Frank J. Saibert

As chair of the Labor & Employment Group, Frank represents public and private sector employers throughout the United States in labor relations and employment matters with an emphasis on National Labor Relations Board proceedings, state, federal and local employment discrimination matters, union election campaigns, unfair labor practices, backpay compliance proceedings, wrongful discharge cases, workplace defamation cases, labor contract negotiations, and matters pertaining to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and other miscellaneous employment-related laws.

Frank’s recent traditional labor experience includes:

• Successfully advising a Chicago manufacturing concern resulting in the decertification of a Teamsters local by a 34-11 vote.
• Representing a suburban Chicago scrap hauler resulting in the decertification of Teamsters Local 731.
• Representing a major car rental company in two union-free campaigns in Florida. In both campaigns, the company won and remained union-free.
• Representing a major Chicago manufacturer during a difficult one-year strike by the United Steel Workers Union.
• Successfully representing a suburban Chicago hospital in a two-year organizing battle with the Operating Engineers Union.
• Successfully representing a central Illinois nursing home against a Service Employees International Union organizing drive.
• Successfully representing a large state agency against an AFSCME organizing drive.
• Advising a major west coast health maintenance organization and a top-four national trucking firm against extensive union “corporate campaigns.”

Frank has successfully represented clients in such cases as:

• Munjal v. Patel, et al, 229 Ill. 2nd 628(2008). In a case upheld on appeal, Frank achieved summary judgment in the Circuit Court of Cook County against a hospital’s former employee who sued his employer and supervisors for defamation after being caught sleeping on the job.
• Reyes v. TruGreen Ltd. Partnership, 2008 WL 465511(11th Cir. 2008).  The Eleventh Circuit upheld summary judgment for TruGreen in this Florida Whistleblowers Act and retaliatory discharge case.
• Neville v. Terminix International Company LLP, American Arbitration Association No. 161600008907 (2008).  Frank achieved a defense verdict against a ten-count complaint, including workers' compensation retaliation, ERISA violations and race discrimination, before an arbitrator in Washington, D.C.  
• Achanzar v. Ravenswood Hospital, et al., 260 Ill. Dec. 879, 762 N.E.2d 538 (1st Dist. 2001).  In a jury trial upheld on appeal Frank successfully defended Ravenswood Hospital and two supervisors from a lab technician who sued for workplace defamation
• Savanna Jazz, LLC v. Fillmore Properties, LLC, 2006 WL 1467942 (Cal. App. 1 Dist.). In a summary judgment case upheld by the California Court of Appeals, Frank defeated Savanna Jazz’s claim that Fillmore Properties had defrauded it out of a commercial lease due to its principal’s race.
• Prince v. Terminix International Company LLP, American Arbitration Association No. 704600078705 (2006).  Frank successfully defended the national pest control company in a race discrimination and retaliation arbitration in Houston, Texas.
• Bosset v. Terminix International Company LLP, American Arbitration Association No. 161600018906 (2007).  Frank secured a defense verdict in a race discrimination arbitration in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Douglas, et al. v. Maddox, et al., 233 Ga.App. 744, 505 S.E.2d 43 (1998).  Frank represented a major trucking firm and several of its executives in a workplace defamation lawsuit against the Teamsters Union.
• Chicago Park District v. Richardson, 220 Ill. App.3d 696, 581 N.E.2d 97 (1st Dist. 1991), appeal denied, 143 Ill.2d 636, 587 N.E.2d 1012 (1992).  Frank successfully represented the Chicago Park District in its bid to require civil service examinations for zookeepers.
• Simon v. Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center, 814 F. Supp. 33 (N.D. Ill. 1992).  In this case, the court ruled that certain of Ms. Simon’s discrimination claims were barred by the 1991 amendments to Title VII.
• Schmitz v. Campbell-Mithun, Inc., 124 F.R.D. 189 (N.D. Ill. 1989).  Not only was Frank successful in getting this employment contract case dismissed on summary judgment, he convinced the court to award client Campbell-Mithun, Inc. substantial attorneys fees because Ms. Schmitz’s claim was frivolous.

Frank regularly speaks before trade groups and business associations on various employment-related topics, including, most recently, the Americans with Disabilities Act and workplace sexual harassment.