KT Partner Mark Lockett won for the defense on summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case involved allegations of discrimination and a hostile work environment based upon disability and gender. Mr. Lockett represented a nationally based quick service restaurant franchisor in claims made under the ADA and Title VII and premised on a joint employer theory. The Court agreed with Mr. Lockett’s argument that was based upon precedent accepted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and found that the franchisor was not a joint employer and did not owe plaintiff any duty of care given the undisputed evidence developed during the course of litigation. All claims were dismissed accordingly.
