KMB News
April 4, 2008
NBC Affiliate Interviews Lisa J. Banks About Sexual Harassment Suit Brought Against Howard University Hospital
Lisa J. Banks is interviewed by NBC affiliate WRC TV, channel 4, regarding the $4 million sexual harassment suit KMB filed against the Hospital and its Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Geoffrey Mountvarner.
See:
Lawsuit Alleges Howard Doctor Sexually Harassed Employee
April 4, 2008
KMB Attorneys File Sexual Harassment Law Suit Against Howard University Hospital
Lisa J. Banks, Debra S. Katz and Nicole J. Williams filed a sexual harassment law suit against Howard University Hospital and its Chief of Emergency Medicine, Geoffrey Mountvarner, charging that they subjected Evelyn White to a sexually hostile work environment and to retaliation, in violation of the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. According to the Complaint, Dr. Mountvarner routinely subjected Ms. White and other female employees to unwelcome touching, sexual demands, vulgar and sexually explicit remarks, ridicule, intimidation and other abuse, referring, for example, to female physicians and nurses as "hos," "bitches," and other misogynist invectives. The Complaint further alleges that the Hospital retaliated against her by refusing to implement patient care corrective action initiatives that Ms. White pressed be implemented to ensure that the Hospital's Emergency Department met the requisite standard of care; refusing to implement the corrective action measures that were legally mandated following the death of New York Times reporter David E. Rosenbaum; subjecting her to increased scrutiny and unfounded accusations of misconduct; impugning her professional reputation; removing her from her position as Director of Emergency and Trauma Care Services; assigning her to an undesirable position; subjecting witnesses - who corroborated her allegations - to intimidation and harassment; and allowing Dr. Mountvarner to pursue a frivolous complaint of sexual harassment after he was put on notice by HUH that Ms. White had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him.
See The Washington Post report on this suit:
Nursing Official Files Sexual Harassment SuitThe Washington Post, April 4, 2008
March 31, 2008
The Legal Times Publishes Commentary by Debra S. Katz and Nicole J. Williams about ex-Park Police Chief's Whistleblower Case
The Legal Times publishes commentary about ex-Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers' whistleblower case and recent ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that provided a strong rebuke to the Merit Systems Protection Board. In a rare move, the Federal Circuit sided with a government whistleblower, in a case that is likely to have consequences for workers throughout the federal government who identify risks to the public health and safety.
See:
Halt, In the Name of Public Safety The Legal Times, March 31, 2008
PDF version
March, 2008
Debra S. Katz is Named to List of Top Attorneys in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area
Debra Katz is named by "Super Lawyers" to its list of top lawyers in the Washington, D.C. area, published in the New York Times. The list was compiled through a rigorous peer-review process, followed by an evaluation of the lawyers' expertise, awards, and cases. Only 5% of Washington, D.C. lawyers are included on the list.
March 4, 2008
The Washington Post Reports on Complaint Filed by KMB on Behalf of ATF Whistleblower
KMB attorneys Debra S. Katz and Hanan Idilbi filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the Office of Special Counsel on behalf of Edgar Domenech, the former Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"). Mr. Domenech alleged that ATF and the Justice Department retaliated against him for raising concerns about former ATF director Carl J. Truscott's financial mismanagement of the Bureau. Mr. Truscott resigned in August 2006 while under investigation by the Department of Justice for financial mismanagement. In October 2006, the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General issued a report which largely confirmed complaints made by Mr. Domenech and other ATF senior officials about Truscott's wide-ranging pattern of improper expenditures on a new ATF headquarters, personal security, and other items of a personal nature. The Justice Department concluded that among Mr. Truscott's other misdeeds, he improperly forced employees to help his nephew prepare a high school video project and required female employees to serve lunch to guests.
According to the OSC Complaint, which was filed yesterday, Mr. Domenech has been demoted and transferred out of Headquarters, his performance appraisals have been downgraded, he has been denied a bonus and has been excluded from meetings concerning his areas of responsibility, all in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act. The Complaint further alleges that ATF's acting director, Michael J. Sullivan, took these actions against Mr. Domenech in retaliation for his reports about Mr. Truscott, who headed President Bush's Secret Service detail and had close ties to the White House. According to the Complaint, Mr. Sullivan told him that he was being removed to give others an opportunity to perform in the Deputy Director role, an explanation reminiscent of the now discredited justification provided by the Justice Department when it fired nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006.
See:
ATF Whistle-Blower Alleges Backlash
Edgar A. Domenech: OSC Report of Possible Prohibited Personnel Practices
February 22, 2008
Bloomberg Columnist Quotes Debra S. Katz
Bloomberg Columnist quotes Debra S. Katz in commentary about federal government whistleblower cases.
See:
No One Likes Snitches, Including Judges
February 18, 2008
The National Law Journal Publishes Commentary by KMB Lawyers regarding the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The National Law Journal published a commentary by Debra S. Katz and Justine Andronici titled "Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblowers: Experts Only, Please." The Commentary criticizes a recent circuit court of appeals ruling that limits the protection afforded to corporate whistleblowers under the Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Act. The Commentary notes that: "Sarbanes-Oxley was passed to encourage employees to come forward with complaints about fraud, or potential violations of securities fraud, not to set such a high standard for protection that employees may actually be deterred from reporting suspected fraud and abuse or fired with impunity when they do."
February 12, 2008
Debra S. Katz participated as a Panelist for Women's Bar Association Event
Debra S. Katz participated as a panelist for Women's Bar Association Event, "Carving Your Pathway to Success," held at the Women's National Democratic Club.
January, 2008
Lawdragon has named Debra S. Katz on its list of finalists for the "Leading 500 Lawyers in America."
Lawdragon, an online and print legal-services information company, has named Debra S. Katz on its list of "Finalists" for the "The Leading 500 Lawyers in America." This listing is based on nominations by clients, law school deans, judges and other leaders in the legal profession. According to Lawdragon, they list of finalists represents less than 1 percent of the legal profession and are the most elite group of legal professionals compiled.
January, 2008
The American Arbitration Association has named Lisa J. Banks to its National Roster of Impartial Experts
We are pleased to announce that the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") has named Lisa J. Banks to its National Roster of impartial experts, or "neutrals," to hear and resolve cases brought for binding arbitration before AAA. Neutrals, like Ms. Banks, are recognized for their standing and expertise in their fields, and are nominated to the National Roster by leaders in their profession.
