Continuing Legal Education at South Texas College of Law

 


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EMPLOYMENT LAW COURSE
Co-Sponsored with HR Houston
July 14-15, 2005
Houston, Texas

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Accredited by the State Bar of Texas MCLE Department for 14.75 MCLE hours, including 1.75 hour of legal ethics.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

8:00 REGISTRATION and Continental Breakfast

8:20 Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • James J. Alfini, Dean and President, South Texas College of Law - Houston
  • Professor Olga L. Moya, Director of CLE, South Texas College of Law - Houston

Morning Moderator:
Sharon M. Schweitzer, Attorney at Law
8:30 Fifth Circuit Update
It has been a busy year at the Federal Appeals Court covering Texas -- FMLA, ADA, ADEA and much more. Come hear how Texas employers fared in 2004-2005.
  • William C. Murley, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Dallas

9:00 Texas Law Update
Lots of employment action at the Texas Supreme Court and courts of appeal--non-competes, punitive damages and whistleblower claims. Hear what happened last year and what's on deck.
  • Professor Richard Carlson, South Texas College of Law - Houston

9:30 Morning Break

9:45 Managing Risk: ADR, Non-Subscriber, ELPI
(includes .25 hour of legal ethics)
Job No. 1 is to preserve and protect the company and its assets. This panel of experts tells you how to do just that.

Moderator:
  • Theresa M. Gegen, Ford & Harrison LLP - Dallas
Panelists:
  • John B. Gessner, Texas Wings, Inc. - Dallas
  • Thad Harkins, Harkins, Latimer & Dahl, P.C. - San Antonio
  • Carolyn A. Russell, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Houston

10:30 EEOC Confidential
The inner workings of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will no longer be a mystery.
  • Suzanne M. Anderson, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Dallas

11:15 Tips and Tactics in Mediation
(includes .25 hour of legal ethics)
We have all been there: mediation is either the biggest waste of time or the best use of it. Learn how to best utilize mediations.

Moderator:
  • Michael P. Maslanka, Ford & Harrison LLP - Dallas
Panelists:
  • Courtenay L. Bass, Burdin Mediations - Dallas
  • Charles D. Coleman, Raytheon Company - Dallas

11:50 Lunch Break (pick up lunch and return to the auditorium)

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Afternoon Moderator:
Suzanne M. Anderson, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
12:05 Lunch Presentation
EEOC Top Gun
The General Counsel is responsible for the Commission's enforcement litigation program. Come listen to him discuss how the program works, and notable recent cases and settlements.
  • Eric S. Dreiband, General Counsel, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Washington, D.C.

12:50 After Lunch Break

1:05 Religious Discrimination Update
Religious issues are permeating the workplace from prayer at work to hostile environments to reasonable accommodations.
  • Linda Ottinger Headley, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Houston

1:35 USERRA: New Rules, New Regulations
Military leave issues are at the forefront, as increasing numbers of employees perform military service and then seek reemployment. Come learn the proper protocol.
  • Vianei Lopez Robinson, The Robinson Law Firm - Abilene

2:10 Afternoon Break

2:25 Explaining Employee Benefits
Miscues in explaining employee benefits result in decreased morale and increased litigation. Learn how to avoid these problems.
  • Monte K. Hurst, Hermes Sargent Bates, L.L.P. - Dallas

2:55 Five Things the General Counsel Wants You to Know
All roads lead to the General Counsel's office: human resources, employee lawyers and firm lawyers. Hear it now or hear it later (now is better).
  • Marc W. Joseph, Haggar Clothing Co. - Dallas

3:25 D-Day Preparation for Executives and Human Resources Managers
(includes .25 hour of legal ethics)
It's coming and chances are it's coming soon...your deposition. Start to get ready now.

