7th Circuit Conference
On February 15, 2010, the 9th Annual Seventh Circuit NELA-IL Conference will be held at Kent Law School. The theme this year is "How to Win Your Case in Discovery — Or, At Least, Not Lose It!" You can register by following the link below. Early bird registration ends Feb. 1.
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Corporate Identity & 1st Amendment
1/21/10. The Supreme Court explicitly overruled Austin in holding that that the government may not prohibit speech based on corporate identity because the government’s interest in preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption was insufficient under First Amendment scrutiny. However, the government may require disclaimer and disclosure on that speech. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, No. 08-205.
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New IL Rules of Professional Conduct
1/1/10. The Illinois Supreme Court has issued a new set of Rules of Professional Conduct effective 1/1/10. The IARDC is offering a webcast entitled "What the New Rules of Professional Conduct Will Mean for Your Practice" worth 2.0 hours of MCLE/PCLE Credit entitled To view the webcast, follow the link below.
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EEOC Funding
12/10/09. The U.S. House approved a bill that would add $23 million to the U.S. EEOC's budget for the 2010 fiscal year. The funding will help enable the EEOC to diminish the backlog of over 70,000 cases.

Turner v. Saloon, Ltd.
2/8/10. In plaintiff's employment discrimination suit against his former employer, the 7th Cir. reversed summary judgment in part as the district the court excluded most of the alleged instances of harassment as time-barred, contrary to Supreme Court precedent establishing that acts of harassment falling outside Title VII's statute of limitations may be considered as long as some act of harassment occurred within the limitations period. Turner v. Saloon, Ltd., No. 07-2449.
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ADA: 7th Cir. Holds No Mixed-Motive Liability
1/15/10. In Serwatka v. Rockwell Automation Inc., The 7th Cir. ruled out mixed-motive liability under the ADA, holding that 42 U.S.C. § 12117 incorporates into the ADA only the "powers, remedies, and procedures" of Title VII, not the mixed-motive liability section. No. 08-4010.
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NELA-IL Board
12/15/09. Congratulations to NELA-Illinois' new board and officers: President Alejandro Caffarelli, Vice President Antoinette Choate, Treasurer Libby Hubbard, Secretary Catherine Caporusso, Immediate Past President Megan O’Malley, Board Members Peter Carey, Kristin Case, Matthew Lango, David Lee, Mary Rose Strubbe, Lisa Williams, Bryan Wood, and Founders Penny Nathan Kahan and Michael Leech.

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.