Megan Sutton

Megan M. Sutton defends local, regional and nationally-known employers against workers’ compensation retaliation claims, as well as against allegations of age, race, sex, national origin and disability discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and under the Tennessee Human Rights Act.

Ms. Sutton also advises employers on the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Rights Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and defends them in court when necessary.

Ms. Sutton has experience with issues of pregnancy discrimination and failure to promote, as well as Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) anti-retaliation matters. She also assists with wrongful death/premises liability claims for a national restaurant chain.

As an integral member of the Labor & Employment Group in the Nashville office, Ms. Sutton regularly conducts plaintiff and defense witness depositions and handles settlement negotiations. She is also one of the Firm’s diversity trainers on “implicit bias.”

Before joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Sutton was a judicial clerk for Chancellors W. Frank Brown, III and Jeffrey M. Atherton at the Hamilton County Chancery Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

EDUCATION:

• University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., 2010, magna cum laude
• Illinois Wesleyan University, B.A., 2007, magna cum laude

ADMISSIONS:

• Tennessee, 2010
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 2011
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, 2012
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2014

Representative Matters:

• Represented a client in a federal jury trial that resulted in a defense verdict on the plaintiff’s claims for failure to accommodate under the ADA and FMLA interference.
• Represented a client in a jury trial defending regional lending institution in an age discrimination case in Jackson, Tennessee. Judge directed verdict in our favor after a hung jury.
• Obtained summary judgment for a food manufacturing company where plaintiff alleged national origin discrimination and associational retaliation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
• Obtained summary judgment for construction company on plaintiff’s claims for FMLA interference and FMLA retaliation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee which was affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice following plaintiff’s deposition in her federal lawsuit where she alleged age and disability discrimination.
• Successfully mediated a case for national pest control company where plaintiff alleged race discrimination but was terminated for insubordination; settled for much less than demanded.

Professional Honors & Activities:

• Member – Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
• Member – Inns of Court
• Board Member – ALIAS Chamber Ensemble
• Recipient – Associate of the Year Award, Nashville office (2015)