This year marks the beginning of the firm's third decade in defending the workplace and civil rights of individuals and groups. Founded in 1992 by partners Michael Pitt and Cary McGehee, it now ranks among the largest and most experienced law firms of its kind in Michigan. Over the course of the last 20 years, the firm has successfully represented hundreds of clients in a diverse range of actions. Among these are a number of landmark cases, including:

• Neal vs. Michigan Department of Corrections case, which resulted in a $150+ million award for more than 500 female inmates who had been sexually abused by guards in Michigan prisons.

• Gilford vs. DTE, a $45 million settlement awarded to 1,500 of the utility's employees in an age and race discrimination action.

• A $10.6 million age discrimination settlement for employees of the Ford Motor Company in a proceeding against the auto giant for its performance review systems, which made older employees more likely to be terminated and less likely to receive salary increases.

"Cary and I started the firm with a single, strong belief that we could use the law to advance social change and protect the rights of those who need it the most, but don't always have access to the legal system and the support of strong advocates," said Pitt. "Twenty years later, with a much larger legal team and a lot more experience, we're still following the same path and fighting for justice and human rights every day."

 

Today the firm continues to specialize in civil and workplace rights. Its attorneys are currently representing numerous clients in a broad range of actions, including sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, whistleblower issues and discrimination based on age, gender, disability, race, religion and national origin.

 

"There will always be a need to do what we love and do best. We plan to continue doing this important work for another 20 years and beyond," said McGehee.

 

 

  

The expertise, experience and leadership qualities underlying Michael's selection for this award are well-known to his fellow attorneys at the firm and many colleagues in the state and national legal communities.

  

"All of us at the firm who work with Mike everyday have the great advantage of his counsel. He freely and willingly shares his decades of experience and deep understanding of law whenever he can. It makes all of us better attorneys and greatly benefits our clients. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition as one of the state's finest attorneys," said Beth Rivers, a long-time firm partner.

  

Kary Moss, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said of Mike, "He is one of Michigan's and the country's preeminent civil and employment rights attorneys. His entire career has been devoted to fighting for justice and enabling access to the law for everyone. He's provided counsel to us for years and has been a great friend and supporter of our organization."

  

Pitt is past president of the Michigan Association of Justice and has been a member and served in numerous leadership positions with the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan and Oakland County Bar Association for many years. He was recently selected 2013 Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law by Best Lawyers, has been repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer and named in U.S. News & World Report The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Pitt is a member and Fellow of the National Employment Lawyers Association.

  

He has also served as volunteer counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union for more than 30 years.  Pitt and his wife, Peggy Goldberg Pitt, have endowed a scholarship to Wayne State University Law School awarded each year to a student with a severe disability.

  

Pitt earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a J.D. from
Wayne State Law School. His two children, Jared and Meagan, are also practicing attorneys.

  

Congratulations to Michael.

 

 

 

Dean Robb Lecture Series Established at Wayne State University Law School 

Firm Sponsors First Annual Presentation Honoring Noted Civil Rights Attorney

 

Featured speakers at the Dean Robb lecture were (L-R) Robert Ackerman (WSU Law School), Arthur Bryant (Public Justice), Dean Robb and Michael Pitt.

 

Conceived and funded by the firm, the lecture series honors WSU Law School alumnus Dean Robb. Robb, who was in attendance at the event, spent decades as a champion of civil rights, workers' rights and consumer safety. He regularly led civil rights sit-ins as a student in the late 1940's, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960's and has been a pioneer in the practice of law to bring about social change and justice for over 50 years.

 

"Being a public interest lawyer, as so well exemplified by Dean Robb, is one of the  most effective and important ways to  make a difference in the profession and have a positive impact on people and our society," said Bryant, who is executive director of powerhouse national law firm Public Justice (www.publicjustice.net).

 

Bryant cited several recent, high-profile cases in which he and his firm had provided pro bono legal counsel for individuals and groups, enabling them access to the legal system and successfully challenging government and corporate wrongdoing and injustices. These include:

• A New Mexico Supreme Court ruling protecting workers from payday lenders who regularly charge interest rates exceeding 500 percent and illegally harass and threaten borrowers.

