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Summary Judgment Motions in Employment Discrimination Cases: Procedural and Substantive Strategies

Pursuing or Defending Against Motions for Summary Judgment; Assessing Impact of Summary Judgment on Trial and Settlement Strategy

A live 90-minute CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

1:00pm-2:30pm EDT, 10:00am-11:30am PDT

Early Registration Discount Deadline, Friday, February 28, 2025

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will provide guidance to employment litigators for strategically pursuing or defending against summary judgment motions in employment discrimination cases. The panel will discuss considerations and best practices for drafting and arguing for or against summary judgment motions. The panel will also explain how summary judgment motions can impact trial strategy and settlement posture.

Description

To help curtail costly discovery, substantial verdicts/judgments, and exorbitant attorney's fees, counsel representing employers in discrimination litigation often pursue summary judgment motions as a strategy to defeat claims early on. For plaintiffs' counsel seeking damages on behalf of workers who suffered alleged discrimination, defeating a summary judgment motion is a critical juncture in employment discrimination cases.

Employment counsel must have an advanced understanding of summary judgment motions practice specific to employment discrimination cases. This includes being strategic about the timing of bringing a motion and the content of the motion. Counsel should weigh the risk of revealing important elements of a case that could impact trial and settlement outcomes in a summary judgment motion against the likelihood of success on the summary judgment motion.

Counsel should also take discovery and evidentiary issues into account when planning for summary judgment, including assessing the admissibility of evidence and determining whether to address such issues in the summary judgment motion.

Listen as our authoritative panel of employment litigators examines how to strategically raise or defeat summary judgment motions in employment discrimination cases. The panel will outline their perspectives and approaches to refine and improve summary judgment motion practice.

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Outline

  1. Procedural framework for summary judgment motions
  2. Strategic considerations for employers' counsel pursuing summary judgment in discrimination cases
    1. Summary judgment on liability only or damages only?
    2. Summary judgment on supplemental state claims?
    3. Timing of motion
    4. Content of motion
    5. Discovery and evidentiary considerations
  3. Strategic considerations for plaintiffs' counsel defending against summary judgment in discrimination cases

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • What is the procedural framework for pursuing summary judgment motions?
  • What strategic considerations should employers' counsel take into account when evaluating whether and when to file a summary judgment motion?
  • What are some best practices when drafting summary judgment motions in employment discrimination actions?
  • What strategies have been effective for plaintiffs' counsel to defeat motions for summary judgment in employment discrimination cases?

Faculty

Lawrence M. Pearson
Lawrence M. Pearson

Partner
Wigdor

Mr. Pearson represents both individuals and corporate clients in legal matters involving discrimination, retaliation,...  |  Read More

Shea, Robin
Robin E. Shea

Partner
Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete

Ms. Shea has more than 20 years' experience in employment litigation, including Title VII and the Age...  |  Read More

Trafimow, Jonathan
Jonathan Trafimow

Partner
Carter Ledyard & Milburn

Mr. Trafimow chairs the Firm's Employment Law Practice Group and co-chairs the Firm's Cybersecurity...  |  Read More

Attend on March 19

Early Discount (through 02/28/25)

Cannot Attend March 19?

Early Discount (through 02/28/25)

You may pre-order a recording to listen at your convenience. Recordings are available 48 hours after the webinar. Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

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