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Trial

Overview Related Services Representative Experience

One of the many things that sets FordHarrison apart is the number of attorneys who are true litigators. These attorneys not only handle employment litigation matters, but they have been in the trenches trying jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations.

FordHarrison has a deep bench of experienced litigators who can parachute into any type of employment case and try a case for a client, even if the firm did not handle the matter during the administrative, discovery, or dispositive motion stage of the litigation.

FordHarrison's Trial Practice Group consists of attorneys practicing throughout the country who have knowledge of and experience with plaintiffs' counsel, judges, and juries in numerous jurisdictions. We share our information and insight across the firm and with our clients regularly. Additionally, our Trial Practice Group provides training for associates in the firm, ensuring the next generation of FordHarrison attorneys will be ready to take on the challenges presented during trial.

FordHarrison represents employers exclusively, and attorneys in our Trial Practice Group have tried numerous cases to verdict both in jury trials as well as bench trials. This experience translates into the ability to distill complicated fact patterns into narratives, and those narratives are connected to effectively tell the client's story. In partnership with our clients, we discuss the arguments, procedural issues, evidentiary issues, witness preparation and testimony, documents, and data that will best support the case. We communicate with our clients at every turn and remain flexible to opportunities that arise before and during trial. While victory can take many forms, depending upon how our clients measure success, our trial lawyers work diligently to help achieve those goals so our clients can get back to their regular business operations.

FordHarrison’s Trial Practice Group members have successfully defended clients nationwide in jury and bench trials, in both federal and state court involving claims for:

  • Sexual harassment;
  • Discrimination based on sex, national origin, race, age, disability, veteran status, and religion;
  • Whistle-blowing;
  • Retaliation;
  • Wage and hour issues;
  • Theft of trade secrets; and
  • Violations of noncompete and non-solicitation agreements.

FordHarrison’s highly skilled and accomplished Litigation, Class Action, and Appellate practice groups have a wealth of experience in representing employers through all potential stages of a litigation matter.

Please see the associated representative experience tab for examples of our firm’s trial success. If you would like us to prepare a proposal to assist your company with your labor and employment law needs, please contact clientservice@fordharrison.com. 

  • In a jury trial, recovered $1.65 million for a minority shareholder who asserted a breach of fiduciary duty claim.

  • In a jury trial, the plaintiff corporation sought an eight-figure recovery from the firm's client on a claim of misappropriation of trade secrets. Successfully obtained a directed verdict in favor of the defendant on all damage claims. That ruling resulted in the settlement of the case on favorable terms.

  • Represented client in five-year multimillion dollar trade secret litigation where, after a two-week trial, the firm obtained a directed verdict in favor of the defendant on all damage claims.

  • Obtained a full defense verdict following a week-long state court jury trial on behalf of a Fortune 500 gas distribution company against worker's compensation retaliation claims filed by a former employee.

  • Won a $260,000 judgment for a large commercial printing group in a case it filed against its former management officials for their misconduct in leaving the company, soliciting the client's customers, and starting a competitive business. Achieved this verdict despite the fact that there were no employment agreements restricting post-employment competition.

  • Defense verdict in a national origin discrimination case on behalf of an oil services company in the Western District of Texas – Midland/Odessa. 

  • Represented employer in employment discrimination case filed by former employee alleging claims for race discrimination, gender discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII. The District Court granted the employer’s motion to dismiss all four claims with prejudice. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently affirmed the district court’s dismissal in 2024.

  • Defended the premier global provider of wireless tracking and recovery systems for mobile assets in a wage and hour class action. Successfully argued before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which agreed with a lower court ruling and denied compensation to an employee who alleged his commute to work and other activities should have been paid time.

  • Prevailed in a class action brought by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleged that requiring applicants for employment to submit to a "nerve pace test" violated the state's disability discrimination laws.

  • Secured a defense verdict on behalf of a national retailer in a wage and hour arbitration. The claim alleged the retailer had wrongfully denied its managers overtime compensation by paying them as exempt employees. The arbitrator decided the case in favor of the Company based on the executive exemption.

  • Won a directed verdict in New Jersey State Court defending a national grocery chain in a breach of contract and breach of duty of fair representation lawsuit involving the alleged breach of a collective negotiations agreement by an employee.

  • Won a defense verdict for a large client in a trial before the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by a company and its vice-president.

  • Defended hospital in jury trial defamation and interference claim by non-employee Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP).

  • Defended hospital in discrimination and retaliation jury trial by non-employee hospitalist physician.

  • Defended hospital in jury trial for sexual harassment, retaliation and tort claims.

  • Defense verdict in a reverse discrimination case on behalf of an oil company in Dallas County, Texas.

  • Convinced a federal jury to return a defense verdict in a reverse race discrimination trial despite direct evidence that the plaintiff's race was a factor in the decision to terminate the plaintiff's employment.

  • Obtained a victory for a large multi-state hospital group on a highly contested executive age discrimination claim before the federal district court and U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Defense verdict in multi-plaintiff fraud case arising out of agreements with independent contractors relating to workers' compensation and other insurance issues.

  • Jury trial verdict in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in favor of NYC hospital defeating claims arising under the ADEA and FMLA after employer terminated employee on FMLA leave.

  • Obtained defense jury verdict in an age discrimination case under the ADEA for a large national manufacturing company.

  • Obtained jury verdict for correctional health care company defending against claims of race discrimination in hiring under Title VII after EEOC found cause for plaintiff.

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Litigation