Companies predict increase in lawsuits in 2009
The Seattle Business Journal recently reported that in a survey of companies in the United States and Great Britain, corporate counsel expected the number of lawsuits filed against their companies to increase in 2009. Fulbright and Jaworski's 5th annual Litigation Trends Survey shows that 34% of companies are anticipating increased litigation in 2009, as opposed to 22% who predicted increased litigation for 2008. The report goes on to state that in-house counsel reported increases in wage and hour litigation and privacy claims.
As we rapidly approach 2009, the Americans With Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008, with an effective date of January 1, 2009, and the new FMLA Regulations, with an effective date of January 16, 2009, will, in my judgment, lead to an increase in litigation in these areas. Now is the time for employers to educate their HR professionals, managers and supervisory staff so they can effectively deal with these changes.
