We are an employment and consumer protection law firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recognized for our expertise and results, our consumer and employment attorneys are specialists, Super Lawyers and leaders in the legal community. We are dedicated advocates and work tirelessly to secure justice and striking outcomes for our clients.
Employment Law
50 Years of ADEA, Yet Age Discrimination Persists
August 22, 2017 – Fifty years have passed since the enactment of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Yet, discrimination against older workers continues in great numbers. As older workers stay in the workplace longer, some are calling for Congress to strengthen and update the ADEA, much as it did with the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2008.
MN Supreme Court Clarifies "Good Faith" in Whistleblower Claims
August 11, 2017 – This week, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a landmark decision clarifying the Minnesota Whistleblower Act’s definition of a “good faith” report in whistleblower claims. The decision is a resouding victory for employees who have otherwise found it difficult to seek redress for unlawful termination, retaliation, harassment and/or threats for their reports of unlawful conduct by the employer under the Act.
Wage Theft: Millions Lost to Unlawful Employment Practices Each Year
June 23, 2017 – Each year, thousands of Minnesota workers lose millions of dollars to wage theft by employers. Whether an employer requires employees to log into their computer five minutes before their shift and not pay them, misclassifies workers as independent contractors to avoid overtime pay and deny benefits, or pays less than minimum wage, employees of all socio-economic background are at risk of wage theft.
Class Actions
Rehberg et al. v. Flowers Baking Co. of Jamestown Settlement
September 5, 2017 – Distributors can click on the above headline-link for information about the Rehberg class action settlement payments.
Rehberg et al. v. Flowers Baking Co. of Jamestown et al.: Answers to Common Distributor Questions
Distributors can click on the above headline-link for answers to questions about the claim form and pending class action settlement.
Flowers Foods Distributors Win Sixth Consecutive Conditional Class Certification
May 8, 2017 - Distributors of bakery products for Flowers Foods have scored another conditional class certification victory in their wage and hour case against the company. Carr et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc. et al. (E.D. Penn.) marks the sixth straight win for distributors, who are challenging their classification by Flowers Foods as independent contractors, rather than employees. One of these lawsuits, Rehberg (North Carolina), has already been certified as a class, and a preliminary settlement has been made. Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP serves as Lead Class Counsel in all six lawsuits.
Firm News
BTJW is Proud to Support Cancer Legal Care
September 14, 2017 – Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP is honored to support the great work of Cancer Legal Care and sponsor its 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Baillon, Jozwiak & Thome Named to Best Lawyers 2018 List
August 29, 2017 – Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP is proud to announce that firm partners Frances Baillon, Chris Jozwiak and Joni Thome have been named to the list of Best Lawyers in America© 2018 in employment law. They have collectively litigated and settled hundreds of cases for employees across a diverse range of employment issues, including sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination and reprisal.
Thome Cited in Strib Regarding Workers Fired for Wearing Nazi Apparel
August 18, 2017 - Firm partner Joni Thome was cited in yesterday's Star Tribune article concerning two employees who were fired for wearing Nazi uniforms. “In Minnesota…employees can be terminated for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason at all, just so long as it's not an illegal reason.” Here, the employees have little recourse to contest their terminations.