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Law Firm Overview

Mitchell A. Kline is a sole practitioner in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in employment and workers' compensation law. A 1978 graduate of Indiana University School of Law and a 1975 cum laude graduate of Harvard University, Mr. Kline represents both employees and employers in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts, and at state agencies.
 
From 1978-1983 Mr. Kline worked as an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County, Illinois. During this five year period Mr. Kline tried twelve jury trials and over 100 bench trials. He won more than 90% of the trials, including 2 convictions for rape

Mr. Kline was an owner of Kline's Department Store in Chicago Heights, Illinois from 1983-1995. He was responsible for all legal, personnel, administrative, and financial matters of a family-owned business with over 150 employees.

In 1995 and 1996 Mr. Kline was a Staff Attorney for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. He reviewed and briefed workers' compensation cases, which had been appealed.

Mr. Kline was an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Human Rights Commission from the end of 1996 until the beginning of 1998. He decided and mediated sexual harassment and disability, sex, age, and race discrimination cases. Of the thirty cases he was assigned to mediate, he was able to obtain a mutually agreeable settlement in twenty of the cases.

In 1998 Mr. Kline worked at the law firm of Stevenson Rusin & Friedman. He defended employers in workers' compensation and discrimination cases.

In 1999 Mr. Kline opened the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline. From 1999 through the present, he has been a sole practitioner successfully representing employees and employers in sexual harassment, discrimination, and workers' compensation cases. In addition he has settled and tried numerous cases in federal and state courts. Some recent success stories include: winning a sexual harassment trial in which the employee, who was harassed, was awarded $35,000; settling a combined personal injury and workers' compensation case for $198,000; representing a group of employees in an overtime pay case which settled for over $100,000; and obtaining a reversal from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals after the district court judge had dismissed his client's complaint.

Areas of Practice

• Labor and Employment 80%
• Workers' Compensation 18%
• Personal Injury 2%

Honors and Awards

• Eagle Scout, 1968
• Young Leadership Award Jewish Federation of Chicago, 1985

Classes and Seminars

• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, 2006

Pro Bono Activities

• South Suburban Family Shelter, 1980 - 1985
• Council on Jewish Workplace Issues, 2003 - 2008

Representative Cases

• Foster v. DeLuca, 545 F.3d 582; 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 20432 (Seventh Circuit 2008)

Ancillary Businesses

• Owner Kline's Department Store, 1983-1995

West Practice Categories

Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation, Contracts, Age Discrimination, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Gay & Lesbian Rights, National Origin Discrimination, Police Misconduct, Race Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Affirmative Action, Discrimination, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Voting Rights, Colleges & Universities, Private Schools, Public Schools, Special Education, Student Rights, Tenure, Affirmative Action -- Employee, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employee, Employee Rights -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Employment Discrimination -- Employee, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employee, Municipal Employment -- Employee, Sexual Harassment -- Employee, Wage & Hour Laws -- Employee, Wrongful Termination -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Affirmative Action -- Employer, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) -- Employer, Employee Rights -- Employer, Employment Contracts -- Employer, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employer, Municipal Employment -- Employer, Social Security -- Disability, Labor Disputes, Unions, Wage & Hour Laws, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Assault & Battery -- Defense, Defamation & Privacy -- Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Defense, Premises Liability -- Defense, Property Damage -- Defense, Slip and Fall -- Defense, Assault & Battery -- Plaintiff, Defamation & Privacy -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Municipal Employment, Municipal Liability, State Government, Whistleblower/Qui Tam, Federal Employees, State & Municipal Employees, Workers' Compensation Appeals, Workers' Compensation Defense, Workers' Compensation Fraud