Defending Workplace Class Actions: Recent Cases, Arbitration Claims, Wage and Hour, Breach of Contract Claims

Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
- work Practice Area
Employment and Workers Comp
- event Date
Thursday, May 26, 2022
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
-
This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
This CLE webinar will discuss significant developments in defending workplace class action litigation in the areas of settlement, arbitration, certification, and the effect of government enforcement. The panel will analyze class action and collective action rulings involving claims brought against employers in all 50 states, including decisions pertaining to employment laws, wage and hour laws, and breach of employment contract actions. The panel will review significant developments from 2021 and suggest what to expect in 2022 and beyond.
Faculty

Mr. Maatman has nearly four decades of experience practicing law and has defended some of the most significant bet-the-company cases ever filed against corporate America. He has represented companies, executive teams and boards across the country in class action litigation, ranging in size from thousands to hundreds of thousands of claims by employees. Among Mr. Maatman's accomplishments, he defended and defeated the largest systemic enforcement action ever brought in the history of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the first Attorney General prosecution of a Wall Street company for workplace discrimination and harassment, and the largest wage and hour class and collective actions ever brought in Florida and New York. While he is known to be a fierce litigator, Mr. Maatman also helps his clients anticipate large-scale litigation risks before they happen to prevent issues that could turn into litigation. Mr. Maatman pioneered the process of conducting employment-practices audits to assist employers in structuring effective and practical personnel policies and protocols. He also writes and lectures extensively on class action and employment litigation topics. Mr. Maatman has authored six books on employment law topics and has spoken to employer groups throughout the United States, as well as in Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Ms. Riley has defended companies faced with significant complex litigation matters for more than two decades. She regularly defends companies facing class actions, collective actions, pattern or practice lawsuits, and other types of representative proceedings, ranging in size from dozens to tens of thousands of claims. Ms. Riley has represented clients facing bet-the-company cases in a wide range of complex civil litigation matters in federal and state courts across the country. She also provides counsel to employers seeking to navigate thorny issues, including investigations, compliance, and terminations. Ms. Riley is a regular speaker, author, and presenter regarding class action issues, legal developments, and challenges that companies may face in the future.
Description
Over the past decade, workplace class action litigation has exploded in prevalence and complexity. For defendants, an adverse verdict could be catastrophic. Settlements create the risk of copy-cat suits, defending claims risks damage to the brand, and rules and regulations have taken a U-turn away from the prior pro-business approach. As a result, managing and combating workplace class action threats requires an evolving and strategic approach.
The influence of arbitration programs greatly affects the types of claims filed as plaintiffs seek to avoid arbitration requirements. Recent legislation bars arbitration of sexual assault or sexual harassment claims when brought against an employer. The future remains anything but clear as to whether arbitration programs will remain viable tools to counter proposed workplace class actions.
Listen as this experienced panel of defense counsel guides practitioners through the thicket of class action and collective action decisions to enable counsel to make sound and informed litigation decisions in this area.
Outline
- Trends in workplace class actions
- Significant settlements in 2021
- Government enforcement litigation trends
- Class certification trends in ERISA and employment discrimination litigation
- Wage and hour litigation trends
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- How has Biden administration policy and COVID-19 affected workplace class action claims?
- What are the notable trends emerging in workplace class actions?
- What are effective strategies for settlement of workplace class actions?
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