Connecticut and Louisiana Protect Employers from Negligence Claims: Employment Law Manual Updated, Legal Timetable Entries Added

Authors: Melissa A. Silver, Marta Moakley and David B. Weisenfeld, XpertHR Legal Editors

Connecticut and Louisiana have recently enacted laws that will provide a negligent hiring or supervision defense for an employer in those states.

Effective August 1, 2014, Louisiana law will protect employers from liability for negligent hiring or supervision solely because an employee or independent contractor has been previously convicted of a criminal offense.

Further, effective October 1, 2014, Connecticut law will make it more difficult for plaintiffs to present evidence of an applicant's or employee's prior criminal conviction in a claim against an employer based on negligent hiring, retention or supervision under certain circumstances.

The following state sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated to reflect these new developments:

• Recruiting and Hiring > Negligent Hiring: Connecticut;
• Recruiting and Hiring > Negligent Hiring: Louisiana;
• Recruiting and Hiring > Preemployment Screening: Connecticut;
• Recruiting and Hiring > Preemployment Screening: Louisiana;
• Employee Management > Performance Appraisals: Connecticut; and
• Employee Management > Performance Appraisals: Louisiana.

In addition, entries have been added to the Legal Timetable.