School desk with pencil and appleBy Christopher M. Cascino and Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

In Chicago Teachers Union, Local No. 1, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO v. Bd. of Educ. of the City of Chicago, Case No. 14-2843 (7th Cir. Aug. 7, 2015), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a district court decision we discussed previously here and certified the
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Again Limits Application Of The Wal-Mart Ruling And Certifies Chicago Teachers’ Discrimination Claims

money bagBy Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Jules Levenson

Defendants fighting class actions in the Seventh Circuit may have one less tool in their arsenal following the recent ruling in Chapman v. First Index, Inc., No. 14-2773, 2015 WL 4652878 (7th Cir. Aug. 6, 2015) [here], a putative class action arising from allegedly illegal junk faxes. Though
Continue Reading Whither Mootness? The Seventh Circuit Reverses Itself

imagesBy Pam Devata, John Drury, and Robert Szyba

On March 13, 2015, the Solicitor General of the United States filed an amicus brief opposing the petition for writ of certiorari filed in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, No. 13-1339 (U.S.). The Spokeo petition poses a question with a significant impact on the future scope of consumer and workplace-related

Continue Reading Solicitor General Opposes Supreme Court Review Of Whether A Plaintiff Has Standing Where There Is No Injury In Fact, But Only A Statutory Violation

By Christopher M. Cascino and Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

In EEOC v. Northern Star Hospitality, Inc., No. 14-1660, 2015 WL 353997 (7th Cir. Jan. 29, 2015), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that companies under common ownership can be liable as successor entities to companies that are incapable of paying judgments in federal employment actions
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Holds that EEOC Can Pursue Employers’ Other Businesses For Violations Of Federal Employment Law By Dissolved Entities

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

This morning the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Mach Mining v. EEOC.

Mach Mining v. EEOC may be one of the most important cases on EEOC litigation issues in years. The stakes are high for employers and workers alike (see pre-argument media reports here).

The precise issue the case presents is
Continue Reading U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument In Mach Mining v. EEOC

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

As our loyal blog readers know, we have followed the course of the Supreme Court proceedings in Mach Mining v. EEOC , No. 13-1019 (U.S.) with keen interest. Our prior posts are here, here, here, and here. Simply stated, this case has the potential to be a real game-changer for employers.

This afternoon Mach
Continue Reading Last Brief Filed Today With The SCOTUS in Mach Mining Case

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Rebecca Bjork

Yesterday evening the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed its Reply Brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Mach Mining v. EEOC, Case No. 13-1019. It draws the battle lines for the upcoming oral argument before the SCOTUS in January of 2015. Given the importance of this case and the issue presented,
Continue Reading The EEOC’s Most Important Brief Of The Year Filed With The U.S. Supreme Court – The Lines Are Drawn In The Mach Mining Appeal

By  Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Jennifer A. Riley

On July 2, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Seventh Circuit entered its opinion in IKO Roofing Shingle Products Liability Litigation, No. 14-1532 (7th Cir. July 2, 2014), and vacated a district court’s decision denying class certification.

A Seventh Circuit panel of Judges Wood, Easterbrook, and
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Marginalizes Comcast And Rules That “Common Damage” Is Not Required For Class Certification In Products Cases

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Jennifer A. Riley

This week, the EEOC responded to Mach Mining’s petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in EEOC v. Mach Mining, Case No. 13-1019 (U.S. May 29, 2014). Although the EEOC prevailed in the Seventh Circuit, it backed Mach Mining’s request for Supreme Court review to resolve
Continue Reading EEOC Urges U.S. Supreme Court To Affirm That Its Conciliation Efforts Are Not Reviewable

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Jennifer Riley

On January 23, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its decision in Scott v. Westlake Services LLC, No. 13-2699 (7th Cir. Jan. 23, 2014) and reversed a district court’s conclusion that an offer of judgment rendered Plaintiff’s claims moot in a class action lawsuit.

In
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Raises The Bar For “Mooting” Claims Through Offers Of Judgment