Ricci v. DeStefano: Balancing Title VII Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact

Leveraging the Supreme Court's Guidance on Employment Testing and its Impact on Voluntary Compliance Actions

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


Conducted on Thursday, July 30, 2009
Recorded event now available


This seminar will analyze the Supreme Court's ruling in Ricci v. DeStefano and its impact on employers’ use of employment-related tests and other voluntary compliance programs. The panel will also discuss the burden of proof in future disparate impact or reverse discrimination lawsuits.

Description

In Ricci v. DeStefano, a controversial reverse discrimination case involving promotion tests, the Supreme Court held that the employer lacked a strong basis in evidence to support refusing to certify test results to avoid potential disparate impact liability.

The Court ruled that mere fear of a disparate impact lawsuit is insufficient to justify a discriminatory employment action that is race based. However, the Court refused to issue a bright-line test for employers facing employment actions with a clear disparate impact.

The decision does provide guidance for employers and their counsel with regard to voluntary compliance actions that risk a disparate treatment lawsuit, though it does not fully resolve the uncertainties employers face in reconciling their conflicting obligations under Title VII.

Listen as our authoritative panel of employment attorneys analyzes this landmark ruling and its impact on employment-related tests and other voluntary compliance measures.

Outline

  1. Analysis of Supreme Court’s ruling
  2. Impact of ruling on employment standards and voluntary compliance programs
    1. Use of employment tests
    2. Other employment standards
    3. Reductions in force
    4. Affirmative action plans
    5. Diversity plans
  3. Impact of decision on future litigation
    1. Employer’s burden of proof for disparate impact cases
    2. Standards for motion for summary judgment
    3. Steps to reduce risk of litigation

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • Is the Court's ruling limited to employment-related tests or does it have a broader application to other employment decisions?
  • Does the Ricci decision change the burden of proof in disparate impact cases?
  • What steps should employers take with respect to existing or future employment-related tests and voluntary compliance measures in light of the Supreme Court's decision?

Faculty

Teresa R. Tracy, Partner
Berger Kahn, Los Angeles

She represents companies nationwide in wrongful termination litigation, discrimination claims, wage and hour claims, class and collective action litigation, affirmative action, union organizing campaigns, grievances, arbitrations and collective bargaining. She stresses a preventive approach that allows management as much latitude as possible in employee relations while avoiding unnecessary litigation.

William D. Deveney, Partner
Elarbee Thompson Sapp & Wilson, Atlanta

His practice focuses on defense of employment-related claims and he provides employment-related training and proactive counseling on effective employment policies and day-to-day employment matters to a variety of industrial, commercial and retail employers. He provides advice and counseling to general counsel and corporate legal departments regarding best practices, as well as litigation avoidance.

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.
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Online CLE Audio $149.00
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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.)

MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

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CD $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Program Materials

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Program Materials

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Customer Reviews

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

Julia Szadkowski

Equifax Canada Inc.

Another great job by Strafford!

Jessica Brown

Gibson Dunn

The subject matter presented was very relevant to my practice.

Nineveh Alkhas

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg

Content was superb.

Patrick Webb

Webb & Carey

All of the speakers were very informative, and being able to ask questions was very helpful.

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Jackson Walker

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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

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