The EEOC is abdicating its responsibility to transgender workers; employers shouldn’t follow suit

Let's talk about the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — the federal agency charged with enforcing our nation's bedrock employment discrimination laws — which seems more interested in walking away from its duty than leaning into it.

Two recent lawsuits raise serious red flags about how the agency is functioning, or, more accurately, is not functioning.

WIRTW #777: the 'no kings' edition

* Image by Nathaniel Currier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.

If this were your workplace, would you tolerate it?

Politico just published leaked messages from Young Republican leaders — future GOP operatives, appointees, and elected officials, as well as at least one current elected official and a White House staffer — joking about gas chambers, praising Hitler, celebrating rape, and using racist slurs over 250 times.

JD Vance brushed it off as a "college group chat" and then blamed Democrats for stoking political violence. Donald Trump has yet to even address it.

This isn't "dark humor" or "college hijinks." It's hate speech. Hard stop.

100% healed policy = 100% ADA violation

This one's for every business who's ever said to a sick or injured worker, "We can't bring you back until you're 100%."

The EEOC announced a $200,000 settlement with Elon Property Management after it required employees returning from medical leave to provide a doctor's note saying they could return to work "without restrictions." Elon also required a doctor to sign off on a copy of the employee's job description — and refused to let employees back if they couldn't meet every demand.

The EEOC's response was clear: "Policies that require an employee to be 100% before returning to work are unlawful. Employers must assess whether an employee can perform the job with or without a reasonable accommodation."

"Same-actor" harassment isn't immune from Title VII.

A federal judge recently granted summary judgment to Verizon Wireless after it fired a Black employee who twice used the n-word in the store. The employee argued, in part, that because the word came from him (a member of the protected class), his termination was discriminatory.

The court wasn't having it and dismissed the employee's case. It held that Title VII doesn't enshrine a right to use slurs "within one's own protected group." Harassment is about the work environment it creates, not the speaker's identity.

Ohio beer is the best beer!

For years, I've told anyone who would listen that Ohio has the best beer in America. Now, we have the proof.

At this year's Great American Beer Festival — the country's largest professional beer competition — Ohio's breweries showed up and showed out. Eleven breweries from the Buckeye State brought home 21 medals overall — tied for sixth among all states and marking our best result ever.

The undisputed star of the festival, however, was my local, Fat Head's Brewery. No brewery won more medals than Fat Head's, which took home five in total: two golds, one silver, and two bronze.

🥇 Goggle Fogger — South German-Style Hefeweizen
🥇 Battle Axe — Strong Porter
🥈 Bone Head — Strong Red Ale
🥉 Hop JuJu — Imperial India Pale Ale
🥉 Excursion Journeyman — Specialty Non-Alcohol Beer

🏆 Fat Head's also won BREWERY OF THE YEAR (15,001 – 100,000 barrels). 🏆

Not to be outdone, its downstate compatriot, Cincinnati's Third Eye Brewing Co. won three medals of its also and Brewery of the Year (2,001 – 5,000 barrels).

From neighborhood taprooms to nationally recognized powerhouses, Ohio beer showed that it belongs on the stage with the industry's heavyweights.

So yeah, I'm proud to be a beer lawyer. But even more, I'm proud to stand with an industry that captures the best of Ohio — authentic, passionate, and quietly exceptional.

If you love beer, put Ohio on your map. The pints are top-notch, and the industry's people are even better. The lawyers? Not too shabby either. 😉

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Click here for information on Wickens Herzer Panza's craft beer legal practice (or just email me).

For more info on Ohio's craft-beer industry as a whole, check out the Ohio Craft Brewers Assocation.

WIRTW #776: the 'secret diner' edition

Every now and then, I like to take this space and go hyper-local, to highlight something that makes my corner of Northeast Ohio special. Today, that something is Vino di Luca, a new restaurant in Olmsted Falls.

If you're a Cleveland-area foodie, the name Luca Sema probably rings a bell. His other restaurant, Luca West, has long been one of my favorites and is arguably one of the very best spots in Greater Cleveland. So I had little doubt that Vino Di Luca would be something special.

Vino di Luca sits in the heart of downtown Olmsted Falls, in a beautifully restored century-old building that used to house The Olde Wine Cellar. The cozy yet contemporary transformation is stunning. The space doubles as a restaurant and wine shop, and it somehow manages to make both feel seamless.

The menu is built around Italian small plates and pastas. We like to start with the polpetta (housemade meatballs) and a salad, then dig into their pastas — maybe the white truffle and ricotta-stuffed sacchetti, the orecchiette with shrimp, or the gnocchi with fresh mozzarella and spicy tomato sauce. Each dish feels both elevated, comforting, and delicious. Much of the menu is naturally gluten free, including the polpetta, and all pasta dishes can be made gluten free upon request.

And then there's the wine.

Because Vino di Luca also functions as a retail shop, the prices are retail, which means you can enjoy an incredible bottle without the restaurant markup. The selection leans Italian (which makes sense given the menu), but there's plenty of California, French, and even the occasional Portuguese bottle mixed in. Every label is thoughtfully chosen and genuinely good. There's also a full bar with a craft cocktail menu if you're not in the mood for wine.

If you go, and the weather cooperates, grab a table on the back porch overlooking the Rocky River. It's peaceful, scenic, and one of those hidden gems that makes you appreciate where you live.

So, if you find yourself southwest of Cleveland, do yourself a favor and stop into Vino di Luca. Order a few plates, open a bottle of something interesting, and settle in. It's the kind of place that reminds you why dining out — and supporting local — is such a joy.

Cheers!

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Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.