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7th Circuit Conference Registration Now Open and Online!
The 7th Annual NELA/Illinois 7th Circuit Conference will be held on February 18, 2008 (President's Day - a court holiday) at Chicago-Kent College of Law. This year's theme will be "An Employment Law Case from Soup to Nuts" and will cover many useful topics with a whole host of terrific speakers. Click here for program and registration information and to register for the conference online.
Channel 2 Responds to Complaints of Former Newsroom Manager That he Was Thrown Out of Channel 2 in Retaliation for Race Case
7/9/07: Chicago: Channel 2 General Manager Joe Ahern has responded to charges made by a former Channel 2 Newsroom Manager that he was thrown out of the Channel 2 Studios in retaliation for discrimination charges brought against the station. Earlier this year, in a decision issued today, the IDHR reversed a LSE finding in favor of WBBM CBS 2 Chicago, and entered a finding holding that there was substantial evidence to suggest that Channel 2 discriminated against Earl Milloy, based on race. Milloy is a former CBS News Prodution Editor. He worked at Channel 2 as a recorded media manager. Currently he is the Program Manager for Digital Media Communication for the Chicago Public Schools. He was referred to as "Earl the Pearl" by Channel 2 General Manager Joe Ahern and other derrogatory remarks and was criticized for wearing dreadlocks. The case will now go to trial. On Thursday, May 3, Milloy was at CBS 2 because the students he works with at the Chicago Public Schools were invited to be interviewed by Antonia Mora for the "Eye on Chicago" show at the station. After the interview was over, Ahern had Milloy escorted out of the building while the students were still in the studio and he pulled the interview of the students from Chicago Vocational Career Academy from broadcast.
Illinois NELA Member gets Great Whistleblower Act Decision From Seventh Circuit!
Chicago: (6/5/07): The Seventh Circuit has just ruled in a case entitled Thomas v. Guardsmark, 05-3865 (6/5/07) (Rovner, J.), that the Illinois Whistleblower Act: (1) has no preclusive effect on Illinois wrongful discharge common law, and (2) that it does not apply retroactively. This is an important decision because there has been some recent Illinois Appellate Court case law suggesting that the new Act does exactly that, that it preempts wrongful discharge common law and that the Act overruled the Petrik v. Monarch case which held that retaliation and termination for internal complaints was actionable at common law. To see the text of the complete opinion click on "read case" below. This case was successfully litigated by Illinois NELA member Tim Huizenga <thuiz@lafchicago.org>. Congratulations Tim!!!
Justice Alito Writes Pro-Employer Opinion on 180-Day Rule in Sex Case
Washington DC: (5/29/07): This morning, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber, #01-1074. This case concerned how far back in time a lawsuit for discriminatory pay could go when the discriminatory decision was made a long time ago, but the effects of that discrimination continue. Ledbetter's pay had been set in a discriminatory fashion many years ago. After that, the employer used an allegedly facially neutral compensation system to set Ledbetter's pay each year. The Supreme Court held 5-4 that only the pay within the EEOC charge-filing period was timely and that "present effects of past discrimination" was not a valid basis to bring otherwise untimely events within the EEOC charge-filing period. Alito wrote the majority opinion for himself, Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy; Ginsburg wrote the dissenting opinion for herself, Stevens, Souter, and Breyer.To read the text of the opinion click on "read case" below.
Judge Approves $5 Million Settlement Of Job Bias
Lawsuits (2/20/07):EEOC: A federal judge has given final approval to a $5 million settlement resolving two consolidated class action employment discrimination lawsuits against a global engine systems and parts company, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today. The litigation began on May 8, 2003, when a group of employees filed a class action lawsuit (Bell, et al v. Woodward Governor Company, N.D. Ill. No. 03 50190) against Colorado-based Woodward Governor, asserting that it engaged in illegal discrimination against African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians at its Rockford and Rockton, Ill., facilities with respect to pay, promotions and training, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. On October 4, 2006, the EEOC sued Woodward (EEOC v. Woodward Governor Company, N.D. Ill. No. 06 C 50178)
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It's dues renewal time!
NELA/Illinois dues for the 2007-08 bar year were due September 1. The easiest way to pay your dues is on this website. Go to the "members-only" area in the left margin, log in, click on “your account” (in the left margin), click on “renew account” (in the center), and follow the instructions. You can pay either by credit card through Pay-Pal or by check through the U.S. Mail. Please note that filling out a renewal form, but failing to pay by either check or Pay-Pal does not renew your membership! Members who have not paid their dues will have their access to the NELA/Illinois e-mail discussion list cut-off, will have their access to the “members-only” area of the NELA/Illinois website cut-off, and are ineligible to serve on the NELA/Illinois Board.
David Lee Named to National NELA Board; Joins Aaron Maduff as Chicago Representatives on the Board
Puerto Rico: 6/30/07: Chicago NELA President, David Lee, was appointed to the National Board of NELA at the conclusion of NELA's annual convention in Puerto Rico. David joins Illinois NELA Board member Aaron Maduff of Maduff and Maduff as Chicago representatives to the national board. Board terms are three years and Board members are elected both by the membership as a whole with some positions filled directly by the Board. David's presence gives Illinois and Chicago its strongest presence on the national board ever, in the history of the organization. Congratulations to David!
Recent Firings Serve as a Reminder of the Employment Struggles Faced by Transsexuals
Joanna Grossman: FindLaw 3/20/07:Steven Stanton -- a confirmed transsexual and the city manager of Largo, Florida -- was recently put on administrative leave, pending being fired by the City Commission. News of his preparation for sex-reassignment surgery had sparked a vigorous, mostly negative response from Largo residents - ranging from nasty e-mails sent to City Commissioners, to eggs thrown at Stanton's car.
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. Special thanks to Robin Potter, Candace Gorman, and Paul Mollica for so quickly setting up and publicizing the Michael Lefkow memorial fund. For further information, contact Kay Zilka, Senior VP, Amalgamated Bank, Chicago.
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