Paul Sorensen is the senior litigation partner in the firm's human resources and environmental practice groups. He focuses his employment practice on defending companies against claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination and harassment. In the environmental area, he has special expertise in recovering insurance proceeds for companies confronted with third-party claims for damages as well as federal or state government claims for cleanup costs.
Leads a large and experienced team of the Firm’s labor and employment litigators Established a track record over nearly 30 years of successfully defending our clients in over 400 cases of employment litigation, including all types of discrimination claims (age, race, sex, height, weight, pregnancy, national origin, religion, disability), wrongful discharge claims, harassment claims, statutory claims arising under Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and various state statutes. Also defended more than a dozen class actions brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor and private plaintiffs Counsel to clients regarding litigation avoidance in the employment area Past chair of the Firm’s Human Resources Practice Group Argued cases in state and federal trial courts in fifteen states, Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and Connecticut Supreme Court Faculty and past chairman of Hillman Trial Advocacy Program, United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
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Representative Experience
- Boshaw v. Spartan Stores, Inc - 2005 WL 3277986, (W.D. Mich 2005) (age, disability and FLSA claims dismissed)
- Bromley v. Amstore Corporation - (W.D. Mich 2000) (dismissal of FLSA claim)
- Coleiro v. Spartan Stores, Inc - (W.D. Mich 2005) (FLSA class action denied)
- Environair v. Steelcase - 190 Mich App 289 (1991) (tortious interference with contract claim dismissed)
- In re Attorney Fees and Costs - 233 Mich App 694 (1999) (attorney fees recovered from opposing counsel)
- Jager v. Nationwide Truck Brokers, Inc. - 252 Mich App 464 (2002) (sexual harassment claim against company and supervisor dismissed)
- Mavrikis v. Chemical Bank Shoreline - (W.D. Mich 2003) (disability and retaliation claims dismissed)
- Michigan Association of Governmental Employees v. Michigan Civil Service Commission - 125 Mich App 180 (1983) (Union's claims dismissed)
- Michigan State Employees Association v. Michigan Civil Service Commission - 141 Mich App 288 (1985) (union’s claim against our client dismissed)
- Schell v. Baker Furniture Co. - 461 Mich App 502 (2000) (sexual harassment claim dismissed)
- Smith v. Goodwill Industries - 243 Mich App 458 (2000) (sex discrimination claim dismissed)
- Wetter v. Munson Home Health - (W.D. Mich 1999) (dismissal of disability claim)
- Wilkinson v. Conn, Geneva & Robinson LLP - (Muskegon County Circuit Court, 2003) (sexual harassment and sex discrimination claims dismissed)
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Honors And Awards
Named a Super Lawyer in the 2007 and 2008 editions of Michigan Super Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America Note and Comment Editor, Duke Law Journal, 1976-77
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Bar Associations
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American Bar Association
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Federal Bar Association
Western Michigan Chapter, Past President
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State Bar of Michigan
Committee on Character and Fitness
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Grand Rapids Bar Association
President Elect, 2005-06; Vice President 2004-05; Secretary, 2001-02; Chairperson of several committees and served on Task Force to reform Circuit Court case management system
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Teaching and Lecturing
- Frequent lecturer at labor and employment seminars
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Publications
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Professional Affiliations
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Insurance Information Council
Member
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News
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