Navarro, Massie Discuss Medical Cannabis and Workplace Rights; Thome Presents on Employment Investigations

February 12, 2019 – Last week, firm attorneys Cassie Navarro and Dustin Massie spoke to members of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association about the legal rights of employees who have been prescribed medical cannabis. In their presentation, titled “Medical Cannabis for Treatment of HIV/AIDS: What Protections Do Employees Have?,” Cassie and Dustin discussed recent enactments of medical cannabis laws across the country, Minnesota’s own Therapeutic Research Act and the interplay in Minnesota between the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s disability discrimination protection and the Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act (“DATWA”).

In a separate presentation, firm partner Joni Thome joined attorney Leonard Segal to discuss employment investigations of employees allegedly engaged in workplace misconduct. This continuing legal education course is part of an ongoing series on employment law sponsored by Minnesota CLE. In their session, Joni and Mr. Segal discussed how investigations can impact the workplace and affect potential litigation. Further, they offered tips to practitioners on how to conduct effective workplace investigations, from pre-investigation considerations through the actual investigation to the responses by the employer about the conduct. Click here for more information about this ongoing CLE series.

Cassie Navarro is an employment attorney with Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP and exclusively represents individuals who have faced unlawful workplace discrimination, retaliation and harassment. She has represented and advised numerous employees on their rights and employer obligations concerning disability discrimination and workplace drug and alcohol testing.

Dustin Massie also represents employees who have experienced discrimination, retaliation and harassment and has represented and advised employees on matters involving medical cannabis in the workplace and spoken nationally on the topic. Dustin was named a 2018 Up-and-Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer and made the 2017 and 2018 lists of Minnesota Rising Stars.

Joni Thome has over 25 years of employment law experience and is widely known for her trial and appellate work on behalf of employees. A founding firm partner, Joni is an MSBA certified employment law specialist and has been named repeatedly to the lists of Minnesota’s Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, Top 100 Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America.

Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP is committed to protecting the rights of employees who have suffered workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Contact us to discuss your employment rights.