Peter Bennett to co-chair American Bar Association National Conference on “Responding to Mental Health Issues and Violence in the Workplace: Navigating the Rights and Responsibilities Created by the ADA, FMLA, Workers’ Compensation Laws, and Other Employment Statutes.”

Peter Bennett, attorney and managing partner with The Bennett Law Firm, P.A. will be co-chairing the American Bar Association’s National Conference on Responding to Mental Health Issues and Violence in the Workplace:  navigating the Rights and Responsibilities Created by the ADA, FMLA, Workers’ Compensation Laws, and Other Employment Statutes to be held November 9-10, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The institute is presented by the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association to provide the legal and human resource communities with advanced level information regarding the handling of complex mental disability/employment law issues.  Bennett was selected as co-chair due to his other leadership activities within the Association.

In addition to co-chairing the conference, Bennett will be presenting a paper entitled “Handling Employee Misconduct Caused by a Disability.”  This issue is one of the mor important ones upon which the Court’s disagree.  Many courts hold that disability-triggered misconduct is protected by the American’s With Disabilities Act and requires a reasonable accommodation.  On the other hand, a number of courts hold to the contrary.  Bennett was lead attorney for Lepage Bakeries, Inc. and Reid v. Lepage Bakeries, Inc. the most current and leading case on this issue. 

In addition to Bennett, there will be a number of other speakers at this program including a number of representatives from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Office of Personnel Management and the United States Department of Labor.

Peter Bennett, a native of Portland, Maine, graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.  He received his law degree and Master’s in Business Administration from Boston University where he serves on the Law School’s Executive Committee as President-elect.  Bennett is a faculty member of the University of Southern Maine, Department of Continuing Education for Business since 1989.

The Bennett Law Firm, P.A. located in Portland, Maine since 1962 represents management on issues related to labor and employment law.  The firm’s practice is extended throughout New England and upstate New York.

For further information please call Laurie Proctor at (207) 773-4775.