Jaffee v. Redmond

Holding that "confidential communications between a licensed psychotherapist and her patients in the course of diagnosis or treatment are protected from compelled disclosure under Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence"

Branzburg v. Hayes

Holding that government need not “demonstrate some ‘compelling need’ for a newsman's testimony”

Trammel v. United States

Holding that because "[t]estimonial exclusionary rules and privileges contravene the fundamental principle that 'the public . . . has a right to every man's evidence,' . . . they must be strictly construed"

University of Pennsylvania v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Holding that plaintiff university failed to make out a cognizable First Amendment claim in light of speculative, attenuated, and remote harm

United States v. Gillock

Holding that a federal criminal prosecution was important enough to overcome a state lawmaker's assertion of legislative privilege

Eastex, Inc. v. Nat'l Labor Relations Bd.

Holding that a newsletter that "urg[ed] employees to write their legislators to oppose incorporation of the state 'right-to-work' statute into a revised state constitution," "criticiz[ed] a Presidential veto of an increase in the federal minimum wage and urg[ed] employees to register to vote" was protected concerted activity

N.L.R.B. v. Wright Line, a Div. of Wright Line, Inc.

Holding that the "but for" test applied in a "mixed motive" case under the National Labor Relations Act

Perrignon v. Bergen Brunswig Corporation

Holding that party waived attorney-client privilege through disclosure of privileged conversations at depositions

Tradesmen Intern., Inc. v. N.L.R.B

Assuming union organizer's activity constituted "concerted activity" under 29 U.S.C. § 157 but holding it was not protected under statute

United States v. Chiarella

In United States v. Chiarella, 588 F.2d 1358, 1372 (2nd Cir. 1978), rev'd on other grounds, 445 U.S. 222, 100 S.Ct. 1108, 63 L.Ed.2d 348 (1980), the Second Circuit declined to recognize a New York statute that prohibited the use of unemployment compensation records in any court proceeding, unless the state labor commissioner was a party to the action.

Rule 501 - Privilege in General

Recognizing that "in a civil case, state law governs privilege regarding a claim or defense for which state law supplies the rule of decision"

Section 421.11 - Unemployment agency; cooperation with federal agency; reports; compliance with federal regulations; "social security act" defined; disclosure of information; reciprocal agreements

Section 96-4 - Administration; powers and duties of the Assistant Secretary; Board of Review

Stating that all "letters, reports, communication, or any other matters . . . from the employer . . . to the Commission . . . shall be absolutely privileged communication in any civil or criminal proceedings. . . ."