Feb 11, 2015
Ian Cooper has won an appeal in a discrimination case brought by a doctoral student against Southern Illinois University and three faculty members who served on his doctoral committee. In Novak v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, et al., the doctoral student claimed that he was discriminated against on the basis of a disability. After Ian defeated the student’s claims in the district court, the student appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the
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Jan 21, 2015
Ian Cooper and Mollie Hennessee have won the appeal in a whistleblower claim brought by two faculty members at Southern Illinois University Carbondale against another faculty member. The case, entitled Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, et al. v. Jones, was originally filed in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois. After defeating the plaintiffs”™ whistleblower claims in Circuit Court, Ian and Mollie won the appeal before the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District.
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Oct 25, 2013
Ian Cooper and Mollie Hennessee defeated the plaintiff’s motion for class certification in a reverse discrimination claim brought under the Missouri Human Rights Act. On October 24, 2013, the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, ruled in favor of the University of Missouri – Kansas City in Taylor v. Curators, et al., and denied plaintiff’s motion for certification of a class of 39 applicants to the position of police officer.
Tueth Keeney represents numerous public and private colleges
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Oct 5, 2013
Ian Cooper and Kate Nash obtained the dismissal of a suit brought by a candidate for the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University. On October 4, 2013, the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Illinois dismissed the plaintiff’s claims in Sharkey v. Board of Trustees, et al. Ian and Kate attacked the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court to hear Plaintiff’s claims for declaratory and injunctive relief.
Tueth Keeney represents numerous public and private colleges and universities and community
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Jan 10, 2013
Ian Cooper and Kate Nash have won the dismissal of a class action filed against the University of Missouri by Iraq war veterans claiming that the University denied them benefits under Missouri’s Returning Heroes”™ Act. On January 9, 2013, Judge Thomas Prebil dismissed the Plaintiffs”™ claims with prejudice in Dunn v. Curators of the University of Missouri, et al. Judge Prebil’s dismissal order is the second time Ian and Kate have defeated plaintiffs seeking class certification of
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Jan 4, 2013
On January 3, 2013, Arbitrator Thomas F. Gibbons issued a decision denying a grievance filed by the Roxana Education Association, IEA-NEA (the “REA”), and upholding a directive issued by the Roxana Community Unit School District No. 1. The REA filed its grievance on May 3, 2012, challenging the District’s requirement directing certified employees to work collaboratively in professional learning teams (“PLTs”) during a portion of their planning time. The AAA arbitration hearing was held in October, 2012. Following post
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Sep 21, 2012
On August 9, 2012, Arbitrator George L. Fitzsimmons issued a decision finding for the employer, Mid-State Special Education District, and denying a grievance filed by an employee of the District, and her union, the Illinois Education Association (IEA). The employee and the IEA filed a grievance in September 16, 2012, arguing that the District had improperly placed the employee on Step I of the salary schedule following her return to work after a one year absence, when the employee
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Aug 30, 2012
Ian Cooper and Amy Leech Clendennen won an appeal in the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Southern District for Missouri State University. The appellant, Dr. Mary Anne Jennings, claimed that the University breached its covenant of good faith and fair dealing against the University, and further argued that she was entitled to a declaratory judgment against the University. Ian and Amy prevailed at the trial court level and again on appeal. On August 27, 2012,
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Jul 28, 2012
In a case of significance to all institutions of higher education and employers generally, Ian Cooper won a victory on behalf of Southern Illinois University before the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit in the case Milligan vs. Southern Illinois University. In a 34-page, 2-1 decision, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the summary judgment that Ian and Kate Nash won before the district court. The Court held that the University’s response to the student/employee’s complaints of harassment was adequate
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Jul 6, 2012
Rob Jackstadt secured an Order from the federal court remanding a construction contract claim back to the state court on a case that was removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. In Edwardsville Comm. Unit District No.7 v. K & S Associates, Inc. the construction contract stated that “the parties agree that the forum for any judicial proceedings, if any, shall be the Madison County Circuit Court.” The defendant contractor, however, claimed
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Ian P. Cooper
Kate L. Nash
Robert L. Jackstadt