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Illinois Minimum Wage
7/01/09. Illinois minimum wage increased to $8.00 an hour starting on July 1, 2009. The minimum wage will increase by an additional 25 cents to $8.25 on July 1, 2010.
U.S. Supreme Court Disparate Impact Ruling
6/29/09. The U.S. Supreme Court held that an employer may take a race based action where it has a strong basis in evidence showing they would have had disparate-treatment liability under Title VII if the action had not been taken. It further held that the city of New Haven, discriminated against a group of white firefighters when it scrapped the results of a promotional exam that too few minorities passed, because the city lacked any basis in evidence of disparate treatment liabity for rejecting the tests. Ricci v. DeStefano. No. 07-1428.
Illinois Strict Liability for Sexual Harassment by Supervisors
4/15/09. The Illinois Supreme Court held that an employer can be held strictly liable for sexual harassment by its supervisory employee, even if he was not the supervisor of the victim. Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department v. Illinois Human Rights Commission.
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New IL Rules of Professional Conduct
7/01/09. The Illinois Supreme Court has issued a new set of Rules of Professional Conduct to be effective January 1, 2010.
Ryl-Kuchar v. Care Centers, Inc. (7th Cir.)
5/11/09. Seventh Circuit affirmed district court judgment denying defendant's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict in an action involving the termination of health insurance benefits brought under the FMLA, where: 1) it was not unreasonable for the jury to infer retaliation and conclude that the real reason for denying plaintiff benefits was because she elected to take FMLA leave; and 2) a reasonable jury could have concluded that plaintiff was a full-time employee until she took FMLA leave and that defendant interfered with her right to continued health insurance coverage. Ryl-Kuchar v. Care Centers, Inc. (No. 08-2688).
Michael Lefkow Memorial Fund
In memory of our brother and friend, Michael Lefkow, the Michael Lefkow Memorial Fund has been established through Amalgamated Bank. Its purpose is to carry out litigation and educational work in Michael's name on behalf of government employees and victims of workplace unfairness and discrimination. Contributions may be mailed or wire transferred to Amalgamated Bank. For further information, contact Kay Zilka, Senior VP, Amalgamated Bank, Chicago.
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