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collectforemotionaldistressorbeawardedpunitivedamagesinemploymentdiscriminationcasesbroughtunderstatelaw.UndertherewrittenActtheonlymoneydamagesemployeesmayseekarebackpayandliquidateddamagesbasedondoublethebackpaydamagesmaynolongerbebasedonfrontpay.Asidefrommoneydamagesemployeesmayalsoseekinjunctionsforreinstatementortopreventunlawfulconductintheworkplace.Inadditionalitigantdiscriminatedagainstduringthehiringprocessasanapplicantmaynowgetaninjunctionforcinganemployertohirethemforthefirsttime.TheActincludesothernotablechangesamongthemTheActaddstheprohibitionofdiscriminationonthebasisofgeneticinformationforthefirsttime.CroweDunlevywilladdressthisnewareaoflawatthefirmx19sfreeLaborEmploymentseminarthisfall.Individualsarenowexcludedfromthedefinitionofemployersandcannotbenamedasdefendantsindiscriminationlawsuitsx13onlylegalentitiesorganizationsorinstitutionscanbedefendants.Thedefinitionofemployeenowexcludesindependentcontractors.ButbewareTheDepartmentofLaborhasbeencrackingdownonemployerstryingtoclaimemployeesasindependentcontractorsandemployerswilllikelyfirsthavetoshowthatworkersmeetthestringenttestsforindependentcontractors.CroweDunlevyrecommendsthatallemployersusingindependentcontractorsconsultlegalcounseltobesuretheyarenotatrisk.AsmentionedaboveapplicantsforemploymentarenowalsoprotectedbytheAct.Thestatuteallowstheprevailingpartyeitherplaintiffordefendanttorecoverax1creasonableattorneyfee.x1dUnderthenewlawalldefensesavailabletoemployersunderFederalemploymentlawsareallowedunderOklahomalaw.EmployeescannotbringasuitfordiscriminationwithoutfirstfilingacomplaintwitheithertheEEOCortheOHRCwithin180daysoftheallegeddiscrimination.ToproceedinstatedistrictcourttheplaintiffmustfirstobtainaRighttoSueNoticeandmustthenbringsuitunderthestatutewithin90daysofreceivingthatNotice.ThenewversionofthelawdoesnottakeeffectuntilNovember12011.Plaintiffsbringingsuitbeforethatdatemaystillbringtortclaimsfordiscriminationagainsttheiremployersmeaningthatplaintiffsmayrecoverforemotionaldistressandpunitivedamagesifsuccessfulattrial.CroweDunlevyx19sLaborEmploymentGrouprecognizedbyChambersPartnersChambersPartnersaninternationallegalpublisherhasonceagainhighlyrankedCroweDunlevyinitsannualChambersUSADirectory.CroweDunlevyx19sLaborandEmploymentLawgroupwasrankedinBand1thehighestranking.LaborandEmploymentattorneyLeonardCourtreceivedaband1ranking.GayleBarrettwasrankedinBand2andattorneyRandallSnappreceivedhighmarkswithaBand3ranking.Inadditiontothetop3BandsbothAdamChildersandCourtneyWarmingtonreceivedaBandUranking.LeonardCourtGayleL.BarrettRandallJ.SnappThisdocumentisprovidedbyCroweDunlevyP.C.foreducationalandinformationalpurposesonlyandisnotintendedandshouldnotbeconstruedaslegaladvise.SavetheDatesCroweDunlevyx19sFREE2011LaborEmploymentSeminarsTulsaSeptember29andOKCOctober6