Attorney Profile

Michelle N. Michael

Associate
Michael_Michelle

Areas of Practice

Employment Law
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation

Contact Info

(856) 414-6016
MNMichael@mdwcg.com

Michelle is a member of the Professional Liability Department. She focuses her practice on employment law and represents employers in the defense of matters involving allegations of discrimination based upon age, gender, race, and disability, as well as “whistle blowing” claims. Michelle also handles matters involving civil rights and discrimination claims in both federal and state courts.

In 2013, Michelle graduated summa cum laude from Rider University, earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, with minors in Legal Studies and Political Communications. In May 2017, she earned her juris doctor degree from Rutgers Law School.

During law school, Michelle served as the Lead Research & Writing/Communications Editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion. Michelle was also semi-finalist in the Rutgers Law School Hunter Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Competition and served as a board member of the program during her final year of law school. Additionally, Michelle competed in the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, serving as captain of her team. Michelle also participated in the Rutgers Law School Civil Practice Clinic.

Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Michelle clerked for the Honorable Richard J. Geiger of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Michelle also served as an intern to the Honorable Peter G. Sheridan, United States District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey, during law school.

New Jersey Appellate Division affirms dismissal of plaintiff’s gender discrimination and workers’ comp retaliation claims.

Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice

Our defense team was successful before the New Jersey Appellate Division. The plaintiff is a former employee of a non-profit agency that provides services to disabled individuals. She filed suit against her former employer and its manager, alleging gender discrimination and retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. As discovery progressed, thousands of pages of discovery were exchanged, which demonstrated that legitimate, long-standing performance deficiencies were the actual basis for her termination.

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Successful defense of discrimination case before the New Jersey Appellate Division.

Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice

The plaintiff filed suit against her employer, a governmental agency, alleging she was subject to discrimination under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) based upon her disability and that she was subject to retaliation for filing a previous discrimination suit. She further asserted aiding-and-abetting claims against fellow employees. The case was dismissed via summary judgment, and the plaintiff appealed.

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Successful defense of New Jersey Law Against Discrimination claims.

Employment Law

In this employment law lawsuit, the plaintiff was a former employee who filed suit against our non-profit agency client, asserting claims of gender discrimination in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and retaliation in violation of the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act. This matter involved a long and contested period of discovery, including extensive discovery demands, complex e-discovery and extensive motion practice.

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Summary judgment in school bullying case.

School Leaders' Liability

​The plaintiff was a high school junior who alleged he was physically abused by a special education teacher. He sued the teacher, the school district and several administrators, alleging violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New Jersey Civil Rights Act and the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Statute. After a long period of discovery and many depositions, the court granted our summary judgment motion. 

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District Court dismisses claim for insurance benefits against employer, finding it was the plan administrator, not the employer, who made the benefits determination.

Roseland
Employment Law
This matter arises from the plaintiff’s claim under Section 502(a)(1)(B) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), seeking to recover insurance Case Law Alerts, 2nd Quarter, April 2021 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent developments of int
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Published Works

"Can a Documented COVID-19 Infection Lead to a Disability Claim Under the NJLAD?", New Jersey Law Journal, Co-Author, March 9, 2022

"NJ Supreme Court Confirms Scope and Application of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act," New Jersey Law Journal, April 14, 2021

"Can Employers Require Employees to Get a Vaccine, Once Approved?", The Legal Intelligencer, Employment Law Supplement, October 27, 2020

"A Case Law Update on the Status of Obesity as a Disability Under the NJLAD -- Dickson v. Community Bus Lines, Inc.", New Jersey Labor & Employment Law, a publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association, December 2019 

Admissions
New Jersey
2018
U.S. District Court of New Jersey
2018
Education
Rutgers School of Law (J.D., 2017)
Rider University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2013)
Year joined
2018