Employment Law: Doing Well and Doing Right

Friday, December 4, 2009

How to Help Your Individual Employment Clients Without Having Your Employment Practice Become Pro Bono


Identifying Potential Claims
Kathryn Emmett, Esq., Emmett & Glander, Stamford
Lewis H. Chimes, Esq., Garrison Levin-Epstein Chimes Richardson & Fitzgerald, PC, New Haven

Kathy Emmett will outline the various potential federal employment claims and remedies available, including:
  • Title VII
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • USERRA
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Lew Chimes will outline the various state law claims and remedies, including:
  • Equal Pay Act
  • Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act
  • Wage Claims
  • State Common Law and Statutory Claims
Screening Cases/Clients and Practical Considerations
Joseph Garrison, Esq., Garrison Levin-Epstein Chimes Richardson & Fitzgerald, PC, New Haven

Deciding to take on an employment case involves more than merely identifying whether the client has a claim.  Joe Garrison, a national leader in this field for over thirty years, will tell you why.  Joe will discuss:
  • How to determine when to agree to represent clients in negotiations, litigation, and most importantly, when to reject clients even when your heart bleeds for them.
  • Practical issues such as billing (hourly/mixed/contingency), severance packages, mitigation and damages issues, choosing or adapting to the forum (state, federal and increasingly private arbitration).
  • How to evaluate cases with low economic damages but potential high compensatory or punitive injuries and when, if ever, you should take them.
Common Difficult and Ethically Challenging Issues Facing Employment Lawyers
Kathy Eldergill, Esq., Beck & Eldergill, PC, Manchester

Representing individuals in employment cases presents unique challenges.  Kathy Eldergill will address some of the ethical and tactical issues that we all face, including:
  • Litigating claims while your client is still employed by the defendant company
  • Taping conversations with co-workers and supervisors
  • Handling unauthorized or "found" documents and e-mails
  • Interviewing or obtaining statements from emloyees and management of the defendant company
  • E-discovery and employer access to employee e-mail
Employment Cases from a Judge's and Arbitrator's Perspective
The Honorable Janet Arterton, U.S. District Court
The Honorable Richard Robinson, Appellate Court, State of Connecticut
The Honorable Dennis Eveleigh, Superior Court, State of Connecticut
Beverly Hodgson, Arbitrator/Mediator, Former Superior Court Judge
  • Handling Cases in Arbitration
  • Surviving Summary Judgment
  • Positioning Cases for Settlement
  • Differences Between State and Federal Court
  • Successful and Unsuccessful Trial Themes and Strategies

This program is appropriate for both newly-admitted and experienced attorneys.

Speakers

Lewis H. Chimes, Esq. (chair) Law Office of Lewis Chimes, LLC
Kathryn Emmett, Esq. (chair) City of Stamford
Hon. Janet Bond Arterton United States District Court
Kathleen Eldergill, Esq. Beck & Eldergill, PC
Hon. Dennis G. Eveleigh Judicial District Courthouse
Joseph D. Garrison, Esq. Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C.
Hon. Beverly Hodgson Beverly J. Hodgson
Hon. Richard A. Robinson, (ret) Day Pitney, LLP

CLE Credits

This Continuing Legal Education program is appropriate for both newly-admitted and experienced attorneys, and has been approved for the following credits in accordance with the rule requirements of these states:

Skills
Connecticut 4.50 cr

Venue

441 Clark Ln., Orange CT 06477