Moderator:
  • Michael P. Maslanka, Ford & Harrison LLP - Dallas
Panelists:
  • Mark J. Levine, Levine von Sternberg, P.C. - Houston
  • Maithilee K. Pathak-Sharma, Ph.D., J.D. RandD Strategic Solutions, LLC - Alpharetta, GA
  • Lisa H. Pennington, Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P. - Houston

4:25 Adjourn to Reception

Please join us at a welcoming reception honoring
Eric S. Dreiband
General Counsel, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Thursday, July 14, 2005
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Emilie Slohm Room - 6th floor of the Fred Parks Law Library
R.S.V.P. to Linda Roberts at lroberts@stcl.edu or (713) 646-1759


Thank You Reception Sponsors

Platinum Level Sponsors
Texas Employment Law Letter
Vinson & Elkins LLP

Gold Level Sponsors
Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P.
Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC
Drive Financial Services
Ford & Harrison LLP
HR Houston
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP



Total MCLE hours for Thursday = 7 hours, including .75 hour of legal ethics

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Friday, July 15, 2005

7:30 Continental Breakfast                    

Morning Moderator:
Timothy M. Watson, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
8:00 Managing Risk: Policies and Procedures
(includes .25 hour of legal ethics)
Without knowing the latest in policies and procedures, you and your company are exposed. Don't get blindsided.

Moderator:
  • Burton D. Brillhart, Drive Financial Services - Dallas
Panelists:
  • Joseph Y. Ahmad, Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Anaipakos, P.C. - Houston
  • Linda Norton Wendt, Taco Bueno - Carrollton
  • J. Craig Smith, Drive Financial Services - Dallas

9:00 The Five Keys to Employment Contracts
More employment contracts, less at-will employment. Learn the new language.
  • Barbara J. Gardner, Tucker, Vaughan, Gardner & Barnes, P.C. - Houston

9:30 FMLA: The New Regulations
Do the new regulations and recent cases clear up the headache that is the FMLA? Come get some aspirin.
  • Katrina Grider, Katrina Grider & Associates - Houston

10:15 Morning Break

10:30 Same Sex Harassment Claims
These claims are undergoing an identity crisis. Clear up the confusion and get clarity.
  • Cookie F. Munson, J Bar B Foods - Waelder

11:15 ADA: Handling the Request for Accommodation
Get the latest on this daily front line issue.
  • Mark J. Oberti, Seyfarth Shaw LLP - Houston

12:00 Lunch Break (pick up lunch and return to the auditorium)

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Afternoon Moderator:
Thomas M. Anderson, Fort Bend County
12:15 Lunch Presentation
You the Jury (Video)
The Trial of an ADA Case
Watch this video of a trial, gauge the facts, hear the evidence and jury deliberations and analyze the verdict.
  • John Monroe, Ford & Harrison LLP - Atlanta, GA

12:50 After Lunch Break

1:05 Verdict Discussion
(includes .25 hour of legal ethics)
Get insight from a nationally renowned jury consultant. You'll never look at a case the same way again.
  • Maitilee K. Pathak-Sharma, Ph.D., J.D. RandD Strategic Solutions, LLC - Alpharetta, GA

1:50 Immigration: The Five What Ifs
Hear the answers to five critical immigration scenarios.
  • Marshall M. Taheri, Law Office of Marshall M. Taheri - Houston

2:20 Mastering Overtime Issues
The FSLA has little margin for error. An outdated policy, an incorrect interpretation, or a false assumption mean huge dollar liabilities. Get informed.
  • Mark R. Flora, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC - Austin

2:50 Afternoon Break

3:00 Personal Issues in the Workplace
When an employee's private life becomes your business.
  • Ashlee Mann Ligarde, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC - Austin

3:30 Mistakes Were Made
(includes .5 hour of legal ethics)
A practical guide from the editor of the Texas Employment Law Letter and "Work Matters" columnist for Texas Lawyer on what to do if you may have violated the law.
  • Michael P. Maslanka, Ford & Harrison LLP - Dallas

4:15 Recognizing Retaliation: Nail It Before It Nails You
Like an iceberg, the most dangerous part is what you don't see. Don't get sunk.
  • Berna L. Rhodes-Ford, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Dallas

4:45 Door Prize Give-aways

4:50 Adjourn

Total MCLE hours for Friday = 7.75 hours, including 1 hour of legal ethics

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For Questions regarding Continuing Legal Education, Email: ksmith@stcl.edu