Sheryl A. Laughren

Detroit Office

Tel: (313) 496-1200

Fax: (313) 496-1300

Email:

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Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Commercial and Business Litigation

Labor and Employment Law

Nonprofit Law

Education

B.B.A., Eastern Michigan University

J.D., University of Toledo College of Law

Admitted

State Bar of Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan

Biography

Ms. Laughren focuses her practice in the area of complex labor and employment litigation for a diverse array of manufacturing and service industries. She has tried bench and jury cases in federal and state courts, defending wrongful discipline and/or discharge allegations, claims of discrimination (race, disability, sex, age, religion, harassment, retaliation, etc.), breach of contract, unfair labor practice charges, manufacturers' representative commissions claims, and enforcement of non-compete agreements, in addition to other civil and commercial litigation matters. She has argued appeals before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Ms. Laughren represents clients in collective bargaining negotiations as chief spokesperson for the employer, contract administration (grievance and arbitration), conducts union-free education and leads employer campaigns. Ms. Laughren also acts as a facilitator and mediator in employment disputes and has represented employers before the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and various other state labor boards and agencies.

As general counsel for various clients, Ms. Laughren provides advice and legal services with respect to a variety of commercial, business and corporate governance issues in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

She is a member of the Michigan Bar Association and American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Sections, is active in several professional organizations, and participates in relevant business forums. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, on the Board of the United Methodist Retirement Communities, Secretary of the Human Services Association Workers' Disability Compensation Fund, and is a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Advisory Council. Ms. Laughren is a founding trustee and past secretary of the Michigan Quality Council and a former director and secretary of World Medical Relief, Inc. Ms. Laughren has been designated Michigan Super Lawyer, Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation: Defense, Business Litigation (2006 - 2009).

Ms. Laughren is a frequent lecturer on issues related to the FMLA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, and Sexual/Religious/Age/Disability Harassment and Litigation Avoidance. She has served as panelist and presenter on various subjects including management techniques, covenants not to compete, and avoiding litigation in the termination of employees. She offers employment counseling on a wide range of issues including employee discipline and discharge, employee severance and termination agreements, reductions in work force, and WARNA compliance.

Reported and Notable Decisions:

NLRB v. Vemco, Inc.
989 F2d 1468 (6th Cir 1993)
U.S. Sixth Circuit decision validating, as a valid business decision, an employer's right to implement a mass lay-off during a union organizing campaign.

Goldfaden v Wyeth Labs, Inc.
2010 US Dist LEXIS 49219 (ED Mich 2010)
Plaintiff filed gender discrimination claims against her former employer and supervisor alleging that she received a warning letter based on her subordinate's false charges, and was constructively discharged because of her gender. The court granted defendants' summary judgment motion concluding that plaintiff's warning letter was not an adverse employment action, and that she failed to establish that she was treated differently than similarly-situated males and, hence, she failed to establish a prima facie case of gender discrimination.

Henry v. Quicken Loans Inc.
2009 US Dist LEXIS 09133 (ED Mich 2009)
Defense of FLSA collective action consisting of over 400 mortgage brokers who alleged that they were improperly classified by their employer as exempt from overtime pay of them as exempt under the FLSA administrative exemption.

Curry v. SBC Communs., Inc.
2009 US Dist LEXIS 22478 (ED Mich 2009)
Successfully defeated potential claims of 800 sales employees in race discrimination class action.

Leader v. Venture Indus. Corp.
1999 US Dist LEXIS 15947 (ED Mich 1999)
Leader was terminated once she returned from FMLA leave for poor performance (passing unacceptable parts) discovered while on leave.

Eide v. Kelsey-Hayes Co.
431 Mich 26 (1988)
Appearing before the Michigan Supreme Court to change the law to prohibit employees from receiving a double recovery in discrimination claims.

Hebert v. Aetna Industries, Inc.
182 Mich App 139 (1989)
Establishing the right of employers to refer applicants with preexisting epilepsy, diabetes, back or heart problems for certification pursuant to the Michigan Vocational Rehabilitation Act in defense of a prospective employee's claim that such a referral violates the Michigan Handicappers' Civil Rights Act.

Saldana v. Kelsey-Hayes Co.
178 Mich App 230 (1988)
Establishing an employer's right covertly to observe an employee suspected of malingering.