Laflin Mediation principal and University of Idaho professor Monqiue C. Lillard has written a Summary of Idaho Employment Termination Law. The book is written for both Idaho and out of state lawyers to have an introduction or an overview of workplace law in Idaho. Topics covered in the book include whistleblower policies, contract claims, and employment at will. Lillard also writes about motivations for employment decisions and checklists for workers, employers, and lawyers. Proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Labor and Employment Section of the Bar.
Principal, Maureen Laflin, has led the fight to improve the living conditions of an Idaho mobile home park.
The plight of the residents in the Syringa Mobile Home Park, located a couple of miles outside of the Moscow, Idaho city limits, is the center piece of Daniel Zwerdling’s December 26, 2016 piece, “Mobile Home Park Owners Can Spoil an Affordable American Dream.”
In February 2014, Maureen, as Director of the University of Idaho College of Law Legal Aid Clinic, filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the residents of the park who endured 93 days of no usable water as it was contaminated with E.coli and several weeks of no water at all. The owner of the park, Magar E. Magar purchased the property in 1984 and through negligent left the residents with few options other than to tolerate the water and sewer problems. Due to the conditions at the park, Latah County has decided to “red tag” each trailer as it becomes vacant. Owners of the trailers can neither sell nor rent their trailers once they become vacant. Thus many of the residents can’t afford to leave.
Maureen Laflin and Merlyn Clark presented a four hour CLE at the Idaho Mediation Association's 2016 Annual Conference in Boise, Idaho. They discussed "The Ethical Obligations of Neutrality and Confidentiality in Mediation" as well as "Settler's Remorse: Challenges in Rescinding Mediated Settlement Agreements." Approximately 75 mediators from around the region attended the presentations.
The Idaho Appellate Handbook, sponsored by the College of Law and the Idaho State Bar Appellate Practice Section, is now available for purchase. The Handbook includes two chapters contributed by Maureen Laflin and one authored by her friend and former University of Idaho President, Donald Burnett. Please contact the ISB Appellate Section for information about purchasing the Handbook or joining that section. See https://isb.idaho.gov/member_services/sections/apl/apl.html. TOC from Idaho Appellate Handbook 4th ed-2 Cover Page from Idaho Appellate Handbook 4th ed
Maureen Laflin and her friend and associate Merlyn Clark presented a two-hour program on Mediation Ethics at the Idaho Mediation Association’s annual meeting Sept. 19, 2015, in Boise. The program involved analyzing half a dozen ethical scenarios using Idaho court rules, Idaho statutes, various ADR organizations’ standards and practices, and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Approximately 65 mediators from around the region attended the presentation.
Led by Maureen Laflin, of Laflin Mediation, the University of Idaho's Northwest Institute just ended its 18th year of May dispute resolution trainings last week. For the first time, the NWI offered a basic 40 hour course in Boise and in Moscow. In the future, we will continue to offer basic courses in both locations. This year the demand was incredibly high. The Basic Family Mediation course offered in Moscow had 8 practitioners and 26 students. The Basic Civil Mediation course offered in Boise had 19 practitioners and 16 students. The trainers received rave reviews from law students and practitioners alike. Next year the NWI will resume its partnership with the US District Court's ADR program and offer advanced mediation training in Boise.
Organized and led by Laflin Mediation's Maureen Laflin, the 17th Annual Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution took place May 19-23, 2014. In Moscow, Bob Collins taught the Basic Family Mediation course to 21 participants; Lela Love and Josh Stulberg taught Basic Civil Mediation to 13; and Donna Silverberg taught "Facilitating Agreements in Environmental and Public Policy Disputes" to four NREL students and five professionals. The Institute again paired up with the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho's ADR Program to sponsor a two-day training in Boise: "Making Magic...Advancing Your Mediation Practice." Karen Engro, the ADR Coordinator for the United States District Court for the Western District of PA, was the main presenter. Maureen Laflin taught the section of the course on "Settlers' Remorse: When the Magic Disappears."
The University of Idaho's College of Law, under the leadership of Legal Aid Clinic Director and Laflin Mediation principal, Maureen Laflin, is suing property owner Magar E. Magar for failing to provide safe drinking water at his mobile home park just outside of Moscow. On Tuesday, April 22, Latah County Second District Judge John Stegner granted a motion for class certification, which means the Legal Aid Clinic now represents everyone who's lived in the park since December 18—about 150 people.The office of the attorney general for Idaho is also pressing charges against Magar for not complying with Department of Environmental Quality standards for drinking water. Learn more.
Laflin Mediation principal and University of Idaho College of Law professor Monique Lillard, along with other faculty members, welcomed secondary school students to events associated with Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
As part of the program, Monique Lillard took part in a group discussion with the students, other faculty, and local lawyer Linda Pall. Students were also invited to sit in on law classes during their visit.
Laflin Mediation principal Maureen Laflin, gave two presentations at the 2013 Idaho Mediation Association (IMA) Conference in Boise, Idaho. The three hour presentation, "Dispute Resolution in the Criminal Justice System," on September 27, 2013 covered both traditional criminal mediation programs especially focusing on Idaho Criminal Rule 18.1 as well as restorative justice practices. She focused on many of the places she visited while on sabbatical last year. On Sept. 28th Laflin delivered the keynote address entitled "Dreamers and Visionaries: The History of ADR in Idaho." The presentation covered the talking points of her article featured in the Idaho Law Review in 2009 and honored the founders of the IMA, formed 30 years ago.