January 14, 2008
Debra S. Katz is quoted by the National Law Journal concerning proposed amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act
Debra S. Katz is quoted by the National Law Journal concerning proposed amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. "'There is a feeling in our office that [the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals] is an unwinnable forum,' said employment litigator Debra Katz of Washington's Katz, Banks & Marshall. 'There are many of us who won't even take these cases because there is no real appeal route. I tell clients they have more chance of being struck by lightning than of winning there.'"
See:
Federal Circuit a 'hostile' forum?
December 16, 2007
The Washington Post reports on complaint filed by KMB on behalf of U.S. Coast Guard Deepwater whistleblower
In a complaint filed with the Bush administration by KMB attorneys Debra S. Katz and Ari Wilkenfeld, Katz alleges that the U.S. Coast Guard placed Anthony D'Armiento on administrative leave, threatened him with a criminal investigation, and confronted him at gunpoint in retaliation for disclosing information embarrassing to the Coast Guard's troubled $25 Billion fleet replacement program, known as Deepwater.
See:
Coast Guard Employee Alleges Retaliation
Whistleblower alleges retaliation
December 14, 2007
National Journal quotes Debra S. Katz in connection with FBI Probe of Special Inspector General for Iraq
The National Journal quotes Debra S. Katz in connection with FBI Probe of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, concerning his activities in accessing email accounts of employees.
See:
FBI Probes Special IG For Iraq
November 30, 2007
Washington Post reports about Scott Bloch's destruction of computer files
Washington Post quotes Debra S. Katz, counsel for former and current OSC employees who brought a complaint against Bloch which is currently being investigated by the OPM IG. Earlier in the week, Katz sent a letter to President Bush urging Bloch's termination in light of the latest revelations concerning his destruction of evidence and obstruction of the OPM IG investigation.
See:
U.S. Special Counsel Says He Won't Provide Files
November 30, 2007
Federal News Radio interviews Avi Kumin about Scott Bloch's investigation
Federal News Radio interviews Avi Kumin about Scott Bloch's investigation by the Office of Personnel Management's Office of Inspector General, and his destruction of computer files.
November 28, 2007
USA Today Reports on letter sent by Debra S. Katz to President George W. Bush
Debra S. Katz sent a strongly worded letter to President George W. Bush today on behalf of a coalition of current and former employees of the United States Office of Special Counsel ("OSC") and whistleblower protection groups, urging President Bush to fire Special Counsel Scott Bloch in the wake of his admission that he directed the deletion of computer files at the Agency. According to today's Wall Street Journal, in the midst of the OPM IG's investigation into his misconduct at OSC, Bloch hired a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call, to delete Agency computer files destroying crucial evidence and making it virtually impossible for forensics experts to restore the data later.
Katz stated, "Today's Wall Street Journal contains a report confirming what my clients and other sources within OSC have been saying since the OPM IG investigation began: that Mr. Bloch and his political henchmen have continuously obstructed the investigators' efforts to get at the truth. ... Tellingly, the article quotes Mr. Bloch as defending himself with a claim that the OPM IG has a 'conflict of interest' in pursuing its investigation of Mr. Bloch while his office supposedly is conducting an investigation of the White House. This claim by Mr. Bloch confirms what we have repeatedly pointed out in correspondence with the White House Counsel, with Clay Johnson, Deputy Director of OMB, and with members of Congress - that Mr. Bloch launched his supposed investigation of the White House to insulate himself from the OPM IG investigation."
See:
Attorney: New claims against special counsel are firing offense
Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself
Rove investigator accused of wiping data from office computer
November 23, 2007
Washingtonian Magazine Ranks Katz, Marshall and Banks Among Washington's Top Lawyers
In its December 2007 edition, Washingtonian magazine names KMB partners Debra S. Katz, David J. Marshall and Lisa J. Banks to its prestigious best lawyers in Washington list. The Washingtonian article, which is based on a poll of lawyers who named the best practitioners in their fields, describes the list as representing "Washington's best - the top 1 percent - in 28 legal specialties." KMB partners Debra S. Katz and Lisa J. Banks are named in the "You're Fired!" section which lists the District's top plaintiffs' employment lawyers, and KMB partner David J. Marshall is named in the "Blowing the Whistle" section which lists D.C.'s top lawyers handling whistleblower cases. "Hang on to the list," the Washingtonian advises its readers. "When you really need a lawyer, you might want one of these."
See:
Big Guns: Washington's Top 800 Lawyers
November 7, 2007
KMB Files Discrimination Complaint Against ExxonMobil Corporation
Debra S. Katz, Avi Kumin, and Hanan Idilbi filed a religion, race, and national origin discrimination complaint against ExxonMobil Corporation in the federal district court in Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that three employees of an Exxon station on the Delaware Turnpike - Sofiene Romdhani, an Arab Muslim originally from Tunisia, and Michelle Maloney and Bobbi Joe Zeller, who had both converted to Islam - suffered persistent racial and religious harassment and discrimination at the hands of Exxon supervisors. The suit alleged that the plaintiffs and other Muslim and Arab employees at the station were subjected to racist graffiti and a steady barrage of anti-Muslim comments by management officials, who vowed to rid the station of all Muslims employees. The suit further alleged that Exxon's headquarters ignored repeated complaints of discrimination from Muslim employees at the station and failed to perform a timely investigation. Ultimately, the suit alleged, two of the three plaintiffs were forced to resign because they could not tolerate the harassment and abuse, while the third was suddenly terminated on the same day she complained about managers viewing pornography in the workplace. The Wilmington civil rights firm of Martin & Wilson serves as local counsel in the case.
See:
Discrimination Complaint Against ExxonMobil Corporation, dated November 5, 2007
Muslim former employees at I-95 service station sue Exxon
November 2, 2007
Avi Kumin trains attorneys in disability and medical, family and leave law
Avi Kumin was a speaker at the employment law training for pro bono attorneys held by the D.C. Bar Association and the D.C. Employment Justice Center. Mr. Kumin trained attorneys about the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
November 1-2, 2007
KMB Files Nuclear Whistleblower Complaint Against Southern Nuclear Company
Debra S. Katz, David J. Marshall and Nicole Williams filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of Michael Smith, a nuclear engineer at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. Smith's complaint, filed with the United States Department of Labor, alleges that Southern has retaliated against him for reporting nuclear safety issues at the Farley plant, in violation of Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act, the federal law which protects nuclear whistleblowers.
