October 14 - Section 1983

Trial Practice Tips

The presentation will provide practical tips for Section 1983 trials including: final pretrial order, conference, jury selection, client witness preparation, punitive damages and pleading the Fifth; the significance of, and how to successfully develop a theme for your case that will connect with your jury; the need to specialize your trial team; devising jury instructions and verdict sheets; and motions practice within the trial. Some topics may be added or removed from this presentation.

Speakers: Neil Duke & Steven Borkan

 

Neil Duke is an experienced commercial litigation and trial lawyer who handles a wide range of civil matters in complex commercial and labor and employment disputes. Mr. Duke handles a wide variety of labor and employment-related litigation and arbitration.

Mr. Duke's trial practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on employment law, civil rights matters and defense of municipalities with respect to tort-based and constitutional claims.

Mr. Duke routinely provides counsel to employers on a variety of workplace issues affected by federal and state legislation. He represents employers in disputes involving FLSA wage/hour and compensation, Title VII, ADEA, ADA, OSHA, FMLA, as well as standard wrongful discharge and discrimination claims and employment contracts.

Active in numerous civic and professional organizations, Mr. Duke is former chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. He is the author of several articles and is frequently called upon to speak at educational and professional seminars.

Steven Borkan is a seasoned trial lawyer with over twenty years of experience litigating cases in state and federal court as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, and the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission.

Since making a transition to the private sector in 1991, Steve has tried well over one hundred cases to verdict and has compiled an impressive record of not guilty verdicts on behalf of his defense clients.