Kerryann Haase Minton

A major national healthcare entity was sued in federal court for national origin discrimination where the plaintiff claimed he had been fired due to his Hispanic ethnicity. The company asserted the job had been cut as part of an overall workforce reduction. Kerryann's argument – that the function of the court was not to act as a “super personnel department” superseding the decision-making process of the company’s human resources group – not only won the case, it has become a frequently cited decision affecting dozens of similar matters.

Kerryann and her team successfully defended a large technology client in a non-compete case where the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction were denied. They also were called in by a board of directors to take action against a top-level executive who went to work for a competitor. In this case, the team was able to secure a temporary restraining order and negotiate an 18-month non-compete agreement that addressed the board’s business concerns. Kerryann knows what it takes to enforce non-compete agreements and as a result, is successful in defending and enforcing them.

Kerryann successfully defended an international automotive supplier, who faced an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission class action seeking $8 million on behalf of employees claiming the company had discriminated against people with disabilities. The case was based on the Americans with Disabilities Act requirement to provide accommodation of additional time off for disabled people who already had exhausted their Family Medical Leave Act benefits and been terminated. She successfully defended against two class allegations, avoiding costly class action litigation.

A prominent food manufacturer found itself defending claims of sexual harassment, assault, battery, sexual assault, and retaliation and called on Kerryann. She successfully obtained summary judgment, eliminating all claims against the client, after taking critical oral discovery depositions of the plaintiff and other witnesses.

As employment counsel, Kerryann and her team have a deep understanding of clients’ organizational needs. They were asked to create a training program for executives serving on their first board of directors, covering topics such as the critical role of boards, board operations, and fiduciary duties. Similarly, a large family-run business asked the team to work with family members at all levels of the company to clarify the importance of consistency in company policies and procedures.