Williams Oinonen LLC has the privilege of representing Dr. Robert Wainberg in an employment matter. His lawsuit against Piedmont College was recently featured in the AJC today which can be read here and also in the Gainesville Times which can be read here.
Articles Posted in Employment Law
Williams Oinonen LLC Lawyers Selected to Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars for a Fifth Year In A Row
Williams Oinonen LLC is proud to announce that each of its lawyers was honored for the 5th year in a row by Georgia Super Lawyers.
Mario Williams and Julie Oinonen were both named Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2019. Only 5% of lawyers in Georgia receive this distinction after a rigorous selection process and third-party validation of their accomplishments, including reviews and ratings from fellow lawyers.
Williams Oinonen LLC is made up of civil trial attorneys who regularly handle serious injury, employment, education, business, and high profile civil rights cases. For more information, contact us at 404-654-0288.
Georgia Employment Lawyer Wins Summary Judgment in Age Discrimination and Retaliation
The Honorable Judge Leigh Martin May came out with a wonderful Order in an Age Discrimination and Retaliation claim denying Summary Judgment in full for a Georgia teacher:
Georgia Employment and Education Lawyer Obtains Dismissal Of Teacher’s PSC-Professional Standards Commission Suspension Charge Against Her Teaching Certificate
Georgia Employment and Education attorney obtained a full dismissal and no probable cause finding from the Attorney General and Georgia Professional Standards Commission involving a charge brought against a school teacher facing a suspension of her teaching certificate due to a Georgia PSC standards of ethics charge. The PSC agreed to take no disciplinary action against the educator, closed her case, and expunged the file.
Said the Georgia educator to Ms. Oinonen: “Words can not express my gratitude for you. Your dedication to my case was second to none. The fact that you could hear in my voice my frustration and concern, shows me you are not only a gifted attorney but also an ANGEL equipped to help others during their time of need. You NEVER gave up on me, you could have simply pushed me aside and not bothered going the extra mile. But you did and I am thankful. My career was in jeopardy due to me making a poor decision, however, God gave me a second chance. Thank you for the opportunity to redeem myself!! Your service and Georgia Association of Educators are a GOD send! Thank you!!!”
Georgia Employment and Education attorney recommends that an educator always first contacts an education attorney before responding to a Georgia Professional Standard Commission (PSC) charge. Having an attorney from the start can impact the level of sanction the PSC recommends. Additionally, it is essential to have legal representation in the event of an appeal and request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, a matter which is civilly prosecuted by the Attorney General of the State of Georgia.
National Employment Lawyers Association of Georgia Board Members Present Deb Schwartz Advocacy Award
Congratulations to Deborah Schwartz, winner of the National Employment Lawyers Association of Georgia (NELA-GA) Advocacy Award. NELA-GA Board Members Tamika Sykes and Julie Oinonen organized the Advocacy Award Dinner this year and were proud to present Deborah Schwartz with this year’s award.
NELA-GA, the Georgia affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), is a civil rights bar association composed of attorneys whose employment litigation practices advocate for employees’ rights.
Julie Oinonen and Mario Williams of Williams Oinonen LLC are proud members of NELA-GA. Stated Julie Oinonen: “We believe in this group of like-minded lawyers who care about protecting civil rights. Ms. Schwartz’ work, particularly in the area of employment discrimination, has been an inspiration to all of our members to continue fighting the good fight.”
Georgia Education Lawyer Wins Appeal Before the State Board of Education
Georgia Education Lawyer Julie Oinonen won an appeal before the State Board of Education on behalf of Mrs. Cindy Williams, a Georgia Association of Educators’ member and one of the sole African American guidance counselors in Grady County School System in southwest Georgia who was wrongfully terminated.
Fortunately,the Grady County Board of Education agreed to award a $50,000 settlement as detailed in the front page of the Thompson Times newspaper. Along with the settlement, the Georgia State Board of Education granted Williams’ appeal, reversing the Grady board’s vote to terminate her employment.
