Employment Litigation

Experience

We defend organizations against a wide range of employment-related claims, including alleged discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour violations, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) noncompliance. We also represent employers in actions involving employment contracts; noncompete, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality agreements; severance arrangements; and employee benefit matters.

Our extensive experience in the employment area ranges from complaint investigations to administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies to litigation in state and federal courts. Given the complexity of employment laws and regulations, even well-intentioned employers can run afoul of the rules, or stand accused of doing so. In our representation of employers, we strive to provide a vigorous, yet cost-effective, defense and to be sensitive to the impact these claims can have on a business's reputation.

Representative Matters

• Obtained summary judgment dismissing whistleblower and wage claims against a publicly traded, energy company client.
• Obtained a directed verdict following a two week jury trial in a disability discrimination case for a Fortune 200 company.
• Won the first jury trial of a reasonable accommodation (disability discrimination) where the jury was permitted by rule to address questions to witnesses.
• Secured a preliminary injunction for a leading espresso coffee machine company in a matter that arose out of the alleged exploitation of the company's customer relationships and misappropriation of its customer files by a former employee.
• Successfully defended a wrongful discharge case brought by a dishonest employee terminated for theft, and served as an expert witness in successful defense of a discharge for employee disloyalty.
• Obtained an arbitrator's no-cause award in a hybrid reverse discrimination case alleging race and sex discrimination by a Caucasian male.
• Resolved a sexual harassment and racial discrimination claim before suit was filed through a 14-hour confidential mediation session, saving our employer client the time, expense and unwanted publicity attendant to litigating such a claim.
• Secured an appellate victory on behalf of a prominent New Jersey hospital in a suit claiming employment discrimination against the hospital and other defendants, as well as hostile work environment and sexual harassment claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, negligent hiring and intentional infliction of emotional distress.