James M. Lemonedes, Partner

Jim is the Chair of the New York Employment Litigation Group, which addresses Fox clients’ labor and employment litigation needs in all federal and state courts and administrative tribunals, as well as arbitration hearings in New York. As former Senior Counsel/Trial Specialist for the New York City Corporation Counsel’s Office, Jim possesses a wealth of experience handling federal and state court litigations involving employment discrimination, civil rights claims, wage and hour matters and policy issues. He has served as lead counsel in more than 60 federal and state trials that have gone to verdict and has appeared in numerous administrative proceedings.

Jim frequently handles class action and collective action law suits as well as single and multi-plaintiff claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), as well as such claims under the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws and the New York Labor Law. Jim is also experienced in handling constitutional claims under Sections 1981 and 1983 of the United States Code.

Representative Matters

Jim has appeared as lead trial counsel in the following representative matters:

Scott v. City of New York

Successfully defended the City of New York in a class action law suit involving 16,000 present and former police officers and detectives claiming violations of the FLSA and seeking $500 million in damages

Mullins v. City of New York

Successfully defended the City of New York in a collective action case brought on by 4,000 present and former police sergeants claiming violations of the FLSA and seeking $60 million in damages

Plummer v. Quinn

Successfully defended Speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn and the City of New York against a Section 1983 claim

Almontaser v. NYC Dept. of Education

Successfully defended the New York City Department of Education and several individual defendants against a Section 1983 claim regarding an organization that distributed T-shirts displaying an offensive slogan

Latino Officers Association v. New York City

Defended New York City in a class action law suit filed on behalf of 15,000 current and former minority police officers alleging violations of Title VII and Section 1981, employment discrimination and employment misconduct, which ultimately was settled on very favorable terms

Patrolman’s Benevolent Ass’n v. City of New York

Represented the City of New York and various high-ranking public officials in a multi-plaintiff jury trial concerning Title VII and Section 1983 discrimination and retaliation violations regarding the transfer of minority police officers in the wake of the Abner Louima incident

Tesser v. Board of Education for the City of New York

Successfully defended the New York City Board of Education against a Title VII religious discrimination and retaliation claim

USA v. City

Represented the City of New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Fire Department for the City of New York (FDNY) in a multi-plaintiff and US Department of Justice action asserting race discrimination under Title VII and Section 1983 in the hiring of minorities

Davis v. City of New York

Successfully defended the City of New York against a claim from a former city councilman running for a position on New York City Council after the New York Police Department enforced a provision that “deems reigned” any police officer who is nominated by any party for an elected official and who does not decline that nomination within 10 days