US companies are facing high-stakes litigation at the Supreme Court starting on Tuesday, as the justices begin a two-week session in which they will hear several important business cases from employment discrimination to punitive damages.

The court of Chief Justice John Roberts, which has largely proved friendly to US business, will on Tuesday hear the first of three cases that could have a big impact on job retaliation lawsuits: suits brought by workers who claim that they have been dismissed, demoted or otherwise penalised because they complained about job discrimination.