In the wake of a federal appeals court's holding that a single slur uttered in the workplace may establish a hostile work environment claim, attorneys are expecting to see an uptick in lawsuits.

In mid-July, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit determined that a single racial slur in the workplace could establish a lawsuit for harassment.

The ruling in Castleberry v. STI Group clarified some confusion that had arisen in the district courts regarding the standards, finding that “severe or pervasive,” rather than “severe and pervasive,” is the correct standard.