On May 13, 2014, Alex Alexopoulos and Trisha Benson won a "no cause" defense verdict in an accounting malpractice lawsuit pending in the Kent County Circuit Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The plaintiff alleged professional negligence against the defendant accountant, who served as an expert witness for the plaintiff in the underlying lawsuit. After seven days of hearing testimony from witnesses and argument from the attorneys for both sides, the jury determined that the plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proof on his professional negligence claim against the defendant.
Joseph Starr of Starr, Butler, Alexopoulos & Stoner and panelist for the 2014 PLUS Professional Risk Symposium session “Emerging EPL Risk with a Social & Mobile Workforce” discusses social media in the workforce and how EPL claims are changing:
On June 23-24, 2014, Joseph A. Starr will participate in a panel discussion entitled: "Current Trends in Workplace Harassment and Discrimination and How to Reduce Exposure: Workplace Bullying, Transgender, Gender Stereotyping, Caregiver Status, Race, Age and Beyond," at the 21st National Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), in Chicago, IL.
The American Conference Institute's EPLI Conference is one of the nation’s premiere gatherings and is designed for businesses, attorneys, and insurance professionals who want to make sure they are well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in the EPLI market and equipped to minimize risk exposure and able to manage and defend an increased number of legal claims being filed across the country
On January 28, 2014, the Business Insurance magazine published an article entitled: "States taking aim at workplace bullying". In the article, author Matt Dunning quotes Joseph A. Starr as follows:
"Mounting awareness by employers and the public in general of the prevalence and potentially harmful effects of workplace bullying could make the difference for lawmakers in 11 states seeking passage of anti-bullying legislation this year.
However, panelists warned that such legislation—depending on its exact wording—would expand anti-workplace bias and harassment rules beyond existing protected classes to include essentially all employees, leaving employers considerably more vulnerable to litigation.
'Employers and (employment practice liability insurance) underwriters should be very concerned about any of this legislation being passed, at least in its current form,' said Joseph Starr, a partner at Starr, Butler, Alexopoulos & Stoner P.L.L.C. in Southfield, Mich. 'It would basically create an unlimited protected class for discrimination and harassment claims, and it would make it pretty easy for any employee to bring an action against their employer.'
Panelists noted that employees victimized by workplace bullying can already pursue legal action against their employers as well as individual perpetrators for a range of offenses that do not necessitate elements of bias, including defamation, infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring or supervision, criminal assault and/or battery, retaliation stemming from a criminal complaint and public policy claims."
To view the entire article, go to the following link:
On April 23, 2014, Joseph A. Starr participated in a panel discussion entitled: "Emerging EPL Risks With a Social & Mobile Workforce," at the Professional Liability Underwriting Society's Professional Risk Symposium: EPL, E&O and Fiduciary, held in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Starr presented the topic with: Benton J. Mathis, Jr., Managing Partner, Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP (Atlanta, GA); Suzanne Delio, Senior Manager - E&O, LPL and EPL, Freedom Specialty Insurance (New York, NY); Keith R. Loges, Southeast ProExec Practice Leader, RT Specialty Insurance (Atlanta, GA); and Cara P. Lovering, EPL Portfolio Manager, Travelers Insurance (Hartford, CT).
PLUS was founded in 1986 by industry professionals who recognized the need for a forum for individuals involved in the field of professional liability. For more information, see: www.plusweb.org.
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® named Starr, Butler, Alexopoulos & Stoner, PLLC a Tier 1, National “Best Law Firm” in the area of Litigation - Labor & Employment for 2014.
The American Conference Institute's EPLI Conference is one of the nation’s premiere gatherings and is designed for businesses, attorneys, and insurance professionals who want to make sure they are well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in the EPLI market and equipped to minimize risk exposure and able to manage and defend an increased number of legal claims being filed across the country
Michigan Super Lawyers magazine selected Joseph A. Starr as a 2013 Super Lawyer in Employment and Labor law. The magazine also selected Trisha M. Benson as a 2013 “Rising Star” in Employment and Labor law.
Super Lawyers magazine annually recognizes only five percent of the lawyers in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through an independent research process which includes twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming lawyers.
Michigan Super Lawyers is published annually in September in a special advertising supplement in The New York Times.
Selection for Best Lawyers in America is based upon an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising nearly four million confidentail evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. The Best Lawyers publication has been described by The American Lawyer as "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."
The American Conference Institute's EPLI Conference is one of the nation’s premiere gatherings and is designed for businesses, attorneys, and insurance professionals who want to make sure they are well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in the EPLI market and equipped to minimize risk exposure and able to manage and defend an increased number of legal claims being filed across the country.
