Distinctions · AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell · The Best Lawyers in America®, Labor and Employment Law, Labor and Employment Litigation, · Chambers USA, Americas Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor and Employment · Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers · Fellow, American Bar Association · 50 Leading Business Women, Mississippi Business Journal, 2009 · Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division Presidents Award for Public Service Associations · American Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Law Section
-- Employer Co-Chair, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, 2008-10
- Labor and Employment Law Section
-- Employer Co-Chair, 5th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2010-11
- Labor and Employment Law Section
-- Employer Co-Chair, CLE / Institutes and Meetings Committee , 2011 · Mississippi Bar
- Board of Commissioners, 1993-95
- Young Lawyers Division
-- President, 1993-94 · Capital Area Bar Association
- Board of Commissioners, 1991-92 Legal Experience · Ferrell v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., Arkansas Federal Court, (jury verdict in favor of Baxter on age discrimination claim). · Crawford v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 2009 WL 27466 (5th Cir. 2008) (Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of employer in race discrimination and retaliation case). · Ceatrice Kelly v. The Higbee Company dba Dillard's, American Arbitration Association (obtained a defense award in arbitration of race discrimination and retaliation claims). · Edrick Shundra Garrison v. Rent A Center East, Inc. (obtained a defense award in arbitration of race discrimination claim). · Vaughn v. Woodforest Bank, 2001 WL 22176 (granted summary judgment on reverse-race discrimination claim). · Trotter v. BPB America, Inc., 106 Fed. Appx. 272, 2004 WL 1746363 (5th Cir. 2004)(affirming summary judgment for employer and finding alleged stray remarks by manager were insufficient evidence of race discrimination). · Stout v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 282 F.3d 856 (5th Cir. 2002)(affirming summary judgment in favor of employer in Pregnancy Discrimination Act case). · Sanders v. Leake County School Dist., 564 F.Supp.2d 351, 2008 WL 682416 (S.D. Miss. 2008)(dismissing principal's claims against school district for violations of First Amendment, due process, and breach of contract). · Comans v. Scott County School Dist., 2008 WL 695601 (S.D. Miss. 2008)(granting summary judgment in favor of superintendent of school district on plaintiff's claims under Section 1983 and Title VII for gender discrimination and retaliation). · Sappington v. Style-Line Furniture, 2007 WL 3355838 (N.D. Miss. 2007)(granting summary judgment in favor of employer on plaintiff's FLSA claim; finding that employer properly classified supervisor under the executive exemption). · Sandifer ex rel. Sandifer v. Lumberton Public School Dist., 2007 WL 2071799 (S.D. Miss. 2007)(dismissing plaintiff's claim under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act for failure to exhaust administrative remedies). · Burns v. Blackhawk Management Corp., 494 F.Supp.2d 427 (S.D. Miss. 2007)(granting summary judgment in favor of employer on plaintiff's FLSA retaliation claim and finding that employee went "too far" when complaining). · Brewer v. AmSouth Bank, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 1522946 (N.D. Miss. 2006)(granting summary judgment in favor of employer on plaintiff's claims of FMLA retaliation, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and malicious interference with employment). · Sullivan v. Protex Weatherproofing, Inc., 913 So. 2d 256 (Miss. 2005)(enforcing arbitration provision for benefit of non-signatory to agreement). · Stout v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 107 F. Supp. 2d 744 (N.D. Miss. 2000)(granting summary judgment for employer in Pregnancy Discrimination Act case). · Callender v. Ergon, Inc., 928 F. Supp. 665 (S.D. Miss. 1996)(granting summary judgment for employer and finding employer addressed employee's sexually hostile work environment claims immediately and effectively). · Crenshaw v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 915 F. Supp. 93 (W.D. Ark. 1995)(granting summary judgment for employer on employee's "tort of outrage" claim). · Peterson v. Test Int'l, E.C., 904 F. Supp. 574 (S.D. Miss. 1995)(enforcing forum selection clause and finding no jurisdiction over foreign defendant). · Defended fraternal society in nationwide class action discrimination lawsuit. · Defended employer in lawsuit filed by employees nationwide due to loss of jobs related to sale of business. · Defended company's attendance policy successfully against a claim of violation of Pregnancy Discrimination Act. |