Smith alleges that within days of reporting safety concerns and acts of retaliation by Farley management to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC"), and within hours of submitting Condition Reports documenting deficiencies in the plant's safety culture, Farley's management falsely accused him of being a "danger to nuclear safety," for submitted the reports very early in the morning and before reporting to the Plant. After berating him for submitting these reports, Farley management had him escorted from the plant, took his badge, and made him submit to a fitness for duty exam. Smith alleges that Farley management then suspended Smith for five weeks, citing his supposed danger to nuclear safety, and have took actions to set him up for termination. Smith alleges that Farley management took this action after learning that he had met with the NRC to report that Farley was unconcerned about maintaining a safety conscious work environment, and that he and other nuclear engineers felt harassed and intimidated for reporting nuclear safety concerns.
See:
Whistle-blower says he's victim of retaliation
Farley nuclear planted cited for safety problems
October 29, 2007
The Legal Times publishes Avi Kumin's commentary on a Supreme Court discrimination case
The Legal Times publishes Avi Kumin's commentary on a Supreme Court discrimination case recently accepted for review by the Supreme Court. Mr. Kumin writes that effective enforcement of laws prohibiting racial discrimination will depend upon the Court upholding the right to bring retaliation claims under federal statute Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act.
See:
Taking Aim at Section 1981?
October 12, 2007
The Washington Post reports on letter sent by Debra S. Katz to Fred Fielding, White House Counsel
The Washington Post quoted from Ms. Katz's letter to Mr. Fielding concerning Special Counsel Scott Bloch's obstruction of the investigation of the OPM IG into allegations of prohibited personnel practices and other serious violations of federal law by Bloch, including retaliation against employees who disputed his policies.
See:
That Whistle's Been Blowing for Two Years
Letter to Fred Fielding dated October 9, 2007
Letter sent by GAP, POGO and PEER dated October 10, 2007
October 10, 2007
Letter sent by Debra Katz to Fred Fielding
Congressional Daily reports on letter sent by Debra S. Katz to Fred Fielding, White House Counsel.
See news article:
Watchdog Groups Oppose More Money for Special Counsel
See:
Letter to Fred Fielding dated October 9, 2007
October 7, 2007
The New York Post quotes Debra S. Katz
The New York Post quotes Debra S. Katz about the impact the Isiah Thomas verdict will have for other sexual harassment litigants.
See news article:
Experts: Harassment Cases Will Spur More Complaints
October 2, 2007
Maura Dundon has joined Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP
We are pleased to announce that Maura Dundon has joined the firm as an Associate. Ms. Dundon is a 2005 graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a Kent Scholar and was on the Columbia Law Review. After graduation, she completed a year-long fellowship with Public Citizen's Alan Morrison Supreme Court Assistance Project, where she participated in merits- and cert-stage Supreme Court briefing. She then clerked for Judge Anita Brody in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Ms. Dundon completed legal internships at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center in Santa Fe, and Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP, in New York City.
September 2007
Hanan Idilbi has joined Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP
We are pleased to announce that Hanan Idilbi has joined Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP as an Associate. Ms. Idilbi previously served as a Litigation Fellow at the firm. Ms. Idilbi received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Duke University in 2001. In 2007, Ms. Idilbi graduated summa cum laude from American University Washington College of Law where she was a Public Interest/Public Service Scholar. Ms. Idilbi served as a staff member on the American University Law Review and was inducted into the WCL chapter of the Order of the Coif.
September 26, 2007
Debra Katz was selected as one of the nation's top employment lawyers and civil rights lawyers
The Washington Post Magazine published the results of the Washington DC Area's Best Lawyers excerpted from the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent guide to the legal profession in the United States. Debra S. Katz was selected as one of the nation's top employment lawyers and civil rights lawyers. Published for a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation's top lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers.
September 24, 2007
The National Law Journal quotes Debra S. Katz concerning two employment discrimination cases before the U.S. Supreme Court during the 2007-2008 term.
September 18, 2007
KMB sponsors National Breast Cancer Coalition's Second Annual Strike Breast Cancer Bowling Challenge.
September 13, 2007
BlueHippo Loses Appeal on Arbitration Clause
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond has dismissed an appeal by BlueHippo in a class-actions lawsuit challenging the company's business practices. BlueHippo's appeal had sought to force all customers nationwide to pursue their claims through individual arbitration proceedings, even if they had never signed arbitration agreements. KMB's David J. Marshall, who represents BlueHippo customers along with Professor Gary Peller of Georgetown University Law School, said the Fourth Circuit's dismissal of the BlueHippo's appeal clears the way for consumers to pursue their claims in court. "We plan to rejuvenate our case in California and put BlueHippo out of business," Marshall said.
See news articles:
Retailer Loses Federal Appeal, Baltimore Sun
Federal Court Strikes BlueHippo's Arbitration Clause, Consumer Affairs
September 7, 2007
KMB Files Nuclear Whistleblower Lawsuit in Alabama
David J. Marshall and Daniel B. Edelman, along with Frank B. Potts, Jr., of Potts & Young Attorneys LLP in Florence, Alabama, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on behalf of James Speegle, a construction foreman who was fired for blowing the whistle on nuclear safety violations at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant near Athens, Alabama. Stone & Webster Construction Co., a TVA contractor, fired Speegle in May 2004, two days after he met with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about serious safety problems with the protective coatings used in the plant's cooling system, and immediately following a heated exchange with management about these issues. In a press release issued today, KMB attorney David J. Marshall expressed confidence that Speegle will win his case in federal court. "The people who work in and live near Browns Ferry rely on the workers there to blow the whistle on safety violations," Marshall said, "and I'm confident that they want to see James Speegle vindicated for doing the right thing."
See:
Complaint for Compensatory Damages and Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
Whistleblower sues over firing by TVA contractor at Browns Ferry
Plant Fired Worker Who Raised Safety Concerns: Suit, The Employment Law 360 (September 7, 2007)
Tuscumbia man files lawsuit against nuclear plant
September 1, 2007
Blowing the Whistle on Accounting Fraud: The Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Protections at a Glance
CFO Magazine's online edition, CFO.com, publishes a white paper by KMB attorneys David J. Marshall and Nicole J. Williams on the employee-protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley act, which protect employees of publicly traded companies who blow the whistle on accounting fraud and other wrongdoing. This white paper provides finance professionals with some of the information they need to know before blowing the whistle on such unlawful practices.
