Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta is proud to announce that Joni M. Thome and Frances E. Baillon have been named to the 2012 Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota list by Super Lawyers. The list can be found in the April 2013 issue of Twin Cities Business magazine.
In an employment retaliation case, Baillon Thome recently prevailed against a Motion for Summary Judgment filed by defense counsel in federal district court. The Court’s opinion is also significant because it held that a plaintiff can pursue a retaliation claim under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act using the “direct evidence” method.
Each year, the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association publish an electronic newsletter containing updates and developments in case law or legislation. For the past few years, Daniel Leland has been a contributing author to the employment law newsletter, writing the federal wage and hour section along with Jessica Marsh of Felhaber Larson Fenlon & Vogt.
In an impressive showing for a specialized law firm, five of the lawyers at Baillon Thome have been named 2012 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!
BTJW congratulates founding partner Joni Thome on being the recipient of the Karla Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award. Each year, the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Employment Lawyer Association (NELA) honors one Minnesota attorney for her or his “ceaseless and courageous efforts to better the rights of Minnesota employees, honoring the spirit and memory of Karla Wahl.”
We are proud to stand alongside former Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale and retired Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz in opposing a proposed amendment to the Minnesota constitution that would permanently ban marriage for same-sex couples in Minnesota.
Frances Baillon, in conjunction with V. John Ella of Jackson Lewis LLP, speak on March 21, 2012, at a CLE for the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. Baillon and Ella present “Marital Status Discrimination - March Madness?” They will discuss marital status discrimination claims under the Minnesota Human Rights Act in light of a recent ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Frances Baillon and Chris Jozwiak recently prevailed against a motion to dismiss filed by defense counsel in federal district court. The underlying case, Joan Gilbert v. Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company (MetLife), is a disability discrimination case concerning a plaintiff who, after being diagnosed with cancer, was the only supervisor not retained following MetLife’s closure of its Bloomington, Minnesota office.
Joni Thome appeared on NBC affilliate KARE 11 on December 7, 2011. Joni Thome was interviewed regarding the Minneapolis Fire Department’s recent promotion of former Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek, who was the subject of several lawsuits alleging that she created a hostile work environment for her subordinates who refused her sexual advances.
Chris Jozwiak, along with Penelope Phillips, of Felhaber Larson Fenlon & Vogt, recently spoke on appearance discrimination claims. The two discussed workplace dress codes, body weight scrutiny and other ways that appearance discrimination claims are surfacing. The program is part of a training series put on by Minnesota State Bar Association's Employment and Labor Section members and is geared toward EEOC and MDHR investigators.
Joni Thome was interviewed on November 30, 2011, on Minnesota Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Tom Crann spoke to Thome about the current state of age discrimination and other forms of employment discrimination and retaliation in today’s economy. Listen to the interview at the Minnesota Public Radio website.
The Baillon Thome firm recently argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in the matter of Katia Guimaraes v. SuperValu, Inc. (No. 11-1046). Dan Leland represented the plaintiff, Katia Guimaraes, with regard to her allegations that her employment was terminated due to discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Guimaraes appealed the district court’s grant of summary judgment.