Richard J. Gonzalez is a frequent speaker to continuing legal education seminars, civic groups, conventions, radio and school audiences on equal opportunity in employment and housing, consumer law, and the role of law and lawyers in American society:
Publications:
- Co-Executive Editor, Lindemann & Grossman, Employment Discrimination Law (Bloomberg BNA), 2009 – present.
- “Fraudulent Misrepresentation in the Employment Context: An Alternative to Oral Contract Claims in Illinois,” Illinois Bar Journal, November, 2007.
- “Depositions in the Age of Summary Judgment,” TRIAL (Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), 2004.
- “A Plaintiff Need Not Present Direct Evidence of Discrimination to Get a Mixed-motive Jury Instruction,” 2 ISBA Federal Civil Practice 4 (March, 2004).
- Author: “Overcoming Qualified Privilege in Workplace Defamation Suits,” 4 Illinois Advocate 4 (2001).
- “Barriers to Bar Admission of Applicants with Mental Health Treatment Histories,” 4 Illinois Advocate 2 (2000).
- “Mitigation of Damages in Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge Cases,” Mississippi Law Review, Winter, 2000.
- “Playing By New Rules,” Avoiding Summary Judgment in Employment Cases, Illinois Chapter of National Employment Lawyers Association Journal, (1999).
- “Warts and All: Protecting Employment Plaintiffs From Intrusive Discovery Techniques,” 2 Illinois Advocate 2 (1998).
- “Hicks and Hazen Paper: Blessings for Employers or Blessings in Disguise for Employment Discrimination Plaintiffs,” 11 Ill. Pub. Empl. Rel. Rptr. 2 (1994).
- “Ethical Considerations in the Negotiation of Employment Settlements,” National Employment Lawyers Association Journal, Summer, 1994.
- Co-Author (with Lori D. Ecker) “Handling Employment Discrimination Claims in Illinois – A Practical Guide,” Chicago Bar Association Record, March, 1991.
- Co-Author (with Lori D. Ecker) “Litigation at the Illinois Human Rights Commission,” Chicago Bar Association Record, July/August, 1992.
Speeches:
- July, 2014 – “Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination Law,” American Law Institute Annual Seminar, Santa Fe, NM;
- June, 2014 – “Hot Topics in Employment Law and Employing & Servicing the Disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act & Illinois Human Rights Act,” Chicago-Kent College of Law Annual Seminar on Not-for-Profit Corporations;
- May, 2013 & May, 2012 – “Giving Ground — Ethical Issues in the Practice of Law,” Chicago Bar Association CLE Seminar;
- October, 2011 – “Latest Developments in Labor & Employment Law,” Practicing Law Institute Annual Labor & Employment Center, New York City, NY;
- March, 2011 – “Managing Clients and Their Expectations,” Chicago Bar Association seminar, Chicago, IL;
- November, 2010 – “Effective Summary Judgment Motions,” American Bar Association Annual Labor & Employment Conference, Chicago, IL;
- April, 2010 – “2009-2010 Employment Discrimination Law Update,” American Bar Association/BNA Webcast;
- February, 2009 – “Defeating Summary Judgment in Employment Cases,” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Seventh Circuit Seminar, Chicago, IL;
- October, 2008 – “Latest Developments in Employment Law,” Practicing Law Institute Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Chicago, IL;
- February, 2008 – “Latest Case Law & Legislation – A Plaintiff’s Perspective,” Illinois State Bar Association Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar;
- October, 2007 – “Employment Law Year in Review,” Practicing Law Institute Annual Seminar;
- January, 2007 – “Fraudulent Misrepresentation in the Employment Context,” Chicago Bar Association Labor & Employment Committee;
- January, 2007 – “Procedural Issues in Bringing and Defending Employment Discrimination Suits,” Illinois State Bar Association Annual Seminar;
- October, 2006 – “Employment Law Year in Review,” Practicing Law Institute Annual Seminar;
- October, 2005 – “Defending Employment Discrimination: How to Counter Typical Plaintiff’s Strategies,” Franczek Sullivan P.C. Training Session;
- September, 2005 – “Effective Discovery in Employment Cases: A Plaintiff’s Perspective,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee;
- June, 2005 – “Labor and Employment Issues Affecting Not-For-Profits in 2005: The Effects of the New Illinois Equal Pay Act, Changes in the Illinois Minimum Wage, and Recent Developments Regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act,” Chicago-Kent College of Law Annual Legal Conference for Not-For Profit Corporations;
- December, 2004 – “Anatomy of a Discrimination Lawsuit: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Perspective,” Illinois Council on Education in Management Annual Seminar;