Mrs. Williams’ attorney, Julie Oinonen of Williams Oinonen LLC in Atlanta, said of the settlement:
Georgia Education Lawyer Wins PSC Case For Teacher Accused Of Chokehold
Georgia Education Lawyer obtained a “no probable cause” finding for Ms. Stephanie Fleet effectively dismissing the charges that were brought against her by the Attorney General on behalf of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, the state agency that regulates teacher contracts.
Ms. Fleet was exonerated from the charges brought against her where she was accused of improperly restraining a student by using a chokehold. In fact, Ms. Fleet was restraining a violent student who had tried to swung at her and other students repeatedly. In order to protect herself and other students, Ms. Fleet performed a lawful restraint on the student but did not at anytime touch his neck.
Mrs. Fleet, a Georgia Association of Educators’ member, was gratified for the help both GAE and her attorney provided stating: “I am very grateful that I had GAE’s team on my side. My UniServ Directors went to bat for me and their network attorney represented me with real passion.”
Good Georgia Lawyer Williams Oinonen LLC Honorees of 2017 Rising Star Super Lawyers Award
The law firm of Williams Oinonen LLC is grateful to have both partners, Mario Williams and Julie Oinonen, as honorees for the Rising Star Super Lawyers Award for a third year in a row. While up to 5 percent of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent in the state of Georgia are named to Rising Stars.
Specializing in wrongful death, injury, and injustices, the partners at Williams Oinonen LLC fight to protect the legal, Constitutional, and civil rights of all people. It is our privilege to represent hard working Georgians all over the state. Whether you are an educator in one of Georgia’s 180 school districts dealing with an employment matter, a business owner in the city of Atlanta, or a farmer in rural Georgia struggling with a business dispute, or whether you are a family facing the loss of a loved one due to an injury or injustice–here you will receive the same excellent service of results driven aggressive advocacy.
Good Georgia Lawyers, the attorneys at Williams Oinonen LLC are committed to upholding their Attorney Oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Georgia.”
Good Georgia Education Lawyer Wins Educator PSC Case Prosecuted By Attorney General
Good Education Lawyer Julie Oinonen recently won a hard fought Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) case on behalf of a Georgia educator who was wrongfully accused of violating the standards of ethics and risked having her teaching certification suspended. The Georgia PSC wished to suspend the educator’s teaching license certification. The case was tried before an Administrative Law Judge in the Bartow County Courthouse. The Attorney General of the State of Georgia prosecuted the case on behalf of the PSC. The Judge’s case decision successfully vindicated the educator rejecting the PSC’s recommendation and reversing the decision to suspend the Assistant Principal’s teaching certification. The educator was very happy with the representation Williams Oinonen LLC provided. She gave us permission to share her testimonial writing:
“Dear Julie, I wanted to thank you wholeheartedly for the work that you did on my case. Your knowledge and expertise were invaluable in proving to the PSC that I had, in fact, followed proper procedures and that I was not in violation of the law. After more than 18 months of uncertainty and worry, I can finally rest assured that I may move forward in my career. May God’s blessings surround you in all that you do! With gratitude.”
Williams Oinonen LLC is proud to be an attorney affiliate of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). Teachers and administrators who are not members are free to hire us privately but Good Georgia Education Attorney recommends that every teacher in Georgia sign up for the workplace protection GAE offers which will pay for for full legal coverage in the event of a PSC charge.
Good Georgia Education Lawyer Wins PSC (Professional Standards Commission) Case For APS Whistleblower
Courageous APS Whistleblower Dr. Jackson Reynolds successfully had her case dismissed before the Professional Standards Commission.
Dr. Jackson Reynolds was retaliated against after she reported the abuse of her special needs students that had been captured on video.
Dr. Jackson was forced to report the abuse to Child Protective Services and the Atlanta Police Department all by herself. APS never questioned her about the matter until she was compelled to go on the six o clock news, Nancy Grace on CNN, and other news media. Soon after she was called in for questioning and was summarily terminated from her position.