Jean Ohman Back
Senior Counsel
503-796-2960 Direct
jback@schwabe.com
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Formatted Resume
Professional Experience
Jean Back joined Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in 1997. She has practiced in the areas of Labor and Employment and General Litigation. The primary focus of Ms. Back's practice is advising employers on the interaction of an employee's rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and the Workers' Compensation Act, and State and Federal Family and Pregnancy Leave laws. Ms. Back also has worked with other members of the Labor and Employment practice group as part of a team representing employers in large wage and hour class action matters. Ms. Back has been a regular speaker to Oregon and Washington employers on a variety of employment topics.
Ms. Back has particular experience and acumen with issues that involve the overlap of the ADA, FMLA, and workers' compensation laws. She regularly assists employers in requesting medical information from physicians to obtain appropriate fitness-for-duty releases, assists employers in acquiring useful information to make sound decisions regarding ADA or FMLA, and to determine reasonable accommodations under the ADA. Ms. Back works about 50 percent of her time advising employers and 50 percent of her time in litigation matters.
As one of the group leaders of Schwabe's Hospitality Law group, Ms. Back and other members of this practice group focus their attention on advice and litigation of issues specific to the hospitality area, such as an innkeeper's duties owed to guests, tort law as it relates to the hospitality industry, a guest's rights to privacy, and employment issues. Ms. Back speaks regularly to hotel managers about these topics.
Additionally, Ms. Back is very active in the firm's Women In Business group, which focuses on providing informative networking setting to women at all levels of business.
Ms. Back also focuses a portion of her practice on representing medical professionals in a variety of professional liability litigation matters.
Representative Cases
Ryman v. Sears Roebuck and Co. (achieved complete summary judgment for Sears on Plaintiff's OFLA, FMLA, and wrongful termination claims) Professional & Community Activities
Ms. Back is a member of the Oregon and Washington State Bars. She is also very active in the Beaverton School District, participating as a parent on panels to interview new Principals in elementary schools. Ms. Back is a past elected representative for Cedar Mill Elementary School Local School Committee, and a former member of the Cedar Mill Elementary School Site counsel. Admitted to Practice
Oregon State Courts
Washington State Courts
United States District Court, District of Oregon
United States District Court, Western District of Washington
United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Publications
Ms. Back is a co-author of the Oregon Human Resources Manual, published by Associated Oregon Industries.
Speaking Engagements
Ms. Back appeared as a presenter at the following seminars:
Education
University of Oregon School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (1991)
University of California at Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, minor in French (1983)
Articles
Limits on Message Monitoring Reflect Expectation of Privacy
Ninth Circuit Approves Certain Tip Pooling Arrangements
New Legislation Impacts Employers
New FMLA Regulations Take Effect January 16, 2009 – Is Your Workplace Ready?
Changes to the ADA Are Coming: Tips for Implementation in Your Workplace
New Amendments Broaden the Americans with Disabilities Act
Waiving Meal Breaks for Food and Beverage Servers
Waiver of Meal Breaks for Tipped Employees
Liability To Guests From Exposure To A Hotel Meth Lab –Tips For Prevention
Failure to Provide Rest Breaks Is Now a Costly Mistake
ADA Self-evaluations Reduce Your Liability, Boost Your Ego
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