EXPERIENCE

Cindy regularly litigates both employment discrimination and other commercial matters. In February 2008, she successfully argued *CBOCS West, Inc. v. Humphries*, No. 06-1431, before the United States Supreme Court, on behalf of Hedrick Humphries. On May 27, 2008, the Court issued a landmark 7-2 decision in the case, 128 S.Ct. 1951 (2008), affirming the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and finding a cause of action for retaliation cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The New York Times labeled the Court's decision "significant," and the Legal Times described it as "probably the leading employment case of the term."

In addition to her appellate work, Cindy is an accomplished trial lawyer. She has tried numerous employment and commercial cases in administrative agencies and state and federal courts throughout the country.

Before joining Robinson Curley, Cindy was an associate at Shilepsky, Messing & Rudavsky in Boston, counsel at the First National Bank of Chicago, and an associate at Peterson Ross Schloerb & Seidel in Chicago.

Notable Engagements

Employment Litigation

Northern District of Illinois. Represented multiple employees in two separate sexual harassment actions against county law enforcement agency. Claims settled favorably before trial.
Eastern District of Kentucky. Represented former tenured faculty member in disability discrimination and breach of contract action against private college. Claims settled favorably before trial.
Cook County Circuit Court. Represented former employee of car dealership in sexual orientation discrimination and Illinois Whistleblower Act claims. Claims settled favorably on eve of trial.
Northern District of Illinois. Represented former Department Director in race and sex discrimination and retaliation claims against suburban municipality. Claims settled favorably prior to oral discovery.
Northern District of Illinois. Represented physician in Equal Pay Act claims against public hospital. Claims settled favorably after close of discovery.
Cook County Circuit Court. Represented former police officer in sexual harassment lawsuit against suburban Chicago police department. Claims settled favorably during trial.
Northern District of Indiana. Represented Fortune 500 manufacturer in two separate disability and age discrimination in employment actions. Successfully defeated plaintiffs' claims on motions for summary judgment in both cases.
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Represented plaintiff in disability discrimination action against health care institution at second trial and on appeal. Seventh Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part attorneys' fee award by district court, finding that district court had properly awarded prejudgment interest on attorneys' fees to compensate for delay in payment of fees.
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Represented plaintiff in pregnancy discrimination action at trial and on appeal. Seventh Circuit affirmed the jury verdict in favor of plaintiff, finding that "a remark need not explicitly refer to the plaintiff's protected status ... for a reasonable jury to conclude that it is direct evidence of illegal motivation based on that status."
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Represented national bank in age discrimination case, both at trial and on appeal. Seventh Circuit reversed the jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff based upon the bank's argument that plaintiff could not prove age discrimination merely by arguing that the jury chose not to believe the bank's witnesses.

Other Commercial Litigation

Northern District of Illinois. Represented tenured faculty member of a major university in defamation action against tenured faculty member of another major university. Claims settled favorably after defendant's deposition.
Northern District of Illinois. Represented commercial website developer in action involving online defamation and extortion campaign. Obtained $1.5 million default judgment and permanent injunction against one defendant. Claims against second defendant settled favorably before trial.
Confidential. Represented physician defending claims brought by Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Claims dismissed prior to hearing.
Eastern District of Michigan. Represented financial institution asserting RICO and fraud claims against scores of defendants arising out of massive mortgage fraud scheme. Obtained favorable settlements and default judgments for plaintiff.
Confidential. Represented Fortune 500 manufacturing company in insurance arbitration involving dispute over premium due on workers compensation policies. Favorably settled claim on eve of arbitration.

Receivership/Insolvency Litigation

Northern District of Illinois. Represented receiver of failed financial institution in negligence, gross negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims against former officers and directors. Claims favorably settled for the receiver.
Eastern District of Arkansas. Represented receiver of failed financial institution in negligence claims against auditors who failed to discover fraudulent property improvement district bonds sold to institution. Claims favorably settled for the receiver on eve of trial.
Southern District of Mississippi. Represented receiver of three failed insurance companies in RICO, fraud, and negligence claims against persons and entities, including a major financial institution, involved in a massive insurance company looting and money-laundering scheme. Claims against multiple defendants favorably settled for the receiver.
District of Rhode Island. Represented receiver of Rhode Island failed insurance companies asserting RICO, fraud, and negligence claims against entity that sold insurance companies to persons who proceeded to loot the companies of tens of millions of dollars. Defeated summary judgment on validity of sale to known looters claim, leading to substantial settlement before trial.

Bar Admissions

Illinois
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Awards & Recognitions

Named Illinois "Super Lawyer" in Employment and Labor each year, 2005-2023

Memberships & Activities

Shimer College Fund, Chicago, Illinois
- Chair, Board of Trustees, October 2017-present
Shimer College, Chicago, Illinois
- Chair, Board of Trustees, June 2017-October 2017
- Secretary, Board of Trustees, May 2015-June 2017
Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
- Chair, Board of Directors, 2012
- Member, Board of Directors, 2009-2014
American Constitution Society, Chicago Lawyer Chapter
- Member, Board of Advisors
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- Co-Chair, Board of Directors, 1999-2001
- Member, Executive Committee, 1997-2003
- Co-Chair, Board Governance Committee, 2001-2003
- Member, Board of Directors, 1997-2003
City of Chicago, Mayor's Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues
- Member, 1994-1997
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
- Member, Litigation Committee, 1991-1992

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1982
Shimer College, A.B. with Distinction, Honors in Humanities, 1978

Publications & Presentations

Strict Liability for Sexual Harassment by Supervisors, Illinois Bar Journal, September 2009
Court Finds Section 1981 Prohibits Retaliation, Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law, Volume 36, Number 4, Summer 2008
U.S. Supreme Court Takes on Retaliation Actions, National Employment Lawyers Association, Representing Workers in Harassment & Retaliation Claims, October 2008
The Supreme Court Speaks: The Impact of Humphries and Gomez on Retaliation Litigation, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, July 2008