LEGISLATIVE ISSUES - continued


Jackson County Committee OKs Policy to Allow Employees to Carry Guns at Work Jackson County may soon become the first government body in Michigan to let employees to carry concealed pistols at work.A revised policy on workplace violence would essentially end a work rule against guns by allowing employees and contractors to carry pistols on county property if they have a license to carry a concealed weapon.Despite disagreement from county department heads, many commissioners believe they should not interfere with employees' rights to carry guns if properly licensed. Debate spurred when some commissioners argued it is not fair to ban licensed employees from carrying guns, because the same ban cannot apply to the general public on most county properties.


"I think it’s a constitutional right," said Commissioner David Elwell, chief of the Columbia Township Police Department. "I just think people have a right to protect themselves, and I don't think the workplace should be an exception."


To read more, click here Vicarious Liability Ruling May Impact Education Insureds in California


The California Supreme Court ruled that a public school district may be vicariously liable for the negligent hiring, retention and supervision of a guidance counselor who allegedly sexually abused a student. The court issued its ruling on March 8, reversing a dismissal in C.A., a Minor, v. William S. Hart Union High School District. A trial court had sustained the school district’s demurrer, and a court of appeal affirmed. The Supreme Court ruling reversed that affirmation.The Supreme Court ruled on the question presented as to whether the school district may be found vicariously liable for the acts of its employees. In a unanimous decision, the judges answered a resounding “Yes,” noting that school administrators, such as principals and human resources professionals, have a “special relationship” with students.


And now insurers offering employment practices liability insurance may be saying to their education clientele more often, “if you want EPLI insurance, you have to follow these procedures,” he said.


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WORKPLACE VIOLENCE TODAY


By Patricia D Biles Stand Your Ground” and the Workplace


With the recent murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida, the state where I reside, I began thinking about what the implications might be if workplaces began to practice the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law. This law states that a person may use force in self-defense when there is reason- able belief of a threat, without an obligation to retreat first. The ‘Stand Your Ground’ law grants immunity to criminal charges and a civil suit. Unlike a defense which permits a plaintiff or the state to seek civil damages or a criminal conviction, immunity bars suit, charges, detention and arrest.


The question that arises in my mind is whether or not these laws will increase the number of deadly shootings in workplaces. Will people simply shoot to kill without concerning themselves with retreating to a safe place or of trying to defuse or prevent the violence? In the state of Florida, deaths due to self-defense are up over 200 percent since the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law took effect. What was intended to be a law for the protection of victims, particularly in domestic violence cases, has turned into a justification for using deadly force unnecessarily. I won’t go into all of the details about the Trayvon Martin murder, because it’s all over the media, but it is very questionable that the shooter was in fear of his life before shooting this unarmed teenager.


To read more click here *The above image is from NIOSH publication: Violence on the Job , http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence/ 5


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