sanderson@walterhav.com
Phone: 216-928-2936
Fax: 216-916-2373
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Susan Keating Anderson
Associate

Areas of Practice
Labor and Employment Law
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Education Law
Litigation Services

Education
Capital University School of Law, J.D., 2002, magna cum laude, Associate Editor of Law Review, and Order of the Curia

The Ohio State University, B.A., 1996

Licensed to Practice
All courts in Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

Susan practices in the areas of Education, Labor and Employment, including litigation, labor relations and collective bargaining, and general Civil Litigation. Susan has successfully defended employers against charges of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, defamation, and workplace privacy violations, winning on summary judgment and successfully defending the decisions on appeal. In addition, Susan provides general counsel to both public and private employers on a variety of workplace matters and human resources issues, and has conducted numerous in-services to train employees and employers alike on best employment practices and procedures.

On the Education law front, Susan has represented numerous school boards across the state in labor negotiations (traditional and interest-based), in civil litigation and administrative appeals, as well as before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the State Employment Relations Board. In her litigation practice, Susan has trial experience in a variety of civil litigation matters, ranging from breach of contract to employment discrimination actions.

Areas of Emphasis

Employment and Labor Law

Susan has provided legal counsel to both private and public employers on a variety of matters, including:

• Investigating sexual harassment complaints and counseling employers on suggested remedial action, including recommended disciplinary measures where appropriate;

• Drafting and implementation of employee handbooks, policies and practices;

• Inservice training on policies and practices, including anti-harassment and public records policies;
  
  
• Preparing employment contracts and covenants not to compete;
  
  
• Defending employers in litigation and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the State Employment Relations Board; and
  
  
• Advising clients on general personnel issues, including hiring, discipline and discharge.

Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

Susan helps to guide public employers in contract negotiations as well as ongoing labor relations issues, such as:

• Arbitrating grievances arising under collective bargaining agreements, including disciplinary and contract interpretation issues;
  
  
• Participating in and leading negotiation sessions, advising employers on recommended proposals and counterproposals, and drafting same;
  
  
• Defending employers against unfair labor practices before the National Labor Relations Board and the State Employment Relations Board;
  
  
• Representing employers in mediation; and
  
  
• Advising employers on general labor matters, including contract interpretation issues, the avoidance of unfair labor practice charges.

Most recently, Susan has represented a public employer in financial crisis in bargaining with its union the effects of the elimination of numerous bargaining unit positions.

Education Law

Susan also represents and counsels public boards of education in a variety of matters, including:

• Personnel issues, such as hiring, firing, evaluation, and predisciplinary hearings;
  
  
• Drafting administrative and consulting contracts;
  
  
• Negotiating and drafting severance agreements;
  
  
• Board policy formation, implementation, and administration;

• Interpretation and implementation of collective bargaining agreements;

• Defending school boards in civil litigation, administrative appeals, and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the State Employment Relations Board; and
  
  
• Public records and Sunshine law issues.

Litigation

Susan has a broad range of litigation experience, such as:

• Defending public and private employers against charges of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, defamation, and workplace privacy violations;
  
• Contract interpretation and consumer law disputes;
  
• Defending and protecting the territory of rural water associations from encroachment under federal and state law;
  
• Obtaining or defending against motions for injunctive relief; and
  
• Successfully defending favorable judgments on appeal.

Professional & Community Associations

• Cleveland and Lorain County Bar Association
  
• Member of Lorain City Schools Bond Council Oversight Committee
  
• Member of Ohio School Boards Association
  
• Chair of Board of Trustees of Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Inc. (LCADA)
  
• Secretary-Treasurer of Kendal at Oberlin
  
• Leadership Lorain County, Class of 2004