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Biography

Jen represents employers in all manner of labor and employment matters, including federal and state litigation, appeals, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB, and unemployment hearings. She has successfully defended against claims brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and Kentucky wage and hour laws, as well as claims of wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and enforcement of non-compete agreements. Jen also helps employers avoid litigation by negotiating favorable settlements and by providing training and counseling on a variety of topics, including terminations, workplace investigations, and anti-harassment policies.

Jen graduated cum laude from Washington University School of Law in St Louis, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy and Vice President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Before joining the firm, she worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County where she represented indigent juveniles and adults through all stages of litigation. Jen is also a published poet with a master’s degree in poetry writing from Columbia University.

Jen's Relevant Experience

Trial Work

Wiggins v. Holley Performance Products (2019): obtained judgment in favor of employer after bench trial on alleged breach of employment contract claim.

In re Mike-Sell’s Potato Chip Company and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2019): handled unfair labor practice remand hearing on 8(a)(5) charge and obtained Board decision reversing ALJ and dismissing complaint in its entirety.

Charles v. NGT (2019): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on claims of age discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, negligent retention, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Rose v. UPS (2019): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on disability discrimination claim.

Johnson v. CCMA (2019): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on sex discrimination claim.

Layman v. UPS (2019): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on claims of disability discrimination, sex discrimination, false light, and defamation.

McCoy v. Cambridge Franchise Holdings (2019): obtained dismissal in favor of employer pursuant to arbitration agreement, despite Plaintiff’s contention she never signed agreement.

Wardlaw v. Autozone (2018): obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal of claims of retaliation and hostile work environment.

Mullen v. Houston-Johnson Inc. (2018): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on contract claims and successfully defended ruling on appeal.

Morton v. UPS (2018): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on retaliation claim, and successfully defended ruling on appeal.

Crosby v. Ananda (2018): prevented issuance of temporary injunction and enforcement of noncompete agreement in favor of employer.

Vaughn v. Woodforest National Bank (2018): obtained dismissal with prejudice in favor of employer for failure to prosecute.

Rawls v. UPS (2018): obtained dismissal with prejudice in favor of employer for failure to prosecute.

Newell v. Ready Mix (2017): obtained preliminary injunction enforcing non-compete agreement in favor of employer.

Morcus v. Medicopy (2017): obtained summary judgment in favor of employer on claims of fraud, tortious interference, negligent hiring, forgery, and under the KCPA.

Other Info About Jen

Education

Law School

Washington University School of Law, J.D., 2014, cum laude

Graduate School

Columbia University, M.F.A., Poetry Writing, 2009

Undergraduate School

University of Florida, B.A., English, B.A., Sociology, 2006

Clerkships

Jen served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Honorable Thomas H. Fulton, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Kentucky

Bar Memberships

Jen is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Kentucky, 2016

Florida, 2014

Courts

Jen is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Don Carter-Earl Tedrow Memorial Award, selected by the law school senior class as the exemplification of the aims of all those entering the profession of law, 2014.

Mary Collier Hitchcock Prize for outstanding writing, 2014.

Equal Justice Works Award for public service, 2014.

Dean’s Service Award for public service, 2014.

CALI Award for highest grade in Mediation, 2013.

Tamanaha-Honorata Public Interest Award, 2013.

Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, 2012.

Scholar-in-Law Award, 2011-2014.

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Member, Friends of the Louisville Zoo Board, 2016-present.

Member, Coalition for the Homeless Associate Board, 2018 – present.

Founding Member, Future Advocates in Training, St. Louis, MO., 2011-2014.

Presentations

Jen was invited to speak at the following events:

February 5, 2020: National Business Institute: Guide to Human Resource Laws in the Workplace: Workplace Behavioral Issues: Appropriately Handling Thorny Situations and Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring

December 4, 2019: FMLA Master Class: FMLA/ADA/Workers’ Comp Overlap

November 14, 2019: Madisonville, KYSHRM: Labor and Employment Law Update

November 13, 2019: Webinar: 2019 FMLA/ADA Cases That Make You Say “Hmmm?”

November 15, 2018: National Business Institute: Human Resource Law from A to Z: Employment Law Update and Imperative Information That Every Employee Handbook Should Contain

November 6, 2018: FMLA Master Class: Mastering FMLA Fundamentals

July 24, 2018: Business Leaders and Bagels: Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations

February 13, 2018: National Business Institute: Guide to Human Resource Laws in the Workplace: Workplace Behavioral Issues: Appropriately Handling Thorny Situations and Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring

May 23, 2017: FMLA Master Class: Managing Serious Health Conditions and Medical Certification

April 10, 2017: Back by Popular Demand! Balancing Your FMLA, ADA and Workers’ Compensation Legal Obligations

March 14, 2017: 14th Annual Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Conference: Handling Absences while Maintaining Productivity: The FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation Conundrum

March 7, 2017: Labor and Employment Seminar: The Future of Labor Law Under A New NLRB

January 18, 2017: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Remaining Union-Free Seminar

November 18, 2016: KYSHRM Leadership Conference: The Future of Right to Work in Kentucky

Major Publications

Jen is an author or contributor to the following publications:

Paper, The Hardship of Undue Hardship: Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy in the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuits, 22d Annual Mid-South Conference on Bankruptcy Law, Feb. 5, 2016.

Note. For Those Who Do Not Speak: Protecting Class Arbitration as the Last Collective-Action Option for Women, 46 WASH. U. J. L. & POL’Y 245 (2015).

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