Articles From Michael R. Lied

The unusual case—Plaintiff is stuck with defendant’s attorney fees By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, October 2011 A summary of the recent case of Matthews v. Wisconsin Energy Corporation, Inc.
Executive fired for false cause obtains multimillion defamation award By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, July 2011 In the case of Leyshon v. Diehl Controls North America, Inc., the Illinois appellate court upheld significant compensatory and punitive damages.
The Illinois Civil Union Act and employer-provided health insurance By Michael R. Lied & Michael J. Powers Labor and Employment Law, July 2011 Effective June 1, 2011, unmarried adult partners can enter into a civil union in the State of Illinois by virtue of the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.
OSHA holds general contractor responsible for exposing subcontractor’s employees to hazards By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, June 2011 A summary of the case of Secretary of Labor v. Summit Contractors, Inc.
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Employer cannot terminate employee based on conflict between independent medical examination and employee’s doctor By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, May 2011 In Grabs, et al. v. Safeway, Inc., et al., the appellate court concluded that when an employer is faced with conflicting medical opinions from the employee’s doctor and the employer’s Independent Medical Examiner, it may not rely solely on the IME report in terminating an employee for failing to return to work.
Plaintiff’s uncorroborated testimony wards off summary judgment By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, March 2011 If based on personal knowledge or experience, uncorroborated testimony can create disputed material facts. Courts at summary judgment stage should not weigh the evidence or determine the credibility of the testimony; those tasks are for the fact finder.
Appeals court nixes jury’s $1 million-plus jury verdict By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, February 2011 A look at the recent case of Casanova v. American Airlines, Inc.
Fitness-For-Duty exams upheld By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, February 2011 As the recent cases of Brownfield v. City of Yakima, Washington and Wisbey v. City of Lincoln, Nebraska demonstrate, it may be easier to justify such exams in law enforcement-related occupations.
Prevailing Wage Act bites contractor By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, February 2011 The Illinois Department of Labor determined that a construction project constituted a public works project subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, and the subcontractor's employees had not been paid the prevailing wage.
USCIS changes filing requirements for immigrant foreign religious workers By Michael R. Lied International and Immigration Law, December 2010 Up to 5,000 special immigrant visas may be granted to religious workers each year. This visa is available for (1) ministers, (2) religious workers in a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation and (3) religious workers in a religious vocation or occupation as defined in the statute.
Attorney’s fee seldom will be greater than lodestar By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, October 2010 Despite superior performance and results, lawyers in most cases will not be awarded increased attorney fees.
Court authorizes employee-by-employee safety penalties By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, October 2010 Recent changes to OSHA clarify that an employer who fails to provide its employees with respirators or workplace training faces not just one violation, but violations for each employee affected.
Plaintiffs strike out in bids for remand in Class Action Fairness Act cases By Michael R. Lied Federal Civil Practice, September 2010 Summaries of the recent cases of Cunningham Charter Corporation v. Learjet, Inc. and In re: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co.
Employer’s media policy violates labor law By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, July 2010 An examination of Trump Marina Associates, LLC, in which an employer was found to have violated the National Labor Relations Act by maintaining and enforcing unlawfully broad rules regarding employees and their dealings with the media.
Courts dismiss complaints for failure to state a claim By Michael R. Lied Federal Civil Practice, June 2010 Courts in the Seventh Circuit are now regularly being asked to dismiss complaints under the new pleading standards.
Court upholds bonus forfeiture for going to work for competitor By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, April 2010 This decision provides employers in Illinois a possible way to discourage employees from going into competition without the need to seek enforcement of a noncompete agreement.
Return-to-work evaluation is medical exam under ADA By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, April 2010 Employers intending to use a return-to-work examination must determine whether the EEOC's seven factors suggest that the examination is in fact a medical examination. If so, the examination must be justified as job related, and backed by business necessity.
The hiring process—Legal considerations By Michael R. Lied Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, March 2010 Some highlights of the law of hiring and employment-- A must-read for any attorney who is also an employer.
Common-law tort and federal anti-discrimination claims not preempted by Illinois Human Rights Act By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, January 2010 The Illinois Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the appellate court, and remanded to the appellate court to consider defendant’s other claims of error. 
Is the “Legitimate Business Interest” test coming to an end? By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, January 2010 It remains to be seen whether other courts in Illinois will begin to follow the reasoning of Sunbelt Rentals when asked to enforce a restrictive covenant.
Union indemnifies employer for pension withdrawal liability By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, January 2010 Pittsburgh Mack Sales & Service, Inc. v. International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 66, 580 F.3d 185 (3d Cir. 2990) involved the unusual situation in which a union agreed to partially indemnify the employer for pension contributions.
Editor’s note By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, December 2009 In October 2009, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010. Under the NDAA, qualifying “exigency leave” now allows an eligible employee to take leave for a qualifying exigency related to the deployment of a son/daughter or parent who is a member of a regular component of the armed forces.
Reference release overcomes tortious interference claim By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, December 2009 Under Illinois law, if a written release is clear and unambiguous, the court determines the parties’ intent from the plain language of the document. 
Apprenticeship loan not dischargeable in bankruptcy By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, September 2009 Michael Kesler was undoubtedly surprised that he could not discharge a union apprenticeship program loan in bankruptcy court.
Criminal prosecution under the Occupational Safety and Health Act By MIchael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, September 2009 Employers do not typically think about the possibility of criminal liability under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. However, Section 17(e) of the Act punishes any employer convicted of willfully violating any standard, rule, order or regulation prescribed pursuant to the Act, if that violation caused an employee’s death. 
Editor’s note By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, September 2009 In St. Aubin v. Unilever HPC NA, Civil Action No. 09 C 1874 (N.D. Ill. June 26, 2009), the court considered the applicability of Pyett.
Federal labor law preempts Illinois antitrust claim By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, September 2009 A summary of the case of Smart v. Local 702 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Borrowed employee has retaliatory discharge claim By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, June 2009 In a case of first impression, the Illinois Appellate Court determined that an employee of a staffing company could sue the company’s customer for retaliatory discharge.
Discharge for misconduct cuts off temporary total disability benefits By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, May 2009 A summary of the case of Interstate Scaffolding, Inc. v. The Workers’ Compensation Commission, et al.
“Last chance” agreement fails to bar retaliation claim By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, May 2009 Last chance agreements are relatively common in unionized work settings.

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