PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS Employment Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation/Whistleblower Claims: -Represented Clients in single and multi-plaintiff actions alleging violations of federal and state civil rights laws, at both trial court and appellate level. -Successful defense of public institution on 14th Amendment and 1981 claims involving rights of privacy (obtained Sixth Circuit opinion, on issue of first impression, affirming summary judgment). -Successful defense of attempted class actions (each resulting in denial of class certification). -MDCR and EEOC claim defense, including position statements, mediation and conciliation. -Extensive experience regarding joint-employer obligations and liabilities. Employment Counseling and Litigation Prevention on issues including: -Document/personnel file retention and production issues -FMLA -Discipline and termination issues; -ADA/ disability accommodation obligations; -Email and internet policies and privacy rights; -Pre-employment and employee drug testing; -Enforceability of arbitration clauses in employment agreements; and -Enforceability of contractually limited statute of limitations period. Experience in conducting harassment/discrimination investigations. Defamation Claims: -Represented numerous clients in prosecuting and defending defamation claims. -Obtained numerous retractions of defamatory statements prior to commencement of litigation, including an internationally disseminated retraction from Reuters. -Experience in prosecuting "John Doe" actions, where defamatory material is posted anonymously on internet chat room sites.