See:
Blowing the Whistle on Accounting Fraud: The Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Protections at a Glance, CFO Magazine, A White Paper for Finance Professionals
August 6, 2007
Complainants against Scott Bloch, OSC Special Counsel
Debra S. Katz, counsel for current and former employees of the Office of Special Counsel who have filed a complaint against Scott Bloch, OSC Special Counsel, is quoted by The New York Times in its profile of Special Counsel Scott Bloch. According to Katz, Bloch "came into this agency, dismantled it and made it completely inhospitable for conscientious employees to do their work."
See:
Investigative Drama: Special Counsel's Crusade
August 1, 2007
The Top 10 Plaintiffs' Attorneys to Fear the Most
Human Resource Executive magazine names Debra S. Katz on its list of "The Top 10 Plaintiffs' Attorneys to Fear the Most." In its August cover story, entitled "Meet the Enemy," HRE profiles ten of the "most highly regarded and successful employment-law plaintiffs' attorneys" and notes that "to know them is to avoid them."
See:
Feared Employment-Law Plaintiffs' Attorneys
August 1, 2007
The Legacy of "Ledbetter"
The National Law Journal publishes an article by Lisa J. Banks and Debra S. Katz analyzing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Inc. and other employment-related Supreme Court cases of the 2006-2007 term. As Ms. Banks and Ms. Katz note in the article, the Supreme Court radically narrowed Title VII protections against pay discrimination in Ledbetter, which previously generally held that each new paycheck that is polluted by discrimination constituted a separate discriminatory employment practice, thus signaling a reversal of decades of progress on legal rights for women and minorities in the workplace. Justice Ginsburg, declaring from the bench that "this Court does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination," called on Congress to step in and correct the Court's ill-considered decision. KMB attorneys will certainly join those efforts to seek passage of the "Ledbetter Fair Pay Act."
Banks and Katz also note that the Court's failure to reach the merits on another closely watched case of the term, EEOC v. BCI Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Los Angeles, left both employees and employers short of the victory that each sought on the issue of employer liability for so called "cat's paw" actions.
See:
The Legacy of "Ledbetter", The National Law Journal (August 1, 2007)
July 23, 2007
Court Gives OK to Unequal Pay
Ms. Magazine publishes article by Justine Andronici criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Inc. Pursuant to this ruling employees must file a charge with the EEOC within 180 days of receiving their initial pay check, or otherwise lose the ability to bring a claim for pay discrimination later. As Ms. Andronici notes in the article, the Supreme Court radically narrowed Title VII protections against pay discrimination, which generally held that new paycheck that is polluted by discrimination constituted a separate discriminatory employment practice, thus signaling a reversal of decades of progress on legal rights for women and minorities in the workplace. Justice Ginsburg, declaring from the bench that "this Court does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination," called on Congress to step in and correct the Court's ill-considered decision. KMB attorneys will certainly join those efforts to seek passage of the "Ledbetter Fair Pay Act."
See also:
Court Gives OK to Unequal Pay, Ms. Magazine (Summer 2007)
July 18, 2007
Caregiver Discrimination
KMB attorney Justine Andronici is quoted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in a report on "family-responsibilities discrimination" or "caregiver discrimination" on the part of non-profit employers. According to Andronici, such discrimination is not uncommon even when prohibited in an organization's employment manual. Family-responsibilities discrimination has attracted enough attention recently to prompt the EEOC to issue a comprehensive Enforcement Guidance on the topic, as well as on related issues of gender-role stereotyping of women.
July 17, 2007
Settlement Announced in Capitol Tunnel Workers Case
KMB and the Government Accountability Project announce a settlement in the workers' whistleblower retaliation case filed by ten U.S. Capitol Tunnel Shop workers against the Architect of the Capitol. The out-of-court settlement resolves the complaint that the workers filed with the Congressional Office of Compliance in October 2006, charged the Architect with harassing and threatening them after they alerted Congress in March 2006 to the life-threatening levels of asbestos and other hazards they faced while working in the utility tunnels that run beneath Capitol Hill.
See also:
Capitol Steamfitters Settle Case
Capitol Tunnel Workers Settle Whistleblower Complaints
July 13, 2007
Political Battles Expected to Overshadow OSC Reauthorization
Debra S. Katz, counsel for current and former employees of the Office of Special Counsel who have filed a complaint against Scott Bloch, OSC Special Counsel, is quoted by the Federal Times in connection with the OSC reauthorization hearings. According to Katz, "We believe that it is obvious that Mr. Bloch launched this wide-ranging inquiry in an attempt to deflect attention from his own serious misconduct and obstruct the investigation that is being conducted by the OPM IG." The article references an April 2007 written by Katz to White House Counsel Fred Fielding asking Bloch to recuse himself from the Hatch Act probe of Karl Rove and other White House personnel. According to Katz, "the Hatch Act investigation will allow Bloch to label an adverse finding in the OPM investigation as retaliation." She also notes that if Bloch's investigation of the White House "is still under way when OPM completes its own investigation of Mr. Bloch ... the White House will be put in the position of having to make a decision about Mr. Bloch's future while it is itself being investigated by [him]."
July 6, 2007
Cell-Phone Woes
U.S. News & World Report quotes KMB attorney David J. Marshall in an article on cellular phone companies' growing practice of requiring customer to extend their contracts as a condition of upgrading their plans.
July 3, 2007
Troubled Waters At the Salon Spa (Washington Post Article)
KMB attorneys Debra S. Katz, Ari Wilkenfeld and Justine Andronici prosecute sexual harassment suit filed against Andre Chreky and his Salon. The Washington Post featured a Style Section article about the lawsuit noting that "Two Ex-Employees Present a Very Different Image of Andre Chreky. For a decade, Andre Chreky's boutique has been atop the particular trade that is the high-end hair salon industry in the nation's capital."
June 14, 2007
A Brief Overview of
Whistleblower Litigation Before the U.S. Department of Labor
David J. Marshall was a speaker at the West Virginia Association for Justice's annual convention in Charleston, West Virginia. Mr. Marshall spoke on the topic, "Whistleblowers: Can a Whistleblower Get Justice? Can Her Lawyer Get Paid?"
Download as PDF [46kb]
May 24, 2007
Conducting Bullet-proof Internal HR Investigations
Debra S. Katz was a speaker at the D.C. Bar's Labor and Employment Law Section seminar "Conducting Bullet-proof Internal HR Investigations".
