About

I love employment law.

That’s not to say that I don’t love other areas of the law. Indeed, my practice at Pullman & Comley isn’t limited to employment law, and I enjoy all types of litigation helping out companies big and small in Connecticut.

But employment law will always remain near and dear to my heart. Why?

Because to be involved in employment law, is to be involved in human dynamics. Each case and each situation is based on relationships that supervisors have with their subordinates or on the split-second decisions that a human resources professional makes that will dictate whether an employer will face a lawsuit or a yawn.

I often remark “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” when it comes to employment law. And this blog is a testament to that approach.

Take the case of Murphy v. Beavex. On its face, the case is about whether a hostile work environment was proven to a disabled worker. But who would’ve guessed that a key piece of evidence would be the toilet training bestseller, “The Book of Poop.” (If you’re curious, and I’m sure you are, you can read more about it in this May 2008 post.)

Or Radecki v. GlaxoSmithKline. During trial, the plaintiff/employee claimed he had a “metastatic brain lesion.” Except he didn’t. So the court threw out the entire case based upon this perjury.

It is based off of these cases, and many other developments in the area, that I started the Connecticut Employment Law Blog back in 2007. And it is the love of employment law—the nuances, the uniqueness, the changes—that keeps me going.

My goal remains a simple one: Share new and noteworthy items relating to employment law to employers, human resources personnel, and executives in Connecticut. And in doing so, hopefully explain those details in plain English. In fact, what you’ll see in many of my posts is an answer to this simple question: “What’s the takeaway for employers?”

So, there’s obviously much more to me than a few paragraphs can provide. Here are some more details about my background and experience. If you want to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dschwartz@pullcom.com.

Litigation experience in federal and state courts:

• Wage and Hour Law
• Employment Discrimination
• Trade Secrets
• Non-compete enforcement
• Other employment-related matters

Arguing before:

• Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts
• United States District Court – Connecticut & Southern District of New York
• Connecticut Superior Court
• Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
• Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
• Local and federal administrative agencies

Awards and Recognition:

• “40 Under 40″ Hartford Business Journal (2010)
• “Legal Rebel” by the ABA Journal, in recognition of the innovative work that I have been performing for the bar association
• ABA Blawg 100 – As one of the best 100 blogs by lawyers in the country (2010, 2011, 2012)
• Recognized by Chambers USA for Labor & Employment Law in Connecticut
• Have been included in “Best Lawyers in America” publication for Connecticut since 2005 and now in “Super Lawyers” publication
• Finalist, Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, American Bar Association, 2008
• ABA Young Lawyers’ Division “Star of the Year” in 2007.
• Connecticut Law Tribune “New Leaders of the Law Award” 2003.

Past and Present Volunteer Work:

• Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
• Civil Rights Committee of the ADL – Connecticut Chapter
• The Urban League of Greater Hartford
• Avon Democratic Town Committee
• Mental Health Association of Connecticut
• Connecticut Middle School Mock Trial Program
• Lawyers for Children America
• Chair, March of Dimes Star Chefs Dinner 2008

Education:

• J.D. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Honor: Order of the Coif.
• B.A. University of Pennsylvania.