Law Alerts

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Law Alerts

Court Rewards Employer’s Diligent Interactive Reasonable Accommodations Process Under the ADA

In evaluating the delicate balance between employers’ and employees’ rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (“Seventh Circuit”) handed down an opinion on…

Appellate Court Rules that Records of a College’s Foundation are Subject to FOIA

The Illinois Appellate Court’s recent decision in The Chicago Tribune v. The College of DuPage, 2017 IL 160274, substantially expands the scope of records subject to public disclosure.  The case concerns…

Court Extends Title VII Protections to Cover Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

In the ongoing battle for LGBT civil rights, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a landmark opinion on April 4, 2017 extending the protections of Title VII of…

Appellate Court Upholds Municipal Ordinance That Reduces Vacation Buy-Back Benefit For Retiring Employees

The 4th District Court of Appeals in Springfield has upheld a municipal ordinance discontinuing the opportunity for city employees to sell back unused vacation days several months before their retirement.  In Pisani,…

New School Lead Testing Law Also Amends School Code and Tort Immunity Act to Allow Expanded Use of Life Safety and Tort Funds

Public Act 99-922, effective January 17, 2017, primarily requires testing for lead in drinking water at schools and daycare facilities. In a gesture which may help schools pay the cost…

New Law Mandates Lead Testing Requirements For School Districts

With headline news concerning the presence of lead in school district water systems across the country, including Chicago, Governor Rauner recently signed P.A. 099-922 which requires testing for lead in…

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Open Meetings Act Does Not Require a Recital of “Key Terms” in a Settlement Agreement Prior to Taking Action

In Board of Educ. of Springfield School Dist. No. 186 v. The Atty. General of Illinois, 2017 IL 120343, the Illinois Supreme Court provided binding clarification of the Open Meetings Act…

Circuit Court Dismisses Declaratory Judgment and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Action Brought Against School District Following Denial of Teacher’s Request to Use Paid Sick Leave Under Section 24-6 of the School Code

On February 1, 2017, a DuPage County Circuit Court judge dismissed a declaratory judgment and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection action brought by a tenured teacher against her employer, Naperville…

Employer Held Liable for Third-Party Harassment of its Employee

On December 21, 2016, a jury in the Northern District of Illinois awarded a former Costco employee $250,000 in damages in a Title VII sexual harassment lawsuit.  The verdict followed…

Illinois Supreme Court Rules School Boards Have Final Decision-Making Authority When Dismissing Tenured Teachers for Misconduct

In the first reported case following the 2011 amendments to Section 24-12 of the School Code, which, among other things, set the parameters for a school board’s dismissal of a…
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