May 21, 2007
The Poverty Business
Business Week magazine interviews KMB client Vincent Humphries for its cover story on "The Poverty Business: Inside U.S. Companies' Audacious Drive to Extract More Profits from the Nation's Working Poor." Humphries is a named plaintiff in KMB's class-action lawsuits against computer sales company BlueHippo Funding, LLC. In the article, which focuses on BlueHippo as one of several profiled companies that prey on low-income consumers, Humphries describes how BlueHippo "strong-armed" him our of $124 and refused to allow him to cancel his contract. Business Week also quotes a spokesman for Gateway, Inc., which KMB and The Sturdevant Law Firm seek to add as a defendant in their class action against BlueHippo, as admitting that the computer giant was "aware of [BlueHippo's] business model from the get-go," but maintained a relationship with the company because it wanted to "make a profit."
See:
Proposed Amended Complaint
Download as PDF [117kb]
May 14, 2007
Debra S. Katz speaks at a Whistleblower Protection Seminar
Debra S. Katz spoke at the D.C. Whistleblower Week -- Whistleblower Law & Protections seminar in Washington, D.C.
May 11, 2007
BlueHippo Agrees to Settlement
KMB's David J. Marshall tells the Baltimore Sun that a settlement between the Maryland Attorney General and computer sales company BlueHippo Funding will have little effect on the class-action lawsuit that KMB and The Sturdevant Law Firm are prosecuting against the company in Federal Court in California. Marshall points out that the company continues to take hundreds of dollars each from thousands of consumers nationwide without delivering the merchandise the customers ordered.
May 10 and 11, 2007
The 40th Annual Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference
Debra S. Katz was a speaker at the 40th Annual Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference in Seattle, Washington. Ms. Katz spoke about the law of retaliation.
May 10, 2007
On Your Side: Blue Hippo
ABC-7 TV News's consumer reporter Ross McLaughlin features evidence submitted by KMB attorneys David J. Marshall and Gary Peller in class-action lawsuit against BlueHippo Funding in a "Seven on Your Side" story on the computer sales company. In a comprehensive report that probing BlueHippo Funding's unfair and deceptive business practices, McLaughlin relies on data analyzed and filed by KMB in the class actions that KMB and The Sturdevant Law firm filed against the company in Federal Courts in California and Maryland. "We got our hands on some of BlueHippo's own data," McLaughlin reports, "... and discovered, of computers ordered, only 34 percent were shipped."
May 10, 2007
Architect to Fix Health Hazards of Tunnels in Capitol
The Washington Post and a local ABC News affiliate report on a settlement between the Congressional Office of Compliance and the Architect of the Capitol, which requires the Architect to fix safety problems in the asbestos-laden utility tunnels staffed by KMB clients John Thayer and nine other tunnel workers. KMB attorneys David J. Marshall, Debra S. Katz and Nicole J. Williams represent the ten workers in a retaliation complaint against the Architect.
See:
Capitol Architect Agrees to Fix Asbestos Problem
May 3-5, 2007
ALI-ABA's conference
Litigating Employment Discrimination and Employment-Related Claims and Defenses
in Federal and State Courts
Debra S. Katz served as a co-chair of ALI-ABA's conference "Litigating Employment Discrimination and Employment-Related Claims and Defenses in Federal and State Courts," which took place in Boston, Massachusetts.
Ms. Katz and Lisa J. Banks served as members of the faculty. Ms. Katz lectured on Harassment in the Workplace; Whistleblowing, Sarbanes-Oxley, and Retaliation Claims; and "Practical and Tactical Employment Litigation Issues". Ms. Banks lectured about "Race, National Origin, and Religion: Recent Developments". Ms. Banks also lectured on "Practical and Tactical Employment Litigation Issues".
May 1, 2007
A Bush Appointee Goes After the White House
Debra S. Katz is quoted by the Los Angeles Times in an article entitled "Bush Appointee Goes After the White House." Katz represents former Office of Special Counsel employees in a federal lawsuit alleging that Special Counsel Scott Bloch, a Bush appointee, used his office to stifle dissent by pushing out long-term employees and hiring political allies.
April 17, 2007
Don't Whistle While You Work
Debra Katz is quoted by Mother Jones magazine in its article "Don't Whistle While You Work: The War on Whistleblowers." The article focuses on the poor enforcement of whistleblower laws by Scott Bloch, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, the federal agency charged with whistleblower protection. KMB represents a group of former OSC employees who allege that Mr. Bloch retaliated against them after they engaged in protected speech and associations.
Download as PDF [1,1Mb]
April 12-13, 2007
Employment Law & Litigation Institute 2007
Debra S. Katz served as a member of the faculty at Georgetown University Law Center CLE's Employment Law & Litigation Institute 2007.
April 10, 2007
Capitol Tunnel Workers Have Lung Disease
NBC Nightly News airs news story about U.S. Capitol Tunnel Workers, who are represented by KMB's David J. Marshall and Nicole J. Williams, and by the Government Accountability Project, in complaint against the Architect of the Capitol over asbestos exposure and retaliation. Investigative Reporter Lisa Myers and Producer Rich Gardella report that AOC management waited nine years after learning of asbestos to require tunnel workers to wear respirators. Marshall calls AOC's conduct "absolutely shocking."
See News Stories:
At Murray's Urging, Architect of the Capitol Pulls Out All Workers from Asbestos Infested Tunnels
In response to demand from Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the Architect of the Capitol removes the U.S. Capitol tunnel crew from asbestos-infested utility tunnels. Sen. Murray's Press Release announcing this development contains links to tunnel crew supervisor John Thayer's testimony at a Senate hearing on Murray's bill to ban asbestos from use in U.S. industry. In later comments to the press, Thayer and Marshall express concern that the Architect of the Capitol take this opportunity to retaliate further against the workers by assigning them to undesirable jobs.Disgraceful
The saga of the Capitol "tunnel rats" is beginning to resemble the plight of mine workers in 19th century America or laborers in Siberia or the backwaters of the Third World - in short, a disgrace to modern America, especially Congress.Workers Transferred From Hill Tunnels
Ten workers who spent years, even decades, working in asbestos-laden utility tunnels under the Capitol complex were reassigned yesterday because of concerns for their health.Amid Asbestos Concerns, AoC Pulls Workers from Tunnels
In the wake of congressional pressure and revelations of intensifying asbestos-related health problems, the Architect of the Capitol (AoC) announced yesterday that some Capitol Power Plant tunnel workers who have been exposed to asbestos are being reassigned to other duties.
