Dorothy McDermott

Principal

Dorothy “Dottie” McDermott is a principal in the Indianapolis, Indiana, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She oversees defense of demand letters, charges, litigations and advice and counsel across Jackson Lewis’s nationwide footprint of offices, making portfolio management easier for in-house counsel and leadership across jurisdictions. Clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small family-owned businesses, in-house counsel, and members of human resources and management teams appreciate Dottie’s sage and practical input as she aligns proposed defense and resolution strategies with business goals and objectives.

Dottie has more than 20 years of experience defending employers of all sizes, human resources professionals, and management teams in the defense of civil rights and employment-related claims and complex ERISA litigation, single plaintiff ERISA cases. This includes matters before federal and state courts and administrative entities involving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and/or retaliation under the ADA, ADEA, COBRA, Equal Pay Act, FMLA, GINA, Title VII, Section 1981, and USERRA. Additionally, she participates in internal FLSA audits on behalf of employers, and the defense of FLSA and ERISA 401(k) collective and class action litigation and defense of other wage hour claims.

Dottie also advises employers and management on human resource issues, background checks and the FCRA, reductions in force and WARN compliance, employee handbooks, policies, severance agreements, EEO training, drug testing issues and workplace violence prevention restraining orders. She also leads internal corporate investigations regarding claims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

Examples of Dottie’s experience include:

• Prevailing in Sixth Circuit on ERISA denial of disability benefits claim.
• Prevailing in the Sixth Circuit on an ADA claim alleging discrimination and failure to accommodate for a retailer.
• Securing summary judgment for a large company in a case involving claims of age discrimination and tortious interference with a business relationship.
• Assisting a retirement plan administrative committee in processing over 100 claims and/or appeals.
• Obtaining a no sanction result with the Indiana Department of Labor in a FLSA audit for a national company.
• Prevailing in Tenth Circuit on FLSA class and collective action claim.