Updated Strategies to Avoid and Defend Americans With Disabilities Act Claims
***New Law Effective Jan. 1, 2009***
CD of Teleconference with Q&A
Click here for program outline
Conducted on Thursday, November 13, 2008
Now available on CD
Sponsored by the Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications
Employment Law Teleconference Advisory Board
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, effective Jan. 1, 2009, creates new challenges for employers defending discrimination claims by broadening the definition of “disability.” The Amendments specifically reject prior U.S. Supreme Court decisions limiting the conditions that qualify as disabilities.
The new Act is likely to spur increased requests by employees for disability-based accommodations and lead to a rise in discrimination claims. ADA violations expose employers to EEOC enforcement actions, private lawsuits, substantial damages and attorneys’ fees.
To minimize liability exposure in a more employee-friendly business environment, counsel for employers should develop effective strategies for responding to accommodation requests and defending against discrimination claims.
Listen as our panel of employment law attorneys explains the key changes in the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, outlines an employer’s legal obligations when an employee requests an accommodation and offers strategies for avoiding and defending against disability claims.
The panel for this legal event included:
Gayla Crain, Shareholder, Spencer Crain Cubbage Healy & McNamara, Dallas. She counsels and represents public employers and companies in all aspects of labor and employment law. She has extensive experience before courts, administrative agencies and arbitration tribunals. She previously served as counsel for Trailways Corporation and Schering Plough Corporation.
Stephen E. Fox, Principal, Fish & Richardson, Dallas. He focuses on employment litigation and proactive human resources counseling regarding employment discrimination and wrongful termination. He has tried cases before courts, arbitrators and the EEOC.
Joyce Walker-Jones, Senior Attorney Advisor, ADA Policy Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington, D.C. She drafts Commission guidance, conducts training, and provides technical assistance to the federal government, employers and employees, and human resources managers on Title I of the ADA.
The panel reviewed these and other key questions:
- How will the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 alter the landscape for employers defending discrimination claims?
- What are employers' responsibilities for providing "reasonable accommodations" to an employee claiming a disability under the new law?
- What best practices can employers implement to ensure compliance with the new Act?
TELECONFERENCE CD
Purchase a CD-ROM of the full conference proceedings, including Q&A and PDF files of all handouts (available 10 days after the program).
- Regular Price - $297 (plus $9.45 S&H)
- With Teleconference Registration – an additional $75 (plus $9.45 S&H)
CLE credit is available for an additional $65 each for attorneys seeking CLE credits for NY or CT.
Other states may grant CLE credits for listening to this CD - check with your state about applying for self-study credit on CD-listening.
Click here for program outline