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April 9, 2007
Debra Katz is quoted by National Law Journal
Debra Katz is quoted by the National Law Journal in an article about an employment case to be considered by the Supreme Court, regarding a biased subordinate's influence over an employer's personnel decision.
April 5, 2007
The Right to Complain
Debra Katz and Justine Andronici publish an article in Ms. Magazine regarding the changing terrain of employee retaliation claims.
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March 16-17, 2007
The Spring Seminar
David J. Marshall served as a member of the faculty at the National Employment Lawyers Association 2007 Spring seminar, "Representing Workers in Whistleblower & Retaliation Actions" in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Marshall spoke on a panel that addressed ethics issues that commonly arise in the representation of whistleblowers.
March, 2007
Debra S. Katz is Named to List of Top Attorneys in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area
Debra Katz is named by "Super Lawyers" to its list of top lawyers in the Washington, D.C. area, published in the New York Times. The list was compiled through a rigorous peer-review process, followed by an evaluation of the lawyers' expertise, awards, and cases. Only 5% of Washington, D.C. lawyers are included on the list.
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March 2, 2007
In the United States District Court for the district of Maryland, Northern Division
KMB's David J. Marshall and Gary Peller, along with the Sturdevant Law Firm, persuaded a Federal Court in Baltimore to reconsider and vacate its earlier ruling that would have forced tens of thousands consumers to arbitrate their claims against BlueHippo Funding, LLC, despite the fact that they never signed arbitration agreements with the company. The court's new ruling allows these consumers to proceed in court against a computer sales company that has taken hundreds of dollars each from over 100,000 consumers while providing nothing of value in return.
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See also:
Memorandum of Points and Authorities
Memorandum of points and authorities in support of Plaintiffs' opposition to designation as interim counsel, Plantiffs' motion for reconsideration, and other relief requested in the accompanying motions.
Memorandum Opinion
Joan Hill-Rodriguez, Vincent Humphries, Moses Sabb, Pedro Santiuste, Carlton Turner, and Serrenia White, individually and as representatives of similarly situated consumers, sued BlueHippo Funding LLC and Joseph K. Resin, owner of BlueHippo, (Defendants collectively, "BlueHippo") for unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"), the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ("EFTA"), the Maryland Consumer Protection Act ("MD CPA"), and the Maryland Retail Installment Sales Act ("RISA").
February 23, 2007
Gross Mismanagement at the Disaster Assistance Program of the U.S. Small Business Administration
KMB's Debra S. Katz and Avi L. Kumin sent a letter to Senators Kerry, Snowe, Landrieu, and Stevens, and Reps. Velazquez and Cabot regarding gross mismanagement at the Disaster Assistance Program of the U.S. Small Business Administration on behalf of KMB clients.
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See the Accusations of Agency Error in Disaster Loans article
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February 10, 2007
Avi L. Kumin becomes a partner Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP
We are pleased to announce that Avi L. Kumin has become a partner with the firm.
February 2, 2007
Stylists Sue Former High-Profile Boss For $4 Million
Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP filed a sexual harassment suit against The Chreky Salon and Andre Chreky, former hair stylist of First Lady Laura Bush. Ari Wilkenfeld is interviewed on NBC4 news regarding the filing of this lawsuit.
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See the Hairdresser to the Elite Faces New Lawsuit article
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February 1, 2007
Continuing Obstruction of OPM OIG Investigation of Scott Bloch
KMB's Debra Katz sent a letter to Clay Johnson III, Chairman of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, and several members of Congress regarding the continuing obstruction by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) of the investigation of it by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Inspector General (OIG). KMB represents a group of former OSC employees who filed a complaint alleging that they were transferred and terminated by the OSC for blowing the whistle on legal violations at that agency. In response to KMB's letter, the OSC issues a retraction to all of its employees, stating that it will cooperate fully with the OIG investigation.
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January 2, 2007
Scaling the Maternal Wall
Ms. Magazine publishes article by Justine Andronici and Debra S. Katz regarding barriers faced by working mothers and recent court cases giving hope against this job bias, entitled 'Scaling the Maternal Wall.'
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December 13, 2006
Capitol Tunnel Workers Receive Award
David Marshall is quoted in the Washington Post in a story about a group of ten KMB clients employed to maintain the utility tunnels under Capitol Hill. The workers received the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage, given to people who take a public stance to advance truth at personal risk, for blowing the whistle on dangerous working conditions at the Capitol.
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November 30-December 2, 2006
Debra S. Katz served as a member of the faculty for the ALI-ABA CLE
Debra S. Katz served as a member of the faculty for the ALI-ABA CLE: Advanced Employment Law and Litigation course, in Washington, D.C. Ms. Katz taught the following programs: "Retaliation, Whistleblower Protection and Sarbanes Oxley Developments," and "Ethical Problems in Employment Litigation."
November 3, 2006
Employment law training with partner Avi Kumin
Avi Kumin was a speaker at the D.C. Employment Justice Center's employment law training for pro bono attorneys. Mr. Kumin spoke about "Litigating and Resolving Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act Issues".
October 18, 2006
Employee's Formal Request for Counseling
David Marshall and co-counsel Joanne Royce, General Counsel for the Government Accountability project (www.whistleblower.org), file a complaint with the Office of Compliance on behalf of ten workers who maintain utility tunnels beneath Capitol Hill. The workers allege that the Architect of the Capitol, the Legislative Branch agency that employs them, knowingly exposed them to dangerous levels of asbestos and other pathogens for years, and retaliated against them for making these and other life-threatening conditions known to Congress and the public.
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See the Medical Testing for U.S. Capitol Tunnel Shop Employees article
The workers also demand that the Architect or Congress pay for medical diagnostic testing for asbestos-related and other occupational diseases, for which the workers intend to pursue compensation.
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October 14, 2006
Seminar with partner Debra S. Katz
Debra S. Katz was a speaker at the National Employment Lawyers Association Fall seminar, "Beyond Stereotypes: Discovering & Proving Hidden Bias in Employment Cases," in Washington, D.C.
October 9, 2006
Acting Above the Law
Debra S. Katz and Justine Andronici publish an article in the National Law Journal regarding sexual harassment of teenagers, and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's failure to adequately respond to notice of Rep. Mark Foley's harassing conduct.
