Mixed-Motive Defense in Employment Discrimination Cases

Leveraging the Defense Amid Differing Circuit Court Standards

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Thursday, March 22, 2012
Recorded event now available


This CLE webinar will review how the mixed-motive defense is being applied in discrimination cases and discuss practical implications relating to claims under Title VII, the ADA, the FMLA and other federal discrimination and retaliation laws.

Description

Differing circuit court standards and an increase in employee-friendly court rulings on the standard of proof that should be applied in mixed-motive discrimination cases are creating confusion for employment counsel defending claims.

This confusion only intensified after the 2009 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, Gross v. FBL Financial Services, in which the Court ruled that the mixed-motive analysis is not available in cases under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Although the Gross ruling dealt specifically with discrimination cases under the ADEA, its fallout may significantly impact discrimination cases under other federal discrimination laws.

Listen as our authoritative panel of employment litigators analyzes recent legal developments in the application of the mixed-motive defense in discrimination cases. The panel will review how the courts have applied the Gross holding and discuss practical implications for employment counsel defending claims under Title VII, the ADA, the FMLA and other federal discrimination and retaliation laws.

Outline

  1. Mixed-motive case—definition
  2. Raising the mixed-motive cause of action or defense
    1. At pleading stage
    2. At summary judgment
    3. At trial
  3. Relevant case law and implications for employment litigation
    1. Gross v. FBL Financial Services
    2. Application of Gross in ADA cases
    3. Application of Gross in FMLA cases
    4. Application of Gross in Title VII retaliation cases

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • What is the mixed-motive defense and when does it typically arise in employment cases?
  • How have lower courts applied the Gross decision when deciding whether the mixed-motive standard is applicable in discrimination and retaliation cases?
  • How can employers' counsel successfully defend mixed-motive cases in light of recent differing rulings in these types of cases?

Faculty

Wayne Schrader, Partner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Washington, D.C.

He has defended high-exposure employment and financial product or consumer class action cases. He has considerable experience with the trial and handling of various employment-related claims including wage and hour, hostile environment, wrongful termination, retaliation, race, age and sex discrimination and ERISA claims.

Karen Sutherland, Member
Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C., Seattle

She is the Chair of the firm's Employment & Labor practice area. Her employment law experience includes representing cities, counties and private employers regarding all kinds of workplace issues, such as alleged violations of federal and Washington state sex, age and disability discrimination law. She is a frequent lecturer, author and business advisor on discrimination issues.

Melissa E. Pierre-Louis,
Outten & Golden, New York

She represents employees in litigation and negotiation in all areas of employment law, including individual and class discrimination cases and wage and hour class actions. She previously worked as a public interest fellow at Beldock, Levine & Hoffman LLP, where she focused primarily on labor and employment matters.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $297.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?


Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)

Webinar Download (Slide Presentation with Audio) $297.00
Available three business days after the live event

How does this work?

DVD (Slide Presentation with Audio) $297.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio with Slide PDFs) $297.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

CD (Audio with Slide PDFs) $297.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

Strafford webinars/teleconferences offer several options for participation: online viewing of speaker-controlled PowerPoint presentations with audio via computer speakers or via phone; or audio only via telephone (download speaker handouts prior to the program).  Please note that our webinars do not feature videos of the presenters.

Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

or call 1-800-926-7926

Can't Attend the Live Program?

CLE Credit

Strafford's live seminars qualify for CLE in every state that accredits webinars. They offer you a high quality, cost effective, and convenient CLE option, with no lost travel time or expenses.

More Details >

or call 1-800-926-7926

Customer Reviews

Another great job by Strafford!

Jessica Brown

Gibson Dunn

The subject matter presented was very relevant to my practice.

Nineveh Alkhas

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg

The seminar was very well-organized, managed excellently and informative.

Julia Szadkowski

Equifax Canada Inc.

This was my first experience with an interactive CLE.  It was good not to have to leave my office for the program.

Patricia Hays

Vestcom International

The presentation was not too long, but included a great deal of information. The speakers kept to their times and provided an opportunity for questions at the end.

Amy E. McShane

Phillips Lytle LLP

or call 1-800-926-7926

Employment & ERISA Advisory Board

Barbara E. Hoey

Partner

Littler Mendelson

Jeffrey Hollingsworth

Partner

Perkins Coie

Marcia Nelson Jackson

Partner

Wick Phillips

Paul J. Kennedy

Shareholder

Littler Mendelson

Laura Foote Reiff

Shareholder

Greenberg Traurig

Eugene Scalia

Partner

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

Teresa R. Tracy

Partner

Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane

Todd D. Wozniak

Shareholder

Greenberg Traurig

or call 1-800-926-7926

Our Guarantee

Strafford webinars and teleconferences are backed by our 100% Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee: if you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. For more information regarding complaints and refunds, please contact us at 1-800-926-7926 ext 10.