Both state and federal laws impose obligations on employers not to discriminate against their employees based on sex, age, religion, and national origin. In addition, employers and employees may have rights created by express and implied contracts between them. Lawyers at Hurwitz, Sagarin, Slossberg & Knuff, LLC have represented employers in a broad array of employment disputes, including wrongful discharge, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, age discrimination, breach of the Family Medical Leave Act, Violation of the American With Disabilities Act and, breach of express and implied employment contracts. Attorneys at HSSK have advised employers in preparing and negotiating employment agreements and separation agreements, addressing issues involving non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and trade secrets, and have represented employees in class actions alleging violation of wage and hour laws. HSSK lawyers are experienced at appearing before the Commission On Human Rights And Opportunities (CHRO), The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the state and federal Courts on behalf of their employment clients.
The lawyers at HSSK are often called upon to represent individual employees in connection with wrongful termination, age, sex, race, gender, and disability discrimination and sexual harassment. HSSK assists employees in enforcement of rights under the Family Medical Leave Act. Our lawyers address retaliation by an employer against an employee for having acted as a whistleblower to expose wrongdoing on the part of the employer, and review and advise clients regarding severance, non-compete and trade secret obligations.
Matters in which lawyers at HSSK have represented employees include:
- Represented plaintiff in federal court action alleging employment discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act. See Helenese v. Oracle Corp., 2010 WL 670172 (D.Conn. Feb. 19, 2010).
- Represented former sales representative in federal court action against pharmaceutical company alleging failure to pay overtime wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. See Kuzinski v. Schering Corp., 604 F.Supp.3d 385 (D.Conn. 2009).
- Represented former pharmaceutical sales representatives of prescription drug manufacturer in federal court class action alleging a violation of the right to overtime pay under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. See Ruggeri v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 585 F.Supp.2d 308 (D.Conn. 2008).
- Represented former plant manager of nursing home in wrongful termination resulting from the employee’s complaints to authorities about unsafe conditions at the nursing home.
- Represented teacher in successful case to have her reinstated to her position after having been wrongfully terminated on the basis of her sexual orientation.
- Represented maintenance director of nursing home in claim for age discrimination.
- Represented former legal secretary for Town Attorney of Westport for sexual harassment by First Selectman.
- Represented car salesman who was improperly touched and sexually harassed by manager.
- Represented President and CEO of dermatological company for wrongful termination under his employment agreement where company attempted to concoct reasons for termination “for cause” that were false and pretextual.
- Represented long-time employee of national corporation who was wrongfully fired for reporting fraudulent company practices regarding reimbursements from the government.
- Represented classes of sales personnel at major pharmaceutical companies for misclassification as exempt employees under wage and hour laws.
- Connecticut counsel for employees of aerospace division sold to another corporation in federal class action alleging violation of ERISA by transferring a portion of the seller’s pension assets to the acquiring corporation. See Flanigan v. General Electric Co., 93 F.Supp.3d 236 (D.Conn. 2000), aff’d, 242 F.3d 78 (2d Cir. 2001).
- Connecticut counsel for participants in former employer’s stock ownership plan in federal class action alleging violation of ERISA by breach of fiduciary duty and making prohibited transactions. See Petrilli v. McGladrey & Pullen L.L.P, 957 F.Supp. 366 (D.Conn. 1997).
- Represented plaintiff in federal action alleging sexual harassment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and state common law. See Meyers v. Arcudi, 947 F.Supp. 581 (D.Conn. 1996).
- Represented executives of two major Connecticut newspapers in negotiating termination agreements.
- Represented President of non-profit corporation in negotiating termination agreement.