Brian M. Freedman is a litigator with extensive experience in employment litigation and labor arbitration. Brian concentrates heavily in the area of workers’ compensation defense and has handled workers’ compensation cases through every stage of litigation, from the mediation process through appeals to the North Carolina Supreme Court. Brian conducts numerous management and human resource training programs for clients and industry groups on topics such as workers’ compensation law, the ADA, the FMLA, and workplace harassment.
Experience
Experience:
- Successfully litigated a workers’ compensation claim for a large poultry processing company in which the North Carolina Supreme Court defined the burden of proving disability for plaintiffs in workers’ compensation claims
- Successfully litigated numerous repetitive motion claims before the North Carolina Industrial Commission on behalf of clients in the poultry, textile, furniture, and automotive parts industries
- Successfully litigated a number of occupational hearing loss claims on behalf of a metal processing company before the North Carolina Industrial Commission
- Successfully resolved numerous catastrophic workers’ compensation injury claims on behalf of several workers’ compensation clients
Brian handles the following types of matters:
- Litigates all aspects of workers’ compensation claims, including mediations, hearings, and appeals before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and appeals before the North Carolina Court of appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court
- Litigates all aspects of employment law cases in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies
- Drafts settlement agreements, employment contracts, and severance agreements
- Prepares and reviews policy and procedure manuals and employee handbooks
- Counsels clients on employment and benefit matters, including the ADA, the FMLA, sexual and workplace harassment, wrongful discharge, and workers’ compensation issues and law
- Presents seminars for clients and employer and human resource organizations on employment-related topics, particularly workers’ compensation matters
- Participates in labor arbitrations
Admitted to Practice:
North Carolina
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
Professional Activities
Professional Activities:
- North Carolina State Bar
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Greensboro Bar Association
- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
- HRMAG
Speeches:
- 2009 NCSHRM State Conference - "Effectively Managing and Litigating Workers’ Compensation Claims" - Greensboro - September 16, 2009 - September 18, 2009
- HRMAG - "Avoiding and Handling Workers’ Compensation Claims" - Greensboro - August 21, 2009
- Western Rockingham Personnel Association - "Making the Right Hiring and Firing Decisions Without Violating the Law" - Madison - May 28, 2009
- SHRM - "Workers Compensation Law in North Carolina" - Sanford - May 14, 2009
- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce - "Right Hiring Decisions" - Greensboro - March 4, 2009
- The HR Group - "Workers Compensation Law in North Carolina" - Burlington - November 12, 2008
- The HR Group - "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" - Asheboro - October 17, 2005
- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce - "Significant Changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act" - Greensboro - October 11, 2005
- Alamance County HR Association - "Computers, Trade Secrets, Covenants, Employee Privacy" - Burlington - August 25, 2005
- Rockingham Personnel Association - "Do Actively Campaign Against the Union" - Madison - August 14, 2005
- Metals Service Center Institute South Atlantic Chapter - "Privacy and Technology in the Workplace" - High Point - August/September 2005
- Western Rockingham Personnel Association - "Workers' Compensation Law In North Carolina" - Madison - September 30, 2004
- Alamance County HR Association - "Violence in the Workplace/A Legal Perspective" - Burlington - May 25, 2004
- Guilford County HR Association - "Harassment-Not Just Sexual Anymore" - Greensboro - March 19, 2004
In The News
Media Quotes:
- February 10, 2011 - March 7, 2011 - Business Journal (Greater Triad Area) - "Mobile Groans – As employee use of wireless tech grows, policies are challenged"
- February 4, 2011 - Triangle Business Journal - "Mobile Groans: As Employees Use of Wireless Tech Grows, Policies Are Challenged"