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October 2006
Teen Workplace Harassment & the Foley Scandal - The Untold Story
Ms. Magazine publishes article by Debra S. Katz and Justine Andronici regarding sexual harassment of teenage workers and the Mark Foley scandal, titled "Teen Workplace Harassment & The Foley Scandal - The Untold Story" (October 2006). Ms. Katz and Ms. Andronici write that "the partisan game of "gotcha" politics is in full swing with the Mark Foley scandal occupying center stage. Unfortunately, in this political drama that has overtaken Washington, an issue of critical importance has been overlooked. Republican leaders who were given strong indications that something was gravely amiss in the interactions between Congressman Foley and the Congressional pages, failed miserably in their legal obligations to protect their young employees from sexual harassment. In this respect, Congress joins the ranks of many of the nation's leading retail and food service establishments - workplaces where teens have been subjected to harassment with impunity in what has increasingly become a vile rite of passage for youth joining the American workforce".
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September 30, 2006
No More Excuses!
Debra S. Katz and Justine Andronici publish article in Ms. Magazine regarding sex-based wage discrimination.
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September 28, 2006
The Labor Day Luncheon
KMB sponsors the D.C. Employment Justice Center's Labor Day Luncheon.
See theEmployment Justice Center
September 7, 2006
A Published Dress Code Is Dressed Down in Furor
Debra S. Katz is quoted in the Washington Post's article about Scott Bloch, the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which instituted a sexist dress code policy for its employees.
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See the Senators Have Questions About Changes in the Office of Special Counsel article
KMB has filed a complaint against Mr. Bloch, the federal official charged with protecting the rights of whistleblowers, alleging that he retaliated against whistleblowers in his own agency after they voiced objections to his policy decisions. KMB's complaint is now being investigated by the Inspector General of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
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September 2006
Lawdragon has named Debra S. Katz on its list of "The 3,000 Leading Lawyers in America."
Lawdragon, an online and print legal-services information company, has named Debra S. Katz on its list of "The 3,000 Leading Lawyers in America." The award is based on nominations by clients, law school deans, judges and other leaders in the legal profession. According to Lawdragon, "Setting the standard for the best of the legal profession, the attorneys listed ... include private lawyers from a wide range of practices; in-house counsel; law professors; judges and neutrals; government attorneys; and public interest lawyers. They represent less than 1 percent of the legal profession; they are the most elite group of legal professionals compiled."
August 2006
Lawdragon has selected Lisa J. Banks for inclusion in the "500 New Stars New Worlds"
Lisa J. Banks was selected by Lawdragon for inclusion in the "Lawdragon 500 New Stars New Worlds," which highlights the rising stars who will define the future of the legal profession.
August 15, 2006
Debra S. Katz and Justine F. Andronici have become contributing writers for Ms. Magazine
We are delighted to announce that Debra S. Katz and Justine F. Andronici have become contributing writers for Ms. Magazine. They will write a quarterly legal column focusing on issues of importance to women. Their first piece, calling for a new legal theory to redress the persistent gender-based wage gap, is expected to run in Ms. Magazine's Fall issue due on news stands in October. Ms. Magazine is recognized nationally and internationally for its cutting-edge approach to issues relating to women's status and women's rights.
August 2, 2006
Victories for Workers
Debra S. Katz and Lisa J. Banks publish article in The National Law Journal analyzing the Supreme Court's decisions in employment cases during the 2005-2006 term.
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August 1, 2006
Daniel B. Edelman, Of Counsel
KMB announces that Daniel Edelman, formerly a partner with the highly-regarded law firm of Yablonski, Both & Edelman, has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Mr. Edelman, who served as a law clerk to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, has been a highly successful civil rights attorney and preeminent appellate advocate for over 30 years. KMB partners - like the rest of the legal community who is familiar with his work - regard Mr. Edelman as a brilliant and remarkably creative legal advocate. Mr. Edelman will head the firm's new appellate practice.
June 26, 2006
A New World for Retaliation Claims
Debra S. Katz is quoted in National Law Journal article on the Supreme Court's decision in Burlington Northern v. White, a major employment law case.
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June 26, 2006
Meritor' at 20: Ills Persist
Debra S. Katz and Avi Kumin publish article in National Law Journal about the development of sexual harassment law over the past 20 years.
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June 23-26, 2006
Seventeenth Annual Convention: Bridging The Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace
Debra S. Katz spoke at the National Employment Lawyers Association Seventeenth Annual Convention: Bridging The Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, San Francisco, CA.
June 2006
Top 40 Lawyers Under 40
Washingtonian Magazine names Lisa J. Banks "Washington's hottest young employment lawyer" in its "Top 40 Lawyers Under 40" article. The Washingtonian stated that Banks "has made Wal-Mart and other "big box" retailers a target of sex- and disability-discrimination claims. A former appellate attorney at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Banks has been suing companies for violations of federal worker-protection laws since she was 28."
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May 19, 2006
Response to Sen. Rudman's Report
Debra Katz, representing Roger Barnes, a former Fannie Mae accountant and whistlebower, sent a detailed letter to former Senator Warren Rudman demonstrating that the report commissioned by Fannie Mae, known as the Rudman Report, painted a false picture of the events that led to the investigation of accounting failures at the nation's second largest financial institution. Fannie Mae agreed to publish Barnes' response to the Rudman report on its website.
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May 1, 2006
KMB is among a group of organizations that helped sponsor the 25th Anniversary celebration for POGO
KMB is among a group of public interest organizations that helped sponsor the 25th Anniversary celebration for Project on Government Oversight ("POGO"), an independent non-profit organization that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve greater accountability in the federal government. POGO provides critical support to whistleblowers and others who raise questions about fraud and abuse in federal agencies. At a time when the government is keeping more and more secrets, POGO conducts journalistic investigations to shed light on government activities, create vigorous public debate, and foster opportunities for reform.
See the POGO
April 24, 2006
Maximus CEO Fired Over Conduct Toward Worker
KMB attorneys David Marshall and Justine Andronici represented a female employee of a leading government services company in a sexual harassment case, resulting in the ouster of the company's CEO and a settlement that was reported to be substantial. In a news release, MAXIMUS, Inc. announced the termination of its CEO because he had "violated the Company's Standards of Business Conduct and Ethics related to his conduct towards a female MAXIMUS employee. The Company has reached a settlement with the employee, who has since left MAXIMUS."
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April 23, 2006
KMB sponsored fund-raiser for Lambda Legal
KMB sponsored fund-raiser for Lambda Legal, the nation's premier legal organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of gay men, lesbians, and those with HIV, through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
See the Lambda Legal
April 20, 2006
Ari Wilkenfeld made a presentation to the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyer's Association
Ari Wilkenfeld made a presentation to the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyer's Association regarding covenants not to compete.
