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State Court Rules: Illinois Pension Law Unconstitutional

A Sangamon County Circuit Court judge in In re: Pension Litigation, found that Illinois’ pension reform law, Public Act 98-059, is unconstitutional. The Court held that the pension reform law "diminished" retiree benefits in violation of Article XIII, Section 5 of the Illinois Constitution, which unambiguously prohibits the diminishment of retiree benefits. The Court ruled agains the State on the affirmative defense claims that it could diminish benefits despite the Article XIII of the Constitution based upon the State’s “reserved...

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Caffarelli & Associates Ltd. is Open for Business!

On November 1, 2014, Caffarelli & Associates Ltd. moved to new offices at 224 South Michigan Avenue and opened for business. The firm's location is accessible by public transportation, including Michigan Avenue buses, the red line, the blue line, and all loop trains. If driving from lakeshore drive, exit on congress and turn north onto Michigan Avenue to enter the grant park south garage. If driving from the expressways, exit on Congress, turn north on Michigan Avenue, and enter the...

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Amendment to IHRA Requiring Accommodations for Pregnant Employees Moves to Senate

Earlier this month, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a measure intended to provide additional protections for pregnant employees. If passed, HB 8 will amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to require that employers provide employees reasonable accommodations relating to pregnancy and childbirth. As with the reasonable accommodations already required under the IHRA and the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer may be excused from providing reasonable accommodations where doing so would impose an undue hardship. As the law currently...

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Limitations on Criminal History Inquires for San Francisco Employers

Effective August 13, 2014, the Fair Chance Ordinance restricts the ability of private San Francisco employers with 20 or more employees to inquire about and consider criminal history information for employment purposes. The Ordinance’s protections apply to applicants or employees whose place of employment is entirely or substantially located in San Francisco. The Ordinance prohibits covered employers from making any inquiry regarding criminal history until after an initial job interview. The Ordinance specifically prohibits “check the box” type questions, which...

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Lorrie T. Peeters is Recognized by California Super Lawyers

Lorrie T. Peeters has been recognized by California Super Lawyers in the 2014 publication. Although she was recognized as an Illinois Rising Star in 2013, this is the first year that Ms. Peeters has been recognized as a California Rising Star by the publication. Super Lawyers selects its attorneys from more than 70 practice areas, through a multiphase process involving peer recognition and professional achievement. Intended to aid attorneys and consumers in identifying excellent counsel, Super Lawyers is well known...

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Department of Labor Proposes Rule Change to Expand FMLA Coverage for Same Sex Spouses

On June 20, 2014, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez announced a proposed rule that would extend FMLA protections to otherwise eligible employees in same-sex marriages living in states that do not recognize such marriages. Presently, the FMLA’s definition of “spouse” only covers same-sex spouses living in states that recognize same-sex marriage. Under the proposed amendment, an individual in a legal same-sex marriage would be entitled to FMLA benefits even while living in a state that does not recognize same-sex marriage....

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General Assembly Unanimously Passes HB8 Amending the Illinois Human Rights Act

On May 28, 2014, the Illinois General Assembly unanimously passed new amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act. The new amendments will require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and related medical conditions. That being said, an employer may not require an employee to accept an accommodation she did not request, or require her to take a leave of absence if another accommodation is possible that would allow her to continue working. Additionally, the amendments expand the scope of...

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