The Civil Litigation Clinic of Chicago-Kent College of Law

12/25/2025

A quiet winter scene as the year draws to a close — one of our favorites from artist Tom Newsom.

Wishing everyone warmth and rest during the season ahead.

09/11/2025

Congratulations to my beloved colleague!

Congratulations to Enrique Espinoza, "El Abogado del Sombrero," recipient of the 2025 HLAI President's Award.

HLAI's President, Cindy Medina-Cervantes is proud to honor Enrique with this special recognition for his outstanding commitment to our organization, his unwavering advocacy for the Latino community, and his impactful work in the field of immigration law.

Enrique has been a consistent voice for justice, using his platform and his practice to uplift those most in need. Whether in the courtroom or in the community, he leads with heart, integrity, and deep cultural pride.

Thank you, Enrique, for all you do. Your contributions continue to strengthen HLAI and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders in law.

We look forward to celebrating with you at the Gala on October 3, 2025.

07/08/2025

Ginger Leigh Odom ’03, “always hated the death penalty.” She began her legal career fighting against it, creating a legacy advocating for justice.
Today, she leads the Expungement Unit at Illinois’s Office of the State Appellate Defender, helping thousands each year find a path to redemption and a fresh start.
From working death penalty cases during her time at Chicago-Kent College of Law to building one of the state's most impactful expungement programs, Odom has turned advocacy into action. Her story is a powerful reminder that law can serve both justice and healing.
📖 Read her full journey in the Spring edition of the Chicago-Kent Magazine: https://kentlaw.iit.edu/law/student-experience/student-alumni-stories/path-redemption

07/02/2025

My home state of Tennessee has dissolved its Human Rights Agency, which, since 1963, has worked to help citizens fight discrimination in their jobs, public accommodations, and housing. Enforcement of civil rights laws in Tennessee will now be purely political. The rule of law continues to be eroded.

03/15/2022

We represent a putative class of United Airlines retirees who were promised that if they retired early (which benefited United), they would be eligible for any additional benefits if an early out program was offered within 36 months of their retirement.

Due to the pandemic, United sought to reduce its number of employees by offering a new early out program. But it declined to honor its promise to the previous retirees, refusing to pay them the benefits of the new early out program!

The case was filed in Chicago on November 30, 2021. The name of the case is Hoffman, et al. v. United Airlines, Inc., et al., No. 21-cv-06395 (N.D.Ill.). United has filed a motion to dismiss, which is currently pending.

02/17/2022

We just filed a lawsuit against United Airlines on behalf of employees who accepted pandemic early out retirements on the promise that if United offered a better program later on, they were entitled to that program's benefits. Now that the pandemic's effects are easing, United is refusing to pay. You can contact Jamie Franklin at [email protected] for more information.

A retired flight attendant sued United Airlines in Illinois federal court Tuesday, claiming the airline illegally blocked her and other retirees from accessing benefits and additional pay through "early-out" severance programs, which the airline maintains are actually paid leaves of absence.

09/18/2020

The Franklin Law Firm is now the Civil Litigation Clinic at Chicago-Kent College of Law! Please visit us at civillitigationclinic.com.

02/15/2020

Global transportation company C.H. Robinson Worldwide must face a newly-certified class of more than 90 Illinois-based employees who say they’re owed overtime pay, a federal court ruled.

07/17/2019

Access to the courts continues to erode.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2019 National Consumer Law Center contact: Jan Kruse ([email protected]) or (617) 542-8010 Washington – Late yesterday, the U.S. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final nursing home arbitration rule, allowing nursing homes to force residents i...

06/04/2019

The U.S. Supreme Court June 3 limited a procedural defense available to employers in job discrimination lawsuits by finding that workers’ obligation to file bias claims with an administrative agency before going to court is a claims-processing requirement.

06/03/2018

My client, featured here, is taking on an institution that has been closed to all attempts to inject a modicum of equality - until now. I am proud to be helping her!

A modest but meaningful revolt against traditional gender roles is brewing in some seemingly unlikely places.