April 18, 2006
Ruling and Order on Motion to Compel Deposition and Motion for Protective order Quashing Deposition of CEO
KMB scores an important legal victory by winning the right to depose Biogen Idec's CEO in the case of Blanton v. Biogen Idec, Inc., a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower case which alleges that the Boston-based pharmaceutical company fired its chief reimbursement expert for complaining about illegal kickbacks to physicians. In ruling on Biogen's motion for a protective order preventing the deposition of CEO James Mullen, Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge Richard A. Morgan rejected the company's argument that a whistleblower cannot take a CEO's deposition unless she can show that he has unique knowledge of the facts, and ordered Biogen to produce its CEO for deposition.
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April 17, 2006
Justices May Hash Out the 'R' Word
Debra S. Katz quoted by National Law Journal on U.S. Supreme Court retaliation case.
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April 13, 2006
Debra S. Katz selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Debra S. Katz selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Inclusion in Best Lawyers® is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey. The 2007 edition of Best Lawyers is based on 1.8 million confidential evaluations by only the top attorneys in the country and thousands of extensive telephone interviews with leading attorneys throughout its balloting process.
April 11, 2006
Debra S. Katz participated as a member of the faculty for the American Bar Association
Debra S. Katz participated as a member of the faculty for the American Bar Association-CLE national broadcast titled "Sarbanes-Oxley: Update on Recent Court Decisions."
April 6, 2006
Debra S. Katz served as a member of the faculty for the Georgetown University Law Center CLE
Debra S. Katz served as a member of the faculty for the Georgetown University Law Center CLE: 24th Annual Employment Law & Litigation Institute: Legal Trends and Practice Strategies in Washington, D.C.
March 22, 2006
Debra S. Katz spoke on a panel for the D.C. Women's Bar Association
Debra S. Katz spoke on a panel for the D.C. Women's Bar Association for a program entitled "Women in Negotiation" at the law offices of Winston & Strawn LLP.
March 17, 2006
Lawdragon has named Debra S. Katz as one of "The Leading Lawyers in America."
Lawdragon, an online and print legal-services information company, has named Debra S. Katz as one of "The Leading Lawyers in America." The award is based on nominations by clients, law school deans, judges and other leaders in the legal profession. The editors at Lawdragon conduct independent research based on the information submitted. During the selection process, the editorial staff and an advisory board review votes to ensure the credibility of each entry and to ensure that the breadth and depth of each practice area and geographic region has been maintained.
Lawdragon is headed by award-winning legal journalists and lawyers and is the only company to provide evaluations of them as submittedby their peers and clients. They can be found online at Lawdragon website.
March 10-11, 2006
Lisa J. Banks was a member of the faculty at the National Employment Lawyers Association
Lisa J. Banks was a member of the faculty at the National Employment Lawyers Association: Accommodating Disabilities and Family & Medical Leaves in the Workplace conference, which took place in Seattle, Washington.
March and April, 2006
First Amended Complaint for Monetary, Declaratory, and Injunctive Relief
KMB attorneys David J. Marshall and Debra S. Katz, together with The Sturdevant Law Firm of San Francisco and Professor Gary Peller of Georgetown Law School, file class-action lawsuits in Federal District Courts in California and Maryland against BlueHippo Funding, LLC. The lawsuits allege that BlueHippo uses deceptive television ads and telephone sales pitches to trick low-income consumers into paying hundreds of dollars each for computers they never receive. Charging that BlueHippo takes money from two thirds of it customers while providing nothing in return, the lawsuits seek millions of dollars in restitution for consumers. See News Articles.
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March 5, 2006
President of the American Psychological Association presented firm lawyers with an award
Dr. Gerald Koocher, President of the American Psychological Association, presented the law firm of Bernabei & Katz, PLLC, including Lynne Bernabei, who served as lead-counsel, Debra Katz, Ari Wilkenfeld, and Alan Kabat, with a Presidential Citation for their work in representing Dr. Susan Lerner. Dr. Lerner served as John Hinckley, Jr.'s Clinical Psychologist at St. Elizabeth's Hospital for several years in the 1980s. When Dr. Lerner and her team of mental health professionals concluded that Mr. Hinckley had improved enough to warrant incremental privileges, she was pressured by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Secret Service, and her supervisors to "alter" her opinion and to perjure herself if she was called to testify. When Dr. Lerner refused, she was subjected to a campaign of retaliation by four of her supervisors. In 2000, the law firm of Bernabei & Katz, PLLC (Katz and Wilkenfeld's former law firm), filed suit on Dr. Lerner's behalf against the District of Columbia, including First Amendment and whistleblower claims. Five years later, after Dr. Lerner's attorneys fended off two motions to dismiss and one motion for summary judgment, the District was forced to settle the case for $800,000. The Citation commends Bernabei, Katz, Wilkenfeld and Kabat for their "commitment to fighting on behalf of psychologists and others who have faced unjust discrimination, sexual harassment, and psychological intimidation in corporate, educational, and governmental settings." The Citation continues that the recipients of the Citation are "among the best employment lawyers in the nation."
December 2005
Debra S. Katz is selected for inclusion in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers In America
Debra S. Katz is selected for inclusion in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers In America, widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. The Best Lawyers list is compiled through an exhaustive peer-review survey in which thousands of the top lawyers in the U.S. confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 12th edition of Best Lawyers (2006), is based on more than 415,000 detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.
September 15-17, 2005
Lisa Banks participated as faculty member for the ALI-ABA Course of Study
Lisa Banks participated as faculty member for the American Law Institute - American Bar Association (ALI-ABA) Course of Study, Employment Discrimination and Civil Rights Actions in Federal and State Courts in Chicago, Illinois.
August 2005
Only Two Major Rulings
The National Law Journal published an article by Lisa J. Banks and Debra S. Katz reviewing employment cases decided by the United States Supreme Court during the 2004-2005 term.
December 2004
Washingtonian magazine named Debra S. Katz of Best Attorneys in Washington, D.C
In December 2004 the Washingtonian magazine named Debra S. Katz on its list of Best Attorneys in Washington, D.C. It states: "Washington is home to some of the world's best lawyers. Here are the top 30—plus 750 who are right behind them."
November 8, 2004
The 'Extortion' Factor: Waging the P.R. Battle
National Law Journal published a commentary by Debra S. Katz and Andrew Schroeder regarding the Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment matter and attempted "extortion" suit filed by Fox News and O'Reilly.