Michelle R. Arendt
Profile
Michelle is an experienced defense litigator who has focused her career on representing employers throughout the various stages of the litigation process in both single-plaintiff lawsuits and class action lawsuits. She has handled a variety of litigation matters involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants, breach of contract, negligent hiring/retention and violations of state and federal laws such as the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) and ERISA. Michelle’s litigation practice extends beyond trial courts to arbitration and appellate practice.
In addition to her litigation practice, Michelle also advises businesses on compliance with state and federal employment laws regarding discrimination, leave time, privacy issues, record keeping practices and similar issues to assist them in minimizing litigation arising out of these issues. Her counseling practice ranges from advising clients on case-specific situations to implementation of and/or updating company policies and employee handbooks. Her counseling experience also includes training employees and managers regarding anti-harassment, non-discrimination and related issues in the workplace
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a metropolitan housing authority in a negligent hiring lawsuit
- Served as second chair defense counsel in a two-week civil rights jury trial in federal district court involving over 30 plaintiffs
- Obtained a favorable arbitration decision as co-counsel to a financial services company facing wrongful termination and breach of contract claims before a three-member FINRA arbitration panel
- Successfully represented a transportation company as second chair defense counsel in a class action lawsuit under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) tried to a federal district court judge
- Acted as co-counsel in a federal class action lawsuit involving claims for vested retiree benefits under ERISA and the Labor Management Relations Act
- Has served as both lead and co-counsel in numerous discrimination lawsuits filed against companies and managers in various industries, including manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications, higher education and the public sector
Education and Honors
J.D., cum laude, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 1998
B.A., summa cum laude, University of Dayton, 1994
- Rising Star by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine (2005-2011)
Professional Activities
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of American
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
- Great Lakes Theater Festival Board of Trustees(Secretary of the Executive Committee)
- Case Western Reserve School of Law, Appellate Advocacy Course (Former Adjunct Professor)
- William K. Thomas Chapter of the American Inns of Court (Former Barrister Member)
- Regional Chamber of Commerce - "Lifestyle Discrimination in the Workplace" - Youngstown - October 27, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Seminar on Workplace Issues our Grandparents Never Envisioned: From Medical Marijuana to E-discovery and Everything in Between - "E-Discovery: Issues and Ideas" - Warrensville Heights - August 12, 2010
- Central Claims Executive Association Fall Meeting - "Labor & Employment Law Update" - Lexington - October 15, 2009
- Cleveland Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Seminar on New Developments in Old Labor & Employment Laws - "Best Hiring Practices" - Warrensville Heights - August 13, 2009
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Seminar - "Employees in the Armed Forces: Rights and Obligations Under USERRA" - Cleveland - Fall 2008
In The News
- July 9, 2010 - The Daily Reporter - "New Law Expands Work Leave for Military Families"
- October 5, 2008 - Crain's Cleveland Business - "Broaching Body Art"
- July 1, 2010 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Ohio Requires Military Family Leave for Employers With 50 or More Employees"
Ohio
U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit


