Author: JGL

On the latest episode of Brief Encounters hosted by the DC Bar, Darin Rumer, family law partner at JGL addresses what types of #familylaw matters are most appropriately resolved through litigation.

Law360 featured an article entitled “Ex-DOL Atty Lobs Race Bias, Retaliation Claims at Agency,” this case covers Oscar L. Hampton III’s complaints against the U.S. Department of Labor saying he has experienced racial discrimination and retaliation throughout his career with the agency, including “harassing and discriminatory conduct” from white attorneys he supervised.

Michal Shinnar and Jay Holland represent Oscar Hampton III in the suit filed in the DC federal court.

Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A. is pleased to announce that it has been included in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms receiving national recognition in two practice areas and nine rankings regional to Washington, DC

“We are proud to be included again among this impressive list of top law firms in the Washington, DC region,” said Lindsay Parvis, principal of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake. “This recognition underscores our entire team’s commitment to our clients on a daily basis. We thank our attorneys and staff for their continuing dedication to our clients’ legal needs.”

The Best Law Firms ranking is determined by peer reviews from leading attorneys, client and lawyer evaluations and a review of information provided by law firms for the formal submission process. Firms are required to have at least one lawyer in their practice included in Best Lawyers in America for that practice area to qualify for ranking. More information on eligibility and requirements can be found on the Best Law Firms methodology.

The firm is recognized in the following practice areas:

National Tier 1

• Appellate Practice

National Tier 3

• Employment Law – Management (new)

Metropolitan Tier 1

Washington, DC

• Appellate Practice
• Employment Law – Individuals (new)
• Employment Law – Management
• Family Law
• Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
• Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Metropolitan Tier 3

Washington, DC

• Family Law Mediation
• Litigation – Trusts & Estates (new)
• Trusts & Estates Law

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers in America has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Globally, over 110,000 industry-leading lawyers are eligible to vote and nearly 19 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world were received. For the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, more than 13 million votes were analyzed. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A., is one of the most trusted law firms serving Washington, DC, and the suburban Maryland area. For more than 50 years, our law firm has represented a variety of clients, including individuals, small businesses and multimillion-dollar corporations. From simple to complex legal needs, our law firm is prepared to deliver strategic solutions with high standards. For more information, please visit the firm’s website at jgllaw.com.

Michal Shinnar has been selected by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Power Players for the 2023 Employment Law Power List.

This group is composed of power players who are leading key organizations, creating change, impacting the community and engaging others to succeed.

Bethesda Magazine has named nine JGL attorneys, 2023 Top Attorneys.

• Timothy Maloney – Appellate, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury
• Drew LaFramboise – Civil Litigation, Personal Injury
• Jay Holland – Employment (employee), Employment (employer)
• Michal Shinnar – Employment (employee)
• Erika Jacobsen White – Employment (employee)
• Jeffrey Greenblatt – Family & divorce
• David Bulitt – Family & divorce, Alternative dispute resolution
• Steve Pavsner – Medical negligence
• Valerie Grove – Medical negligence

In this podcast David Bulitt and Andrew Greenwald (one of JGL’s founders) discussed from A to Z – step-by-step, how a medical malpractice case is handled, common issues that one can face, and what to expect when communicating with an attorney for a possible medical malpractice case.

A U.S. government agency violated federal law by failing to step in when an employee trumpeted support for Adolf Hitler, Nazism and antisemitic conspiracy theories in the workplace, three workers told a Washington, DC, federal court.

JGL Principal Brian Markovitz, who represents the three workers told Law360 reporter, Grace Elletson that employees shouldn’t have to face such conduct in the workplace. “This is a terrible situation that our clients had to endure,” Markovitz said. “Nobody should have to deal with this stuff at work, especially if they work for the federal government.”

You may read the full article here (PDF).

Renee Blocker joined JGL as Senior Counsel. An experienced trial attorney, Renee has a client-centric approach to the practice of law.

Her primary practice areas are personal injury, product liability and professional negligence. Renee’s unique experience in both plaintiff and defense litigation allows her to analyze and evaluate each case strategically identifying the path to the greatest award, be it through settlement or trial.  You may contact her by email at rblocker@jgllaw.com

JGL attorneys Brian Markovitz and Michal Shinnar represent the plaintiffs in this case covered in the article “Federal agency accused of tolerating employees who distributed Nazi propaganda and harassed colleagues,” featured in Government Executive.

The Washington Post summarized the lawsuit exposing a worker of the U.S. Government Publishing Office who brought antisemitic materials to work in the article entitled “Lawsuit claims federal worker Nazi materials to work, praised Hitler.“

JGL attorneys Brian Markovitz and Michal Shinnar represent plaintiffs Sarah Hunt, Joshua Crotty, and Jonathan Romain who have come forward demanding justice after their complaints about their coworker were ignored.

Detailed Claims Include Anti-Semitism, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, and Transphobia Within the Federal Organization

Washington, October 17, 2023 — A groundbreaking lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia against the United States Government Publishing Office (U.S. GPO), unveiling a shocking pattern of hostile work environment, harassment, and discrimination.

Represented by Brian Markovitz and Michal Shinnar of Joseph Greenwald & Laake, plaintiffs Sarah Hurtt, Joshua Crotty, and Jonathan Romain have fearlessly come forward to demand justice after enduring egregious mistreatment and systemic neglect of their rights as U.S. GPO employees.

The complaint, which names Hugh N. Halpern, the Director of U.S. GPO, and Samuel Mewshaw, a U.S. GPO employee — and the plaintiff’s disturbed co-worker — as defendants, alleges a pervasive culture of anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia within the agency. Nazi salutes, sexually explicit and derogatory comments, and vile racist remarks were just some of the repulsive behaviors that the plaintiffs allege polluted the workplace, creating an unbearable work environment.

Despite their repeated reports to management and many of the inappropriate actions taking place in front of management, no appropriate actions were taken to address these violations. This systemic failure to protect the plaintiffs from unwarranted harm and hatred is a stark example of the U.S. GPO’s disregard for the well-being and dignity of its employees.

“This case shines a spotlight on the deeply alarming and distressing conditions that our clients have endured, including economic losses and significant emotional distress,” explained Markovitz. “The U.S. GPO, as a federal agency, has a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of equality, respect, and fairness and they haven’t. We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice for our clients, and meaningful, comprehensive change within the U.S. GPO.”

Shinnar added, “There is no justification for allowing our clients to be harassed by a Nazi in the workplace. It is outrageous that GPO subjected our clients to this hostile work environment.”

Markovitz, Shinnar, Hough, and their clients are available to speak to members of the media about the case. Complaint is available to view here (PDF).

A Maryland federal judge granted class certification to mortgage borrowers alleging Home Point Financial Corporation engaged in an illegal kickback scheme in exchange for payments from a title and settlement services company that were laundered through third parties.

This class is represented by Smith Gildea & Schmidt as well as Drew LaFramboise, Timothy Maloney and Veronica Nannis of JGL. You can read the entire Law360 article here.