May 2017 Government Lawyers Newsletter

By Emily Vivian

On Friday, June 16, Lynn Patton and Kathryn (“Kate”) Kelly, co-editors of this newsletter, will receive the 2017 Austin Fleming Newsletter Editors Award.

By Barbara Goeben

This year, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an opinion in Bd. of Educ. of Springfield Sch. Dist. No. 186 v. Attorney Gen. of Illinois, affirming the lower court’s reversal of the Attorney General’s conclusion that the Springfield School Board violated the Open Meetings Act.

By Kilby Macfadden

Some practice pointers to help you navigate the world of government practice with confidence.

By John R. Schleppenbach

Though internal investigators should still take pains to avoid the appearance that they are threatening public employees with sanctions should they decline to cooperate with an investigation, the Eleventh Circuit has now provided a blueprint for investigators to obtain a waiver and use an employee’s statement even if such threats are made.

By Rex Gradeless

On March 13, 2017, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s decision because of a missing comma. This missing comma created a significant-enough ambiguity within Maine’s overtime wage law leading to the reversal. The remanded matter may cost a Maine dairy company $10 million in overtime wages to its employees.

By Pat Lord

In response to the extraordinary events that have taken place since President Trump took office, counties, cities, and villages across the country are evaluating whether to take official action to designate themselves as a Sanctuary City and wondering if they do whether they’ll lose federal funding.