24th Annual Employment Law Update 2015 Seminar Materials - SALE!

Publication Date: May 2015
Available Formats: Print
Pages: 295

Information

Topics Covered:

  • Annual Case Law Update
  • Employment Tort Claims
  • Drafting Employment Agreements
  • Current Issues with Severance Agreements, Settlements, and Offers of Judgment
  • Virginia Wage Payment Laws
  • Deductions From Wages in Virginia
  • FLSA 'White Collar' Exemption Changes
  • Drafting Restrictive Covenants in Employment Agreements
  • Ethics

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This comprehensive, stand-alone publication is direct from a May 2015 seminar.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

24th Annual Employment Law Update Seminar


LEGAL ETHICS ISSUES IN EMPLOYMENT LAW
Susanne Harris Carnell
Thomas P. Murphy


I. Joint Representations

    A. Representation of Employer and Individual Defendant
    
    B. Representation of Corporate Employee During Deposition Only
    
    C. Representations of Multiple Plaintiffs
    
    D. Other Joint Representations
    
II. Internal Investigations: An Ethical Minefield

III. Ex Parte Contact with Adversary’s Employee

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT LAW CASE UPDATE

John M. Bredehoft
Zachary A. Kitts


I. Bowman Claims

II. Other Common Law Torts

    A. Breach of Fiduciary Duty
    
    B. Tortious Interference with Contractual Expectancy
    
III. Fair Labor Standards Act

    A. The Motor Carrier Exemption to the FLSA
    
    B. FLSA Statute of Limitations and Equitable Tolling
    
    C. Compensable Time - Portal to Portal Act
    
    D. Sovereign Immunity from FLSA Claims
    
IV. Family Medical Leave Act

    A. Successor-In-Interest Liability
    
    B. Paying for Your Replacement is not a Violation of the FMLAAnd
    There is Always a Camera in a Stuffed Animal if You Work
    Around Children
    
    C. FMLA Remedies - Reinstatement
    
V. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    
    A. National Origin and Religious Discrimination
    
    B. Racial Discrimination
    
    C. Sex Discrimination
    
    D. Failure to Hire-Prima Facie Case
    
    E. Sexual Harassment
    
    F. Title VII Affirmative Defenses
    
    G. Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    
    H. Disparate Impact

VI. Americans With Disabilities Act

    A. Failure to Hire
    
    B. Reasonable Accommodation
    
    C. Disability-Related Medical Inquiry
    
VII. Sarbanes-Oxley

VIII. Arbitration Agreements

IX. WARN Act

X. Federal Trial Practice

    A. Sanctions for Failure to Appear at a Deposition
    
    B. Attorney’s Fees Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37
    
    C. Exclusion of Expert Witness Testimony
    
XI. Civil Procedure

    A. Amended Complaints and Dismissal Without Prejudice
    
    B. Motion to Reconsider an Interlocutory Order

XII. Appellate Procedure

XIII. Business Conspiracy

XIV. Attorney’s Fees and Fee Disputes

XV. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act/Computer Torts

XVI. Regulatory Developments - Corporate Secrets, Confidentiality
Agreements and Ethics Compliance Programs

    A. The BARKO Opinion and 48 CFR § 52.203-13
    
    B. The Dodd-Frank Act and Rule 21F-17
    
EMPLOYMENT TORT CLAIMS

Stephen E. Robinson
James B. Thorsen
Jesse A. Roche


I. Common Law Defamation

    A. General Elements of a Cause of Action
    
    B. Public or Private Plaintiff?
    
    C. Defenses
    
    D. Damages
    
    E. Related Cause of Action - Insulting Words

II. Malicious Prosecution

    A. General Elements of a Cause of Action
    
    B. Defenses
    
    C. Damages
    
    D. Related Cause of Action
    
III. Negligent Hiring, Retention & Supervision

    A. Negligent Hiring
    
    B. Negligent Retention
    
    C. Negligent Supervision
    
    D. General Defenses
    
    E. General Damages
    
IV. At-Will and Public Policy Exceptions

    A. Courts Reaffirm Virginia’s Adherence to the Employment-at-will
    Doctrine
    
    B. No Individual Liability for Investing Claim; Plaintiff Need Not Cite
    Specific Statute for Wrongful Termination Claim
    
