May, 2014 | The Law Offices of Gregory D. Jordan

Former Professor Sues University of Houston Alleging Employment Discrimination

The University of Houston has been sued by a former life sciences professor who claims her employment was unlawfully terminated.

The lawsuit was filed by Adriana Alcantara in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas February 25, naming the University of Houston as defendant and alleging employment discrimination.

The lawsuit alleges that Alcantara was harassed by an assistant professor, Dr. Leigh Leasure, while she was employed as a professor at the university, beginning in September 2007. Alcantara taught phycology, the study of algae.

According to the suit, Leasure yelled at Alcantara, prevented her from using essential lab equipment, and interfered with her experiments and recruitment of students.

The suit also claims that Leasure was a participant in Alcantara’s tenure evaluation, and that Alcantara was denied tenure on May 29, 2012. Alcantara alleges that she was denied tenure because she is a Hispanic female.

Federal law and Texas law prohibit employment discrimination based on race or gender.

The lawsuit seeks back pay and benefits, damages, attorney’s fees, interest and court costs. The case is Houston Division Court Case No. 4:14-cv-00463.

The University of Houston is a state research university with nearly 41,000 students and more than 3,000 academic staff members.

Texas Company Sues Cisco for Patent Infringement

A small data storage-technology company filed lawsuits against Cisco Systems Inc. and others in federal court in Texas, claiming patent infringement.

The lawsuits were filed by Crossroads Systems Inc. against Cisco, NetApp Inc. and Quantum Corp. in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging infringement of U.S. Patents 6,425,035 and 7,934,041, part of Crossroads’ 972 Patent Family.

Crossroads has licensed the patent family to more than 40 different companies since 2001, receiving more than $60 million in revenue from licenses and settlements.

The lawsuits allege that the defendant companies have incorporated technology patented by Crossroads into their data-storage systems, including storage arrays and series switches.

Crossroads said that its technology is fundamental to efficient and secure access to network data-storage systems. The company said that it always seeks to avoid litigation, but that it has a responsibility to its shareholders to pursue legal action when companies engage in unlicensed use of its patented technology.

The lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages. Crossroads is based in Austin and employs about 60 people. The company is led by CEO Richard K. Coleman Jr.

Crossroads also filed patent-infringement lawsuits of a similar nature against Dell Inc. and other companies in November 2013.

Former Professor Sues University of Houston, Alleging Employment Discrimination

The University of Houston has been sued by a former life sciences professor who claims her employment was unlawfully terminated.

Adriana Alcantara filed the lawsuit in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas on February 25, naming the University of Houston as defendant and alleging employment discrimination.

The lawsuit argues that Alcantara was harassed by an assistant professor, Dr. Leigh Leasure, while she was employed as a professor at the university, beginning in September 2007. Alcantara taught phycology, the study of algae.

According to the suit, Leasure yelled at Alcantara, prevented her from using essential lab equipment, and interfered with her experiments and recruitment of students.

The suit also claims that Leasure was a participant in Alcantara’s tenure evaluation, and that Alcantara was denied tenure on May 29, 2012. Alcantara alleges that she was denied tenure because she is a Hispanic female.

Federal law and Texas law prohibit employment discrimination based on race or gender.

The lawsuit seeks back pay and benefits, damages, attorney’s fees, interest and court costs. The case is Houston Division Court Case No. 4:14-cv-00463.

The University of Houston is a state research university with nearly 41,000 students and over 3,000 academic staff members.

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