Tashwanda represents employers in the litigation of all areas of federal and state employment and labor law. She has significant experience providing employment counseling, particularly with respect to non-compete agreements, employee handbooks, Affirmative Action plans, and employee offer letters. Tashwanda also conducts investigations into allegations of discrimination and harassment, and she assists clients with Reduction in Force plans. In addition, Tashwanda handles employment litigation matters and EEOC charges of discrimination. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Myron H. Thompson, district court judge in the Middle District of Alabama.
Representative Experience
Obtained summary judgment in a case brought by a former employee alleging age discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation under the Family Medical Leave Act, and ERISA violations.
Conducted investigations into harassment and discrimination at several nuclear power plants.
Obtained summary judgment for property management company in a case brought by two plaintiffs alleging age discrimination.
Obtained summary judgment and attorney’s fees for client in a case brought by a current employee alleging race discrimination and retaliation.
Successfully arbitrated grievances brought by labor unions.
Assisted in the successful litigation of citations issued under OSHA.
Presentations
2011 Employment Law Update, presented to Georgia Department of Human Services (June 2011).
Business Legal Considerations, presented to Women’s Economic Development Agency (October 2008, February 2011).
Minimizing the Risks of ADAA Claims, presented at Troutman Sanders Labor and Employment Seminar (November 2010).
OSHA Changes Under the Obama Administration, presented at Troutman Sanders Labor and Employment Seminar (November 2009).
Publications
High Unemployment Leads to Record-Breaking Claims of Discrimination, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (May 2011).
Thinking of Inking a Deal with Uncle Sam? An Overview of Employment-Related Obligations of Federal Contractors, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (December 2009).
Crude Workplace Behavior: Equally Offensive to All, or Sex Discrimination?, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (August 2009).
Hazardous Jobs Not Child’s Play: DOL Imposes First Increased Fine Under New Child Labor Legislation, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (August 2009).
New “Union-Friendly” Executive Orders Affect Government Contractors, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (February 2009).
The New Administration Focuses on Key Labor and Employment Legislation, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (February 2009).
“Sufficient Time” to Dispute the Accuracy of Background Checks Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, published in Troutman Sanders Employment & the Law Newsletter (November 2008).