News
We cultivate a collaborative, inclusive culture where our team shares knowledge and stays informed on legal developments. We value diversity, as different perspectives strengthen our ability to solve problems and advocate effectively. Beyond our legal services, we prioritize building relationships through internal events that promote camaraderie and a positive environment. This culture empowers us to deliver exceptional legal services and contributions to our clients and communities.
News
New Law Mandates Lead Testing Requirements For School Districts
By Robbins Schwartz |
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
By Robbins Schwartz |
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
By Robbins Schwartz |
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
By Robbins Schwartz |
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
By Robbins Schwartz |
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…
Educational Support Staff RIF Checklist
By Robbins Schwartz |
A RIF of ESPs occurs whenever a district decides to decrease the number of ESPs employed by the school board or to discontinue a particular type of support service. A…
New Health Reimbursement Arrangement Option Exclusively for Qualified Small Employers
By Robbins Schwartz |
A new employee benefit option was created on December 13, 2016, when the 21st Century Cures Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. Section 18001 of the Act creates a…
Nanci Rogers Retirement
By Robbins Schwartz |
It is bittersweet to announce that at the end of this year, Nanci Rogers will be retiring. Nanci has been an integral part of Robbins Schwartz since joining the firm…
Appellate Court Finds that the City of Chicago Impermissibly Used an Employee’s Arrest Record to Terminate Her Employment
By Robbins Schwartz |
In an oftentimes confusing and ever changing employment area, criminal background checks, the Illinois Appellate Court recently addressed the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA” or “Act”) prohibition against “using” the…
Federal District Court Issues Nationwide Temporary Injunction Staying Implementation of the DOL Final Overtime Rule
By Robbins Schwartz |
A federal district court in Texas has issued an order temporarily blocking the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing and enforcing its final overtime rule, scheduled to take effect…