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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May 25, 2012
Kate Nash and Ian Cooper were featured speakers at the Missouri Community College Association’s annual meeting on May 24, 2012. Ian and Kate were invited to provide a legal update to the Associaiton focusing on First Amendment issues on community college capuses, including student organizations and expressive association, employee speech, and political speech on campus. Ian Cooper is a founding Shareholder of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Prior to founding the
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Jan 31, 2012
Ian Cooper and Kate Nash recently prevailed in a trial for Washington University against the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. The University filed an action in the Circuit Court of Cole County challenging the jurisdiction of the MCHR over a former student’s discrimination and retaliation claims. The University asserted that the MCHR lacked jurisdiction over the student’s Complaint of Discriminiation because the University’s academic program was not a “place of public accommodation” under the Missouri Human Rights Act.
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Jan 4, 2012
Ian Cooper and John Reynolds won summary judgment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in Erlandson v. ConocoPhillips. The plaintiff claimed that he and other members of a putative class were not paid “retention bonuses” plaintiff valued in the millions of dollars following the merger between ConocoPhillips and Burlington Resources. On January 3, 2012, after previously denying Plaintiff’s request for class certification, Judge David Herndon denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and
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Dec 6, 2011
Ian Cooper and Kate Nash won dismissal of a putative class action entitled Dunn v. Board of Regents filed in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County against several Missouri public universities, including the University of Missouri. The plaintiffs claimed that they were not provided the full tuition reduction benefits provided for in the Missouri Returning Heroes”™ Act. Ian and Kate successfully argued that the plaintiffs”™ claims lacked any merit and, on December 5, 2011, Judge Ellen Levy
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Nov 18, 2011
Melanie Gurley Keeney and Ian Cooper were featured speakers at a meeting on November 17, 2011, of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Ian and Melanie covered Key Decisions in Defending Employment Claims and focused on best practices for avoiding litigation, key decisions that impact trials of employment claims, and proper handling of the investigations and related matters. Melanie Keeney practices in the areas of Employment, Immigration, and Education
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Dec 22, 2010
Melanie Keeney, Ian Cooper, and Celynda Brasher have been selected to the 2011 Missouri Super Lawyers. Melanie was also recognized as one of the top 50 female lawyers in the state of Missouri by Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Melanie was selected in Immigration Law, Ian was selected in Employment Litigation
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Nov 4, 2009
Tueth Keeney shareholder Ian Cooper recently argued the case of Keveney v. Missouri Military Academy before the Missouri Supreme Court on November 4, 2009. The appeal involves a legal issue of interest to almost all employers in the state of Missouri: whether or not an employee with an employment contract may sue for wrongful discharge and seek tort damages, such as emotional distress and punitive damages. The case has important implications for a large number of Missouri employers
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Oct 15, 2009
Firm shareholders Melanie Keeney and Ian Cooper were the featured speakers at a meeting of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) on October 15, 2009. Melanie provided ACC members with an update on important new compliance and liability issues regarding immigration law, including E-Verify, federal contracting rules, and I-9 compliance. Ian presented an update on recent cases under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) including expanding individual supervisor liability, sexual harassment liability, association
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Sep 3, 2009
Ian Cooper and Laura Hemmer recently won an important victory for Jefferson College. In Jones v. Jefferson College, a former faculty member claimed that the College discriminated against him on the basis of age (the employee was 60) when it decided not to renew his appointment. The faculty member brought his age discrimination claim in state court under the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”). The trial court accepted the legal arguments Ian and Laura submitted on behalf of the College,
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Ian P. Cooper
Kate L. Nash
John M. Reynolds
Melanie Gurley Keeney
Celynda L. Brasher
Laura E. Hemmer