers of the Ross Law Group by calling 713-482-6910 to discuss your legal options.

The University of Houston recently accepted an invitation to the 2012 TicketCity Bowl at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.  The University of Houston Cougars will be playing the Penn State University Nittany Lions on January 2 at 11 a.m.

U of H football has a 12-1 record and Penn State has a 9-3 record.  The two teams have played each other twice before.

The Cougars have played at the Cotton Bowl four times and won in 1976 and 1979.  Tickets to the 2012 TicketCity Bowl can be purchased online through the Houston Athletics Ticket Office and in person at the Athletics Alumni Center.

The game will be televised on ESPNU. 

The Houston employment lawyers of Ross Law Group would like to congratulate the University of Houston and the football team on their success.

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