California's New Procedure for Investigating and Litigating Employment Discrimination Claims
Defending Complaints and Avoiding Liability: A Conversation With California's DFEH Director
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will provide guidance to employment law attorneys for navigating California's newly expanded substantive and procedural laws for investigating and litigating employment discrimination claims. The panel will discuss best practices for avoiding liability and defending discrimination complaints.
Outline
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Major differences between California and federal discrimination laws
- California Family Rights Act
- Pregnancy disability leave
- Disability
- Religious discrimination
- Gender-related discrimination
- Remedies available
- The new Fair Employment and Housing Council and its role
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The new DFEH prosecution procedures
- Investigatory procedures
- Civil litigation procedures
- New remedies available to the DFEH
- The Fair Employment and Housing Enforcement and Litigation Fund
- Impact on pending complaints and accusations
- Looking ahead: litigating against the DFEH in court
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Preventive practice pointers
- Anticipate regulatory changes
- Evaluate settlement options and consequences
- Review and evaluate pending cases
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- What do employers need to do to comply with California’s newly expanded non-discrimination laws?
- If a discrimination complaint is filed, how can employers and their counsel most effectively limit their liability?
- What are the critical decision-making points in the new process, and what are the consequences of various decisions?
Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.
Faculty

Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq.
Director
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
She was appointed Director of the DFEH in January 2008. The DFEH is the largest state civil rights agency in the... | Read More
She was appointed Director of the DFEH in January 2008. The DFEH is the largest state civil rights agency in the nation. It enforces the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Unruh Civil Rights Act, Disabled Persons Act, and Ralph Civil Rights Act. Under her direction, the DFEH has been transformed into a proactive and innovative agency and its civil rights mission has flourished.
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Teresa R. Tracy
Principal
Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane
Ms. Tracy chairs the firm's Labor and Employment Group. She counsels and represents employers in all areas of labor... | Read More
Ms. Tracy chairs the firm's Labor and Employment Group. She counsels and represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law and litigation. She has litigated before state and federal courts throughout the country, the EEOC, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and other state departments of civil rights, as well as numerous federal agencies.
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