    C. Suspension as basis for Bowman Claim
    
    D. Constructive Discharge as Basis for Wrongful Termination
    
    E. Whistleblower Retaliation as Basis for Wrongful Termination
    
    F. Plaintiff is Required to Identify a Specific Virginia Public Policy
    
    G. Plaintiff is Not Required to Identify a Specific Virginia Public
    Policy
    
    H. Title VII Does Not Constitute State Public Policy for Wrongful
    Discharge Claim
    
    I. Virginia’s Wage and Payment Act Can Establish a Bowman
    Claim

V. Tortious Interference

    A. Tortious Interference with Contract Rights
    
    B. Tortious Interference with Business Expectancy
    
    C. Tortious Interference with At-Will Contracts
    
    D. Tortious Interference - An Intentional Tort
    
    E. Objective Elements of the Prima Facie Case
    
    F. Five Year Statute of Limitations Period Applies
    
    G. Relationship of Parties
    
    H. Choice of Law Based on Place of Liability Event
    
VI. Conspiracy

    A. Elements of a Common Law Conspiracy Claim
    
    B. Elements of a Statutory Business Conspiracy Claim
    
    C. Employment Interests are Personal and Not Actionable Under
    Virginia Business Conspiracy Statute
    
    D. Conclusory Allegations Insufficient to Support Conspiracy Theory
    of Jurisdiction
    
    E. Tortious Interference Claims Qualify as Requisite Unlawful Act to
    Proceed on a Business Conspiracy Claim
    
    F. Court Reaffirms Intra-Corporate Immunity Doctrine
    
    G. Co-Conspirators are in Privity; Claims Barred by Res Judicata
    
    H. District Court Confirms That Conspiracy Suits May Proceed Against
    John Doe Defendants
    
    I. Court Refuses to Hold That Conspiracy Claims are Preempted by
    VUTSA Prior to Determining Whether Information Was a Trade
    Secret

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF DRAFTING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
John E. Davidson
Sean M. Gibbons


