Delaware Employment Law Blog

William W. Bowser, a partner in our Employment Law Department, is featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s coverage (March 31, 2008; Health & Science) of Delaware’s cancer treatment program. Pictured in the article with Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner and state Health & Social Services Secretary Vincent Meconi. Bowser is chairman of the 15-member advisory council formed to develop a cancer-care battle plan for residents of the state.

The article highlights Delaware’s high cancer death rate, and the state’s unique program that provides uninsured residents with free cancer treatment for up to two years. “We wanted to do the things that would make a difference and were possible,” panel chairman Bowser is quoted in the article. He received the National Governor’s Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government in 2007 for his work as chair of the nationally-recognized Delaware Cancer Consortium.

William W. Bowser, a partner in our Employment Law Department, is featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s coverage (March 31, 2008; Health & Science) of Delaware’s cancer treatment program. Pictured in the article with Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner and state Health & Social Services Secretary Vincent Meconi. Bowser is chairman of the 15-member advisory council formed to develop a cancer-care battle plan for residents of the state.

The article highlights Delaware’s high cancer death rate, and the state’s unique program that provides uninsured residents with free cancer treatment for up to two years. “We wanted to do the things that would make a difference and were possible,” panel chairman Bowser is quoted in the article. He received the National Governor’s Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government in 2007 for his work as chair of the nationally-recognized Delaware Cancer Consortium.

An employer sues an employee before the employee sues first. To some employers who have endured the bitter pill of meritless litigation filed by an ex-employee, this sounds like a dream come true. To most employment law attorneys, this sounds like a dream world.

The New York Law Journal published a fascinating, if sordid, story last week titled, NY Law Firm Preemptively Sues Secretary Who Threatened Rape Suit Against Partner. The story involves a complaint filed by a law firm, Bivona & Cohen, against a secretary, Windy Richards. According to the complaint, Ms. Richards had performance problems and decided to try to hang onto her job in an, well, an unusual way.

Allegedly, she targeted a partner who she knew had a drinking problem. The opportune moment arrived. While the partner was impaired by alcohol, Richards performed a lap dance for him. Next, she obtained "evidence" on a towel, demonstrating at least some kind of sexual encounter (think Monica). Then she hired a lawyer, who demanded $9 million to settle her claim that the partner in question had sexually harassed and ultimately raped her.

But the law firm beat her to the courthouse, filing a preemptive suit againt the sordid secretary. The suit asserts claims of defamation, tortious interference and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In addition, the suit seeks a declaratory judgment that the secretary was not harassed or harmed by the partner. Additionally, the firm seeks a judgment declaring that the firm may lawfully fire her for providing a false social security number to conceal a 1991 drug-related criminal conviction.

The partner has been disciplined in a manner not disclosed in the lawsuit (although the filing of the lawsuit publicizing the alleged drinking problem and lap dance incident may be viewed as significant disciplinary action all by itself). The secretary is on paid leave. No doubt the secretary’s answer to the complaint will include counterclaims for sexual harassment and retaliation.

The law firm’s strategy is highly unusual, but not unprecedented. A few years ago, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly did the same thing, and was represented by the same attorney, Ronald Green of Epstein, Becker & Green. In that case, O’Reilly accused his accuser, who had been trying to negotiate a settlement of a sexual harassment claim, of attempted extortion. Trouble is, as pointed out by The National Law Journal, currently, attempted extortion is a crime, not a basis for a civil lawsuit.

AMERICANS WANT NEXT PRESIDENT TO FOCUS MORE ON SAVING U.S. JOBS AND HEALTHCARE; LESS ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

With the spotlight of the political world shining on the Delaware Valley today, a new “America at Work” national opinion survey by the non-partisan Employment Law Alliance (ELA) shows that Americans overwhelmingly want their next President to focus more on improving their standard of living, providing universal healthcare, and stemming the outsourcing of jobs overseas than making it easier for immigrants to live and work in the United States.

The poll is based on a sampling of 1,125 working Americans surveyed between April 4 and 9 and is believed to be the only national survey to date focusing exclusively on a wide range of workplace-related issues that will likely confront the next President.*

You can not walk outside today and not hear people talking about Wednesday's debate and the impact of the upcoming elections on jobs and healthcare. Life in the workplace is often the centerpiece of concern for so many Americans getting ready to elect a new president.

While issues such as immigration get much of the press, I believe that the poll shows that what a typical voter is interested in might vary.

A summary of the results reveal:

· 87% of Americans want their next President to focus on increasing the proportion of the workforce earning at least a living wage, closely followed (86%) by making it tougher for companies to outsource U.S. jobs to foreign countries, and (83%) rounding out the Big Three, providing healthcare coverage for all U.S. citizens.

· 76% of Americans are also concerned - but not at the same intensity level - with having the next President work toward increasing workplace safety regulation, 70% support focusing on expanding family leave rules and 69% think beefing up enforcement of workplace discrimination laws should be a priority.

· In sharp contrast, 40% said they are concerned that their next President focuses on immigration issues, ranging from making it easier for professionals to work in the U.S. to granting amnesty for illegal aliens.

· Workers were also significantly split along racial lines regarding both views on workplace issues and immigration reform with, for example, 55% of non-whites supporting relaxing immigration laws for professionals versus 36% among whites.

· Geographically, 46% of workers in Western states thought the President should make increasing legal immigration a priority compared to a low of 25% among Midwestern workers.

· 45% of Americans want to make it easier for unions to organize workers.

ELA members concentrate on labor and employment law issues in every American state and more than 75 countries. The survey was conducted prior to Wednesday's democratic debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania primary on April 22nd.

“The message to the next President is raising the standard of living and getting better healthcare is more of a priority than organizing unions or immigration concerns,” said Sandler.

Dr. Ted Reed, President of Philadelphia-based Reed group and Poll Director for ELA, said the input from ELA's attorneys around the country was invaluable in shaping the questions for the survey. According to Dr. Reed, “This survey is important because of the extent of demographic detail, including gender, race, income, education, and geography. The focus on pocketbook issues across the board as a Presidential priority is unmistakable.”

*The error interval is +/- 2.99% at a 95% level of confidence.

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Sheldon N. Sandler, a partner in the Employment Law Department at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor in Wilmington, Delaware, members of ELA.

Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, one of Delaware's largest law firms, counsels and represents national, international and local clients, handling sophisticated advisory and litigation matters involving bankruptcy, corporate law and intellectual property. Now in its fifth decade, Young Conaway also guides regional businesses and individuals through a myriad of employment, real estate, tax, estate planning, environmental, and banking issues from the firm's offices in downtown Wilmington.

The Employment Law Alliance is the world's largest integrated, global practice network comprised of premier, independent law firms distinguished for their practice in employment and labor law. Comprised of more than 3,000 lawyers, there are member firms in every jurisdiction in the United States and over 75 countries around the world. For further information, including access to the survey charts and graphs, visit: www.employmentlawalliance.com