Employment Litigation
Overview
Locke Lord’s skilled team of labor and employment litigators has the experience to effectively handle any labor and employment litigation matter nationwide. We have effectively defended our clients for years in both jury and non-jury trials, in state and federal courts, as well as in administrative proceedings. We have also prosecuted lawsuits on behalf of our clients to protect their interests. We recognize that it is best for most of our clients to avoid litigation, but when you are sued or another person or entity is violating your rights and threatening your business or employees, we are ready, willing and fully prepared to litigate. We know and understand that litigation is a necessary and key tool in protecting you or your business, and we have the experience and skill to do so.
Our litigators can assist you in determining when to litigate and how to achieve your goals as they relate to each unique litigation situation. Having Locke Lord’s experienced employment litigators on your side will help you navigate through any and all litigation needs that you or your business have, whether it is the defense of a single plaintiff discrimination claim made by a former or current employee, the defense of a wage and hour collective action, the prosecution or defense of a contract claim or non-competition claim, the pursuit of a theft of trade secrets claim against a former employee or competitor, or any other employment-related litigation matter.
Our labor and employment litigators are experienced not only in their litigation, presentation, and trial advocacy skills, but also in the complexities of the substantive areas of the employment law and evidence as they relate to employment litigation. This combination of trial litigation skills and substantive knowledge of the legal aspects of employment cases brings you and your business the best chance of success with your employment litigation needs. Locke Lord’s employment litigators will examine all possible venues—federal, state, mediation, and arbitration—and work with you to determine which venues are available to you and which will best achieve your goals.
Although we understand that at times it is best to negotiate a settlement if feasible and consistent with your interests or those of your business, a settlement is not always desired and, often times, may not be the optimal solution. We will work with you throughout the litigation process to determine and continuously evaluate litigation options and what is best to meet your goals while doing our best to minimize risks and maximize success. With your input and direction, we will plan and make decisions regarding all case-specific items with a focused eye on the anticipated trial and presentation of the matter to the fact finder, whether a judge, jury, or arbitrator. We have found that a carefully planned litigation strategy, which starts from the beginning, and not once a settlement is not realized, is in the best interests of you and your business to help achieve the ultimate desired outcome of litigation.
From Locke Lord’s national footprint, our labor and employment litigators are able to act quickly and effectively to defend against and prosecute lawsuits as needed whenever and wherever our clients are presented with these legal challenges. We provide our clients experience in courtroom advocacy combined with our knowledge of the complex and substantive legal intricacies of labor and employment law to meet and exceed our clients’ best interests and expectations.
- Represented oilfield services company and obtained a summary judgment in the Eastern District of Texas against claims alleging violations of the American with Disabilities Act.
- Represented a manufacturer of oilfield products and obtained a summary judgment in Texas state court against a claim of age discrimination by a former employee.
- Represented a premier distributor of beverages in the Southern District of Texas and obtained a dismissal of the action alleging race and gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII.
- Resolved class-wide disparate impact race discrimination lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal of former executive's financial "whistleblower" claim against energy company.
- Defended high profile fraud and breach of contract claim brought against energy company by former executive.
- Defended "for cause" dismissal decisions for employers in breach of contract claims.
- Defended clients in FMLA lawsuits and Department of Labor investigations regarding both interference and FMLA retaliation claims.
- Secured verdict in federal trial for national banking association on Sarbanes-Oxley retaliation claim.
- Defended national transportation company in race, sex and age discrimination lawsuits.
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal of all claims in multi-plaintiff race and gender discrimination lawsuit brought against technology and business services company.
- Defended international postal services company in discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.
- Defended national construction company in retaliation lawsuit.
- Defended several employers in multi-family housing industry in discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.
- Defended higher education institution in discrimination and retaliation lawsuit.
- Defended medical device manufacturer in discrimination and retaliation lawsuit.
- Defended higher education institution in breach of contract and fraud lawsuit.
- Defended employer in breach of fiduciary duty and interference with attainment of rights action under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of NYSE company in sexual harassment litigation involving a high-level corporate officer.
- Obtained ruling on all issues from the Illinois Human Rights Commission on behalf of a large Chicago employer in a dispute alleging race discrimination and discriminatory denial of promotion.
- Defended family-owned manufacturing company in a case involving claims of age discrimination, disability discrimination, and a violation of ERISA.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a national media company sued in Los Angeles by a former General Sales Manager who alleged that the Company President had promised to give him 2% of the value of one of the Company's television stations.
- Secured summary judgment for a large, publicly-traded company on a novel ADA issue involving expert witness testimony under Daubert and Kumho Tire and defended the decision on appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Obtained summary judgment for an educational institution in a case involving allegations that the plaintiff was required to speak only English at work.
- Prevailed in a large-scale sexual harassment claim brought by a former employee of a publicly-traded company in Chicago in a case that revolved exclusively around alleged harassment in the form of e-mail messages.
- Defended mining company against allegations of race discrimination and retaliation in federal court in Alabama.
- Represented energy company against claims by former employee for wrongful termination and breach of contract, and obtained summary judgment dismissalon all claims.
- Represented insurance company against claims of independent contractor for misclassification and purported employment claims, and obtained summary judgment dismissal on all claims.
- Represented health care provider in arbitration on employee's claims of sex and pregnancy discrimination, obtaining a complete defense award on all claims.
- Defended a financial institution against an employee's claims of employment discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation and violation of wage and hour laws.
- Represented entertainment industry client in Labor Commissioner claims brought by executives for unpaid wages, and obtained a judgment on all claims.
- Secured unanimous Fifth Circuit affirmance of arbitration award for international funeral service provider in a Sarbanes Oxley wrongful discharge and retaliation case.
- Secured unanimous Fifth Circuit affirmance of summary judgment dismissal of multi-plaintiff race discrimination case for national manufacturer/service provider of copy equipment.
- Secured Dallas federal court trial for international accounting firm in a Title VII sex discrimination and wrongful discharge case.
- Secured unanimous Fifth Circuit affirmance of summary judgment dismissal for an energy exploration company in ERISA severance pay class action.
- Secured unanimous Texas Court of Appeals reverse and render decision for automotive company in a Title VII sex discrimination case.
- Secured federal district court summary judgment for oilfield service company in Title VII religious discrimination case brought by the EEOC.
- Secured Texas state court jury trial for food equipment manufacturer in workers’ compensation retaliation/wrongful discharge case.
- Obtained an arbitration award for a California skilled nursing home facility in a discrimination case involving pregnancy leave.
- Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of multiple claims on behalf of a waste and recycling industry client in an employment contract dispute.
- Defended, litigated and resolved various Title VII and comparable state law lawsuits and complaints regarding alleged conduct, comments, assault, policies, pay practices, hostile work environment, pornography, inappropriate e-mail or internet usage, and other forms of alleged harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
- Obtained numerous summary judgment dismissals in federal and state courts of race, age, and gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims filed against various clients in several industries, including energy, manufacturing, and technology.
- Represented clients in the waste and recycling industries in defense of single plaintiff and multi-plaintiff discrimination and harassment lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.
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