I. Why Have An Employment Agreement?

    A. Employee’s Perspective
    
    B. Employer’s Perspective

II. Term

    A. Fixed Term
    
    B. Renewal Periods
    
    C. Evergreen Provisions

III. Title/Duties/Hours

    A. Title
    
    B. Duties
    
    C. Hours

IV. Compensation/Benefits

    A. Base Salary
    
    B. Bonuses
    
    C. Leave
    
    D. Employee Benefits
    
    E. Perks

V. Termination

    A. “For Cause” / “Without Cause” / “Good Reason”

VI. Severance

VII. Restrictive Covenants

VIII. Procedural

    A. Arbitration
    
    B. Choice of Law/Venue/Forum Selection
    
    C. Jury Waiver
    
    D. Severability
    
    E. Entire Agreement
    
    F. Assignment
    
    G. Amendments

THE END OF THE ROAD: CURRENT ISSUES WITH SEVERANCE
AGREEMENTS, SETTLEMENTS, AND OFFERS OF JUDGMENT

Overview and Defense Perspective

Edward Lee Isler

I. Current Issues with Severance Agreements

    A. Background
    
    B. EEOC’s Hostility to Severance Agreement Provisions That
    Interfere with Commission Investigations
    
    C. Recent EEOC Lawsuits Over Severance Agreements
    
    D. How Should Employers Respond to the EEOC’s Position
    
    E. Drafting Tips for General Severance Agreements
    
    F. Special Issues Under Severance Agreements
    
    G. Additional Requirements for ADEA WAivers
    
    H. Effect of Failure to Comply with OWBPA Requirements
    
    I. Severance Payments Under an Established Policy
    
    J. Model Severance Agreement

II. Strategies for Settlement

    A. Evaluating a Case - Defense Perspective
    
    B. Windows for Settlement

III. Use of Rule 68 Offers of Judgment

    A. Background
    
    B. Practice Tips for Making and Responding to Offers of
    Judgment
    
    C. Drafting an Offer of Judgment
    
    D. Strategies for Use
    
    E. Offers of Judgment Involving Multiple Parties
    
    F. Related Concept: Unconditional Offers of Reinstatement

IV. Enforcement of Settlement Agreements

    A. Enforceability of Settlement Agreements Generally
    
    B. Enforceability of Oral Settlement Agreements
    
    C. Procedure for Enforcement of Oral Settlement Agreements
    
    D. Remedies Available for Parties Seeking to Enforce Settlement
    Agreements
    
    E. Obtaining Relief from Judgment of Dismissal Pursuant to
    Settlement
    
    F. Enforceability of Certain Settlement Provisions

V. Drafting Settlement Agreements

    A. Entering Into a Settlement Agreement - Defense Perspective

VI. Tax Consequences of Settlement Agreements

    A. Taxation of Damages
    
    B. Allocation of Damages for Tax Purposes
    
    C. Taxation of Attorneys’ Fees
    
Overview and Plaintiffs’ Perspective
Harris D. Butler

I. Background and Themes

    A. Background
    
    B. Facts, Facts, Facts
    
    C. 99% Perspiration... (Out-work, Out-think, “Out-smart” the
    Other Side)
    
    D. Turn the Prism from “Severance Offered” to “Value of Release”
    
    E. Timing of Settlement Discussions

II. Common Employment-Based Claims

    A. Available Statutory Claims
    
    B. Common Law Claims
    
    C. Typical Presentations
    
    D. Presenting the Issue/First Contact - The Representation/Demand
    Letter
    
    E. Dynamics of Direct Settlement Discussions
    
    F. Mediation Dynamics
    
    G. Settlement Conference Dynamics
    
    H. Offers of Judgment

III. Proposed Severance Agreements (and Later Settlement Terms)

    A. The Severance Offer Dynamic
    
    B. Claims Released
    
    C. Common Proposed Terms and Responsive

VIRGINIA WAGE PAYMENT LAWS

David R. Simonsen, Jr.

A. Materials Attached to This Outline

B. Department of Labor and Industry (“DOLI”): Division of Labor and
Employment Law

C. Private Application and Use of Virginia Code § 40.1-29

D. Non-Payment of Wages Could Result in Property Seizures

DEDUCTIONS FROM WAGES IN VIRGINIA

Edward L. Isler

FLSA ‘WHITE COLLAR’ EXEMPTION CHANGES: THE PROPOSED
RULES ARE (STILL) COMING

Nancy S. Lester

I. Background

II. The Current Exemptions: A Refresher

III. The Change: What Can We Expect? 3

IV. Potential Impact of Anticipated Change

THE EMPLOYMENT PRENUP: DRAFTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
IN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

Linda Jackson
Burt H. Whitt


I. Current Test for Enforcement of Covenants Not to Compete in
Virginia

II. Lawyers Should Exercise Extreme Care in Drafting Covenants for
Employers

III. Drafting Pointers

    A. Choice of Law and Forum
    
    B. The Use of Severability and Assignability Clauses are Highly
    Desirable, If Not Essential
    
    C. Consider a “Covenant of the Essence” Provision
    
    D. Consider an Attorney’s Fees Provision
    
    E. A Contractual Jury Waiver Clause May Be Appropriate
    
    F. Limitations on an Individual’s and/or Entity’s Rights to Hire
    Away Employees Will be Enforceable Under Appropriate
    Circumstances
    
    G. Provisions Prohibiting Disclosure of Confidential Information May
    Also be Considered
    
    H. Avoid Relying Upon Form Covenants
    
    I. Be Careful to Limit Employee From Any and All Capacities That
    Are Competitive With Employer
    
    J. Remember That Courts Will Not Enforce Restrictive Covenants
    Whenever Language is Vague or Ambiguous
    
    K. Don’t Forget That Contracts of This Nature Should be Signed to be
    Enforceable
    
    L. Consider Including Prohibitions on “Indirect” As Well As “Direct”
    Competition and Solicitation

IV. Suits to Enforce Covenants and Other Related Litigation

    A. If injunctive Relief is Sought Plaintiff Must Move Promptly
    
    B. Beware of Demurrers
    
    C. Which Parties Should Be Sued and For What
    
    D. Even Without a Covenant Not to Compete, An Employer May Be
    Entitled to Enjoin a Former Employee From Competing

Authors

Susanne Harris Carnell

Thomas P. Murphy

John M. Bredehoft

Zachary A. Kitts

Stephen E. Robinson

James B. Thorsen

Jesse A. Roche

John E. Davidson

Sean M. Gibbons

Edward Lee Isler

Harris D. Butler

David R. Simonsen, Jr.

Nancy S. Lester

Linda Jackson

Burt H. Whitt

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