• A U.S. Court of Appeals decision that stopped health insurance companies illegally attempting to seize civil damages from customers as full repayment for benefits guaranteed by health coverage policies these customers had purchased.                                                                       

• A $1.95 million settlement against the U.S. government  for failing to meet the serious medical needs of a California inmate who died of cancer as a result of its negligence and intentional disregard of his critical illness.

Bryant said that these and hundreds of similar cases are where public interest attorneys are desperately needed to step-up and protect citizens from unfair and illegal activities -- which are all too often the practice of U.S. businesses and government entities.

 

"One of your core goals should be fighting for what you believe in," Bryant told the group. "You have good times and hard times in every career, in every life. But the purpose of your life and profession is really what you give to it. To have fun, to give love, get love back and to make the world a better place."    

 

Jocelyn Benson, Interim Dean of WSU Law School said, "All of us at the law school are very grateful to Michael -- who is also an alumnus and a member our Board of Visitors -- and everyone else at the firm for establishing and sponsoring this important and valuable event for our students, faculty and the community. We look forward to many more thoughtful and provocative presentations from other, similarly committed attorneys who have been recognized for their work on behalf of the people and the public interest."

 

 

 

Firm to Aid Student Freedom Tour of Southern         Civil Rights Landmarks This Summer

 

In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. first delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in Downtown Detroit. His words inspired a generation to become more aware of racial inequality in the U.S.  The energetic participation of that generation moved the country and its lawmakers to change their attitudes and work toward a more just society. But, even after 50 years, it is all too clear that the work is not done.  

 

Marking the five decades since the King speech, this summer 35 high school students from the Detroit area and northern Michigan will tour the Deep South by bus visiting many of the key cites in the history of our civil rights movement. Over the course of the trip, sponsored by the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR), they'll re-trace part of the routes taken by the original Freedom Riders in the early 1960s. Among the stops are the Edmund Pettus Bridge, King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, Southern Poverty Law Center and the National Voting Rights Museum.

 

Prior to and during the 2-week trip, the youths will learn the history of the civil rights movement and its underlying philosophy of non-violence. Through this tour of our civil rights past and exposure to the role and leadership of activists in making positive changes, the teens will gain the context, knowledge and skills to continue the work that still needs to be done in all areas of social justice.

 

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for these kids to gain first-hand experience of the legacy and true meaning of the civil rights struggle in this country," said Cary McGehee.  The current chair of MCHR, Cary has been active with the group for many years. "It's great cause and will forever have an impact on the lives and thinking of a group of very deserving young people. The firm and its attorneys have been generous in their support of this trip -- and the ideals that motivated all of us to do what we now do," she said.

 

The students are working hard to raise funds for the tour, yet more donations are still needed.  Sponsorship of a single student for the Freedom Tour is $1,500, but financial assistance of any amount is appreciated. To make tax-deductible contributions in support of the Freedom Tour, contact Cary

 

 

This honor is presented to individuals who:

• Have made major contributions to the practice of labor and/or employment law
• Reflect the highest ethical principles
• Have advanced the development of labor and/or employment law
• Have a long established commitment to excellence
• Are recognized and respected by all constituencies in the Section.

"Joe Golden exemplifies each of these characteristics," said Timothy Howlett, of law firm Dickinson Wright and Chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Section. "For more than 40 years as a labor and employment lawyer, he has been a true legal trailblazer. Most importantly, Joe has done everything in his power to ensure that his clients are treated with justice and fairness. And, at the same time, he has been uniformly respected by his opponents."

 

Joe has lectured extensively throughout the U.S. on a variety of employment rights issues, most notably wrongful discharge, and testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Labor and Education committee on the proposed Civil Rights Bill in 1991. He is a founding member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and served this body as its president from 1991 to 1993. 

 

In addition, he has served on the governing Council of the American Bar Association's Section of Labor and Employment Law and is currently on the Executive Board of the Michigan Employment Lawyers Association, an organization Joe founded in 1992.

 

In 1996, he was inducted as fellow to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Joe has been recognized by The National Law Journal as Who's Who of Employment/Labor Lawyers and honored in Best Lawyers in America continuously since 1993. He is also a member of the American and Michigan Associations of Justice. In 2012, he became Chair of the Macomb County Bar Association's Masters Section and was inducted as a fellow to the State Bar of Michigan Foundation.

 

Congratulations to Joe.