- November, 2004 – “Handling Difficult Issues Under the Family Medical Leave Act,” Illinois CPA Society Annual Seminar;
- October, 2004 – “Recent Developments in Employment Law: The Reactions of the Federal Courts to the Desert Palace and Suders Decisions,” Practicing Law Institute 2004 Seminar;
- June, 2004 – “Recent Developments Under the Family Medical Leave Act,” Chicago-Kent College of Law Annual Legal Conference for Not-For Profit Corporations;
- February, 2004 – “Litigating Employment Cases in the Age of Summary Judgment,” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual 7th Circuit Conference;
- February, 2004 – “Avoiding Summary Judgment Through the Effective Use of Depositions,” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual 7th Circuit 2004 Conference;
- January, 2002 – “Taking Effective Depositions in Employment Litigation,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee Young Lawyers’ Section;
- September, 2001 – “Techniques in the Mediation of Employment Cases,” Human Resource Institute 2001 Seminar;
- June, 2001 – “2001 Employment Law Update, “Chicago-Kent College of Law Annual Seminar on Not-For-Profit Corporations;
- February, 2001 – “Special Problems in Jury Trial of Employment Suits,” Illinois Chapter of National Employment Lawyers’ Association;
- October, 2000 – “The Need To Reform Illinois’ Chapter and Fitness Committees,” Illinois State Bar Association Committee;
- June, 2000 – “Recent Legal Developments Affecting Not-for-Profit Corporations,” Chicago-Kent College of Law Annual Seminar on Not-For-Profit Corporations;
- May, 2000 – “Strategies and Techniques for Jury Litigation,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee;
- February, 2000 – “Preparation for Jury Trial,” Illinois Chapter of National Employment Lawyers’ Association;
- September, 1999 – “Avoiding Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Cases,” Illinois Chapter National Employment Lawyers Association Seminar;
- September, 1999 – “Playing By New Rules: Rethinking Traditional Discovery Strategies,” Illinois Chapter National Employment Lawyers Association Seminar;
- June, 1999 – “Recognizing the Dangerous Plaintiff,” Human Resource Professionals Seminar, Chicago, IL;
- October, 1998 – “The ‘Dangerous’ Plaintiff in Employment Litigation,” Human Resource Institute National Seminar;
- May, 1998 – “Protecting Employment Plaintiffs From Intrusive Discovery Techniques,” Defense Research Institute National Seminar;
- March, 1998 – “Trends in Litigation of Race Discrimination Cases,” National Employment Lawyers Association Midwest Seminar;
- February, 1998 – “Avoiding Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Cases,” Chicago Bar Association;
- January, 1998 – “Amassing Genuine Issues of Material Fact and Proving Pretext,” Chicago Bar Association Annual Labor and Employment Seminar;
- June, 1997 – “Avoiding Sexual Harassment Claims in the Workplace,” Chicago Mercantile Exchange;
- May, 1997 – “Employee Rights in the Changing Workplace of the Nineties,” Institute for law and the Workplace Annual Seminar;
- February, 1997 – “Juries and Race: The O.J. Simpson Civil Verdict,” WVON radio;
- November, 1996 – “Mediation of Employment Discrimination Claims,” Chicago-Kent Public Sector Labor Relations Annual Seminar;
- December, 1995 – “Deposing Decision-Makers in Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge Cases,” Chicago Bar Association Annual Labor and Employment Seminar;
- March, 1995 – “Affirmative Action: Has Its Time Come and Gone?” (on-air debate, WUSN radio, Chicago, IL);
- June, 1994 – “Ethical Considerations in the Negotiation of Employment Settlements,” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, Seattle, Washington;
- December, 1993 – “The After-Acquired Evidence Rule,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee;
- October, 1993 – “Significant Curricular Developments and the MacCrate Report,” Midwest Clinical Teachers Conference;
- September, 1993 – Acted as defense counsel in focus group mock trial of multi-million dollar New York State court case, Durable Aluminum Co. v. E.Z. Foil, Inc.;
- February, 1993 – “Litigating Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge Cases: A Plaintiff’s Perspective,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee Annual Seminar;
- January, 1993 – “The Civil Rights Act of 1991,” Human Resource Professionals Convention, Chicago, IL;
- November, 1992 – “Diabetes as a Protected Handicap under Illinois Law,” Chicago Chapter of American Diabetes Association;
- May, 1992 – “The Civil Rights Act of 1991,” Chicago-Kent Not-for-Profit Corporations Conference;
- March, 1992 – “How to Win a Weak Employment Case,” Chicago Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee
