NEWS & EVENTS

• Heather R. Watterson will be participating in the International Association of Defense Counsel’s 38th Annual Trial Academy at Stanford Law School in California from July 31-August 6, 2010. The IADC Trial Academy is one of the oldest and most well respected programs for developing defense trial advocacy skills.

• Heather R. Watterson is currently serving on the committee organizing the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel’s 2011 Spring Defense Tactics Seminar.  The Seminar will include in-depth presentations on current legal issues.

• Andrew Kopon Jr. recently spoke on the topic of Selecting Arbitrators and Mediators/Preparing the Client for ADR as part of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s seven-part webinar series covering topics related to Alternative Dispute Resolution. His presentation addressed preparing the client for mediation, as well as the various aspects of selecting mediators, including the nuts and bolts of selection, ethical issues, Rules of Professional Conduct, conflicts of interest, and mediation contract language.

• Sarah E. Flotte recently spoke at The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Legal Defense Practice Workshop in Peoria, Illinois.  Her presentation covered the ADA Amendments Act, as well as tips on preventative employment measures.

• Andrew Kopon Jr., Rachel E. Yarch, and Sarah E. Flotte recently spoke at the Religious Center for Religious Institutes’ Orientation to the Management of Religious Institutes Annual Seminar in Chicago, Illinois.  Their presentation provided employers with legal guidance and practical tips related to job descriptions, employee handbooks, hiring, termination, and benefits.  Their presentation also included an extensive discussion on Title VII discrimination claims, as well as recent legislative developments and Supreme Court decisions impacting such claims.

• Kathleen Flaherty has joined Kopon Airdo, LLC as an associate in its employment law group.  Ms. Flaherty previously worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the employment law department for the City of Chicago Department of Law.

• Andrew Kopon Jr., Michael A. Airdo, and Rachel E. Yarch recently spoke at the 2010 Annual Conference of the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators in Oak Brook, Illinois. Their presentation covered: preventing employment discrimination claims while staying true to your faith; legally and ethically downsizing your workforce; and tips for balancing compassion for injured or disabled employees versus complying with the FMLA and the ADA.

• Rachel E. Yarch recently spoke on the topic, "The Legal Aspects of Workforce Reduction," as part of a legal webinar spring series program sponsored by Christian Brothers Services.  Her speech provided employer’s with guidance on the best-practices for conducting a reduction in force.

• Michael A. Airdo recently spoke on the topic, “The Ins and Outs of HIPAA,” as part of a legal webinar spring series program sponsored by Christian Brothers Services.  His speech provided a detailed update of new rules and regulations that affect HIPAA security and privacy compliance, including changes implemented by the HITECH Act.

• Michael A. Airdo, Heather R. Watterson, and Ellen C. Mickes recently obtained a victory in the First District Appellate Court of Illinois for a locally based religious Order, in the case of Johnson v. Augustinians.  The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order dismissing the Plaintiff’s sexual misconduct case as time-barred.  The appellate court held that once the statute of repose expired in Plaintiff’s case, the Order had a vested right to assert the statute as a complete bar to the Plaintiff’s cause of action. Subsequent legislative action could not revive the Plaintiff’s claims without offending the Illinois Constitution.  A copy of the decision can be found here.