Kathleen M. Neary

Kathleen Neary has been with Powers Law representing clients since 1998. As a skilled Lincoln workplace law, discrimination, employer harassment & retaliation, and personal injury attorney, Kathleen serves her clients & the community with passion and poise.

Kathleen is a past president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.

Community Involvement:

• Lancaster County Personnel Board Member;

2003-2013

• City of Lincoln, Nebraska Charter Revision Committee Member;

2007-Present

• Clyde Malone Community Center, Board of Directors;

2011-2018

Cases of Interest:

• Gavin v. Rogers Tech Servs. 276 Neb. 437 (2008)

Secured reversal of summary judgment by trial court in sexual harassment/constructive discharge case for employee.

• Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court: “The element of intending to force the employee to quit is satisfied if the employer could have reasonably foreseen that the employee would quit as a result of its actions.”

• Lacey v. State of Nebraska, 278 Neb. 87 (2009)

Affirmed verdict for employee in sexual harassment case.

• Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court heard: ” We cannot conclude, as a matter of law, that the State exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the sexual harassment…”

• Garcia v. Monument Management Group, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska 4:05 CV3139 (2006)

Summary Judgment granted in favor of employee on liability in gender and pregnancy discrimination case.

• Danhauer v. J.K. Tooling, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Case No. 00-1736

Plaintiff’s discrimination jury verdict affirmed on appeal without comment.

Professional Recognition:

• Kathleen Neary was elected by fellow lawyers to serve on both 3rd District- County Court and District Court Judicial Nominating Commissions.

Employment:

• Powers Law Attorney, Lincoln, NE, 1998 – present

• Neary Law Office, 1996-1997

• Associate Judge, Omaha Tribal Court, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, 1993-1996

• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Niesje J. Steinkruger, District Judge, State of Alaska, 1992-1993

Memberships/Organizations:

• President, Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys (NATA), 2016;

• Member, NATA Board, 2001-Present;

• Chair, Employment Rights Section of American Association Justice (AAJ), 2018;

• Member, AAJ, 1998-Present;

• Member, National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA);

• President, Nebraska NELA, 2013;

• Outstanding Contributor to Woman and the Law, 2015;

• Member, AAJ Employment Rights Executive Committee, 2014-present;

• Vice-Chair, Nebraska State Bar Association (NSBA), Labor and Employment Section, 2012-2013;

• NSBA House of Delegates, 1999-2006;

• Nebraska Bar Association, 1993-Present;

• Great Plains Super Lawyers, 2009-Present;

• Lancaster County Personnel Board, 2003-2013;