Law Alerts

Robbins Schwartz has pioneered defining the practice of education law as a singular discipline. As we continue to expand our services, we stay involved in the ongoing development and evolution of the law.

Law Alerts

Does Your Employee Handbook or Policy Manual Create a Right to Continued Employment?

In a recent decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals found that a right to continued employment following completion of a probationary period cannot be inferred from silence in an…

No Secret Balloting by Members of a Public Body

On May 13, 2013, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) issued a binding opinion that the use of secret ballots by public bodies violates the Illinois Open Meetings…

Employer Could Skip ADA Interactive Accommodation Process with Employee Who Could Not Show She Could Regularly Come to Work

In Badsen v. Professional Transportation, Inc, (May 8, 2013). the Seventh Circuit ruled that the District Court correctly concluded that plaintiff, Badsen’s, discharge was not disability discrimination, even though the employer,…

Teacher’s Inappropriate Facebook Post Warranted a Two Year Unpaid Suspension, but Not Discharge

On May 7, 2013, the New York Appellate Court ruled that the lower court had correctly reversed the discharge of a tenured teacher, Ms. Rubino, who had an otherwise unblemished…

Illinois Supreme Court Determines Arbitration Award Ordering Reinstatement of a Paraprofessional was Binding Because the Award “Drew Its Essence” from the CBA

Analyzing the scope and enforceability of an arbitration award, the Illinois Supreme Court in Griggsville-Perry Unit School Dist. No. 4 v. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Bd., et al., 2013 IL…

Department of Labor Issues Updated FMLA Forms and Poster

The United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) has updated many of its model FMLA forms and its FMLA poster to reflect its recently issued rules which implement and interpret the…

Department of Labor Final Rule Expands Employees’ Entitlement to Military Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act

On February 6, 2013, the United States Department of Labor issued a Final Rule implementing the amendments to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the National Defense Authorization Act of…

DOL Issues New Administrator’s Interpretation of Family and Medical Leave Act Leave to Care for a Disabled Adult Child

On January 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an Administrator’s Interpretation clarifying several aspects of the FMLA’s application to FMLA leave taken by an employee to take care of an…

OCR Reminds Districts That They must Provide Disabled Students with Equal Opportunities in Athletics

On January 25, 2013 the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reminding public school districts of their existing obligation to provide disabled…

Amendment to the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act Allows Governmental Units to Conduct Joint Purchases by Competitive Solicitation

The Governmental Joint Purchasing Act[1] (the “Act”) was amended in late 2012 by Public Act 97-895, and it now allows joint purchases with in-state or out-of-state cooperatives to be conducted by competitive…