Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo

Experience

Counseling Experience

• Advises clients with respect to ever changing anti-harassment and discrimination laws, and any necessary accommodation considerations. Prepares and conducts anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training courses for management and employees that goes above and beyond the requirements of any applicable state law, including guidance with respect to the importance of diversity and inclusion, implicit bias, and management and human resources best practices.
• Conducts internal investigations with respect to various forms of alleged harassment and discrimination by employees and customers of clients to ensure all internal complaints are promptly and thoroughly addressed in a non-biased manner. Provides advice related to the outcome of completed internal investigation in order to ensure any improper behavior is promptly and effectively corrected and any such future behavior is prevented.
• Counsels clients with respect to termination and restructuring efforts - both for line employees and executives, including the consideration of New York WARN Act compliance and related issues.

Litigation Experience

• Representing large hospital system in connection with 10 plaintiff discrimination lawsuit filed against it pertaining to mandatory vaccine requirements.
• Acted as lead associate at trial of EEOC enforcement action, successfully obtaining verdict for client on majority of claims, favorably settling with three intervenors, and subsequently limiting damages awarded to remainder.
• Obtained partial summary judgment on a multimillion-dollar claim in favor of a public electronics company. Prepared for and attended the trial.
• Negotiated a settlement for an employer in a wage and hour suit at a settlement conference in the Southern District of New York.
• Acted as the lead associate in a three-plaintiff wage and hour action for a hospitality management company and negotiated a settlement with plaintiffs. The action was complicated by the fact that a labor union was attempting to organize the property at the same time, and encouraged the plaintiffs to continue in their suit.
• Obtained a dismissal for a bank against a former employee asserting New York Labor Law claims.
• Second-chaired the representation of a regional hospital at an NLRB hearing and assisted in negotiating a settlement.

Memberships

• New York Junior League

Pro Bono

• Assists organizations in the development of employee handbooks and properly classifying employees.