Dallas Employment Lawyer Blog

Did Your Neighbor Really Sue and Win? The Difference Between a Verdict and a Settlement

June 29, 2026 | Harjeen Zibari

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Harjeen Zibari

I often hear people say things like, “My [insert relation] sued for this, and they won.” As a lawyer, my ears perk up because I think this means that I have some good case law to look at, or a different kind fact pattern to be on the look at for when selecting cases. However, I soon learned that when people say this to me, they’re usually referring to settlements. And I’m glad that the person was so happy with the outcome that they describe it as a win. But, I’m a lawyer and I’m going to be persnickety: a settlement is different than a verdict, although both bring closure, they’re very different. I’m not even saying one is better than the other. But, it’s an important distinction to make, especially when it comes to confidentiality concerns and how the resolution can be discussed with others.

This blog discusses the difference between a settlement and a verdict.

Are You “Regarded as Disabled” in Your Workplace?

June 22, 2026 | Rachel Bethel

Rachel Bethel Dallas
Trial Attorney

Most people understand that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA) protects employees with physical or mental disabilities. But many workers do not realize that the ADAAA also protects workers who are simply perceived as having a disability, even if they have no actual impairment at all. This is called the “regarded as” prong of disability coverage.

The ADAAA defines “disability” in three distinct ways. A worker is protected if they:

“They Said It Wasn’t Harassment” – Why Your Employer Still Can’t Fire You for Reporting It

June 17, 2026 | Cassidy Monska

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Cassidy Monska

You worked up the courage to report sexual harassment at work. Maybe it took weeks, maybe longer. You filed the complaint, cooperated with HR’s investigation, and then waited.

Then came the result you didn’t expect: your employer concluded that no harassment had occurred. And shortly after that came something even worse. You were fired, demoted, or suddenly found yourself on a performance improvement plan for the first time in your career.

Juneteenth and Your Rights at Work in Texas

June 15, 2026 | Deontae Wherry

Dallas Senior Trial Attorney Deontae Wherry

Juneteenth started right here in Texas. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with General Order No. 3 and finally announced freedom for the enslaved people of Texas, more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday in 1980, and Congress made it a federal holiday in 2021.

Is Juneteenth a Paid Holiday for You?

Title: Punitive Damages in Texas Employment Cases: Why the Statute You Sue Under Matters

June 8, 2026 | Riley Carter

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Riley Carter

When an employer crosses the line from negligent to malicious, punitive damages are one of the most powerful tools an employee has. But the statute you sue under can mean the difference between a $50,000 ceiling and an unlimited verdict. Here’s a quick guide to how punitive damages work in Texas employment cases under federal and state law.

Federal Law: Title VII vs. § 1981

Discrimination Rebranded: What the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision Means for Texas Employees

June 8, 2026 | Deontae Wherry

Dallas Senior Trial Attorney Deontae Wherry

The Supreme Court has once again reshaped the landscape of Civil Rights in America, and the implications could reach far beyond the ballot box. In a decision that effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act, the Court has signaled that states are now free to dilute the voting power of racial minorities through gerrymandering so long as they call it “partisanship” instead of “racial bias.”

It is one more example of a Court’s intent on stepping back from its role in protecting minority groups from majority overreach. The maps will still be drawn to silence minorities. The harm will still fall on the same communities. The only difference is the label on the package.

Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation: Oh My! What Does it All Mean?

June 3, 2026 | Harjeen Zibari

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Harjeen Zibari

The legal system is complicated. There are many terms and lots of jargon that gets thrown around, and it can be overwhelming to parse through it all. There are three avenues that come up a bit in civil litigation, particularly in employment law. This blog will explain what litigation, arbitration, and mediation mean, how they’re different, and how they interact.

Litigation:

AI & Your Employment Dispute

June 3, 2026 | Rachel Bethel

Rachel Bethel Dallas
Trial Attorney

Imagine that you’re at work. You learn that you’re being denied an accommodation. The sexual harassment won’t stop after your report. A paycheck isn’t adding up. It might be tempting to type the whole story into an AI site and ask, “Do I have a case?” It’s fast, it’s free, and the answer sounds right. After all, it’s written in legalese! What could go wrong?

Quite a bit actually. AI tools can be useful for plenty of things, but advice on your employment is not one of them.

Before You Ask for a Right to Sue: A Texas Employee’s Story

May 25, 2026 | Deontae Wherry

Dallas Senior Trial Attorney Deontae Wherry

When Jane walked out of her office in Plano for the last time, she felt both relieved and uneasy. For nearly a year, she had documented what she believed was discrimination at work. She filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), saved emails, kept notes, and waited.

Weeks passed. Then months.

Understanding USERRA: Employment Rights for Service Members and Veterans

May 18, 2026 | Riley Carter

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Riley Carter

Members of the military and uniformed services make extraordinary sacrifices in service to our country. Federal law recognizes that those sacrifices should not come at the cost of a civilian career. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) is designed to protect service members and veterans from discrimination, retaliation, and unlawful job loss related to their military service.

At Rob Wiley, P.C., we regularly represent employees whose rights have been violated after they served—or continued to serve—in the military. Understanding the basics of USERRA is the first step in protecting those rights.