Skip to Page Content

Event Details

    Mock Trial - Wilson v. Chrysler, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation, Affirmative Defenses and Proof of Injury

    Date: November 16, 2016, 7:30am – 12:00pm
    Organizer:
    Fran Baze, VP of Professional Development
    Location:
    NIU Meeting & Conference Center
    8500 E. State Street
    Rockford, IL 61108

    Directions:
    http://niu.edu/conferenceCenters/rockford/directions.shtml

    Price:
    No Cost for Rockford Area SHRM Members / $50 for Non-RASHRM Members
    Event Type:
    Meeting
    iCal link
    Add to Calendar

    This is an annual event we all look forward to gain learnings that may help us to avoid unpleasant situations in our workplace. Join us on November 6, 2016 from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

    Wilson v. Chrysler, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation, Affirmative Defenses and Proof of Injury

    This program will feature live presentation, of a matter litigated for several years, including two trips to the U.S. Court of Appeals and a trial.  A PowerPoint presentation will be used to illustrate testimony and evidence, drawn from an actual case, involving a suit filed by a female auto assembly worker who claimed that she had been subjected to years of a sexually hostile work environment and then “forced to retire” because of her complaints to management.  Because she applied for a disability-based retirement as well as SSDI, the employer argued she should be precluded from claiming that she was qualified to work, part of the prima facie case of discrimination.

    Topics to be explored will include statutes of limitation and continuing violations under Title VII, management notice of severe and pervasive harassment, proving that harassment caused a condition, and collateral estoppel (issue preclusion).

    Agenda

    7:30 – 8:00       Registration & Continental Breakfast
    8:00 – 10:00       Donnie Wilson v. Chrysler
    10:00 – 11:00    Moot court demonstration continued
    11:00 – 12:00    Discussion:  identifying the issues
    12:00 – 1:00     Box lunch – stay and connect, or take with you

    This program will provide an interactive opportunity for participants to learn about hostile work environment problems including responding to complaints, employer notice of complaints and defending suits claiming a hostile work environment.  Participants will also discuss the legal concept of issue preclusion as a defense to discrimination claims.  During the course of the seminar, registrants may expect to have the opportunity to sharpen knowledge by discussion of:

    • Harassment in the workplace, when is it actionable;
    • Statutes of limitation and continuing violations in discrimination cases;
    • Actual notice versus implied notice of a hostile work environment;
    • Cleveland v. Policy Management Corp.  Disability claims do not inherently conflict to the point where courts should apply a special negative presumption.  There are too many situations in which an SSDI claim and a disability claim can comfortably exist side by side; and
    • An opportunity for human resource professionals to ask fact-based questions and discussion with other human resource and labor & employment law professionals in this case-by-case, fact-specific area of the law.

    Our speakers:

    Stephen E. Balogh is a partner in the Rockford law firm of WilliamsMcCarthyLLP, where he concentrates his practice in the litigation of employment, labor, civil rights, and commercial matters, on behalf of both private and governmental entities.  Steve has represented clients before the Supreme Courts of Illinois and Wisconsin, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.  He has also represented clients before many different federal agencies and both Illinois and Wisconsin agencies tasked with enforcement of state and federal employment and labor laws.  Steve received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland, and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Illinois, College of Law.  Before completing his education, Steve was on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps.  He is a member of the Rockford Area Chapter of SHRM.

    Troy E. Haggestad is a partner in the Rockford law firm of WilliamsMcCarthyLLP, where he has extensive experience representing business clients in commercial litigation matters involving contractural disputes, the collection of hospital and health provider bills, shareholder disputes, non-compete litigation, trade secret litigation, insurance coverage litigation, actions brought under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and claims of discrimination on behalf of employers. Troy also counsels employers, health plans and health care providers regarding compliance with state and federal regulation such as HIPAA.  Troy is licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, and the Winnebago County Bar Association.  He served as a past president of the Board of Directors for the Northern Illinois Botanical Society, past president of the Board of Directors for the Rockford Area Literacy Council, past board member of the Visiting Nurses Association, and is currently on the board of the United Way of Rock River Valley.  Troy graduated with a Juris Doctor from the Notre Dame College of Law.

    4.0 Continuing Education Credits from HRCI and SHRM have been approved.

    Online registration has closed, but we still have seats available! For late registration please email lauren.e.stoklosa@osfhealthcare.org