Employment Discrimination

Christine graduated from Troy State University in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Sports Medicine. She moved to Mobile, as a graduate student and obtained her Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Leadership while working as an Athletic Trainer and teaching in the Education Department at the University of South Alabama and in the public school system in South Alabama. Christine worked as a teacher in the Parochial School System, the Mobile County Public School System, and at the University Level. Christine earned honors in the field of education being awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year and the first Nationally Board Certified K-12 teacher in Alabama. She was a frequent speaker for educational seminars across the state. In 2006 Christine graduated from Law School and was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 2007. With a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, she opened her own law practice in 2008 and the practice has grown over the years. Christine has offered argument in local and state courts across Alabama, in Federal Courts in the South East, Appellate Courts in both State and Federal Divisions and has been successful with the United States Supreme Court in Searcy v. Strange, the Alabama Marriage Equality Case. Christine is no stranger to controversy arguing the Constitutional Rights of her clients, handling Capital Murder defense and appeals, arguing under appellate review wrongful convictions in criminal cases and for compassionate release from prison. Christine has also been known to argue for judicial reform and against Judge’s that abuse their power and influence across the state. She has frequently argued for the rights of juveniles and for juvenile probation reform in the southern counties of Alabama. In the area of education, Christine has been an advocate for the rights of special education students, championing the fight against bullying and discrimination in schools, and protecting the employment rights of teachers and administrators against school systems. Drawing from her years of teaching and coaching experience, Christine has worked hard to level the playing field and strives to educate her clients and equalize justice for those clients the Hernandez and Associations Law Firm represents. The Hernandez and Associates Law Firm located at the Mid-Towne Works Building at the Loop on Airport Blvd offers in-person, Zoom, teleconferencing, Face Time and Skype for initial consultations and client meetings. We have a full staff working collectively on your cases. Christine personally understands how difficult, stressful, and even frightening the legal system can be, particularly if you are a litigant and this is your first encounter with the legal system. This firm was built from the ground up where the legal team has provided determined representation on difficult and challenging issues. Christine and the other attorneys in the law firm work hard for their success and reputation as a legal team that fights for your rights. Christine returns to Thomas Goode Jones School of Law as a guest lecturer in the areas of Constitutional and Family Law from time to time and has served as mentor to many interns over the years. Christine has also traveled to numerous locations to lecture at continuing education seminars over the span of her career as she is a firm believer in giving back to the community. In addition, to work, Christine coached for nearly 30 years in a number of team and individual sports. Christine freely gives her time, knowledge and experience to younger lawyers and has mentored several attorneys over the years. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending quality time with her spouse, children and the five family dogs.

Experienced Alabama Products Liability, Construction, Warranty, Employment, and Insurance Defense Litigation Attorney with Ritchey & Ritchey, P.A. Recognized as a Top Lawyer in B-Metro: The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living in its March 2010, 2011 and 2012 issues. In 2012, named a “Top Rated Lawyer” in Construction Law by American Lawyer Media. American Lawyer Media publishes national and regional magazines, as well as newspapers. This recognition was published in the November issue of The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazines. The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct require the following disclosure: "No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers." Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(e) (2002). Lawyer.com FAQ What are the top legal services your firm provides? Construction law; Products Liability; Sexual/Racial Harassment/Discrimination defense; Landlord-Tenant; Insurance; Insurance Defense, Warranty disputes, Manufactured homes What is your approach or philosophy when representing a client? We are one of the oldest law firms in Birmingham as well as Alabama, founded in 1959 on a simple premise: provide clients with the guidance and expertise of a large law firm but with the service and value of a small law firm. How do you keep current on new information pertaining to your specialty?We incorporated the latest legal technologies into our practice. These advancements include weekly updates on Court rulings in Alabama.

Mr. Novak is the founding partner of our firm. He was born on the great Canadian prairies in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. After a distinguished educational career at the University of Manitoba, he attended the University of North Dakota School of Law. He was named on the academic dean’s list for his entire six semesters of law school and was awarded the degree of Juris Doctor With Distinction. Following graduation from law school, he hung up his hockey skates and moved to the gentler climate of California. Since 1998 Mr. Novak has based his practice of law in the Southern California area. However, he has actively litigated cases throughout the State of California, and the United States. Mr. Novak has established himself as a well-respected trial attorney in the region. In particular, he is renowned for his keen legal mind and aggressive litigation approach. His commitment to fighting for clients’ rights has led to the recovery of in excess of $130,000,000.00 in verdicts or settlements for clients within the past twenty-two years of his practice. Before concentrating his practice on protecting the rights of individuals, Mr. Novak worked for several years as a defense attorney handling primarily large-loss cases on behalf of numerous entertainment production companies, large corporations, and insurance companies. During this time period, he successfully protected clients from exposure to multi-million dollar claims for damages.

Bob Finnell has over thirty-six years of experience using the law to change lives and has protected the rights of more than 10,000 injured victims. He understands the challenges facing you and your family and has built the Rome, Georgia law office of The Finnell Firm based on that understanding. When we accept a case, we front all legal expenses in pursuing your claim and help you through the entire legal process, making sure that you get the protection and compensation you deserve. We are located off I-75 in Rome, Georgia and offer after-hours appointments as well as off-site home and hospital visits. Bob Finnell specializes in Plaintiff Civil Litigation with his focus in the areas of Personal Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Professional Malpractice, Auto Collision, Workers' Compensation, Class/Mass Tort Litigation, Employment Discrimination and Sexual Harassment; however, he also handles a wide range of cases outside of these specialties. He is the sole practitioner of The Finnell Firm and is well known throughout the state as well as across the country for his extensive experience in negotiating and litigating civil cases. His goal is to help you during your most difficult times. Mr. Finnell is also the co-inventor of the state-of-the-art presentation software program ExhibitView, a courtroom presentation tool designed to make even the most complex cases understandable and persuasive to juries. Mr. Finnell created the original version of ExhibitView for use in his own law practice in 2005, and today ExhibitView is used by law firms and law schools as well as non-legal businesses across the country.

Michael L. Bauchan, Juris Doctor (J.D.) 1970 and Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (B.E.E.) 1966, says "Call us FIRST. If you didn't, at least call us SECOND for FREE second opinion." Michael L. Bauchan has been a licensed attorney at the same location since 1971. He founded Bauchan Law Offices, P.C. September 17, 1971 when he bought the office of a retiring attorney, Robert O'Boyle. Mr. Bauchan incorporated his firm June 1, 1973. Our building has been a law office for well over half a century.

Noah Aaron Kinigstein is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York.

For much of the past decade, Jeff has been recognized annually by his peers as a New York “Super Lawyer” (one of the Top 25 in Westchester County), and selected as one of US News & World Report’s “Best Lawyers in America” in the area of commercial litigation. He has also been named a lifetime member of “Elite Lawyers in America,” “The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum,” and “Top Trial Lawyers in America.” He is a Fellow in the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America, and a member of the venerable American Bar Association Foundation. Jeff’s versatility with a wide array of subject matters has led to his handling of many high profile, difficult cases. Among other matters, Jeff successfully led the defense in federal court of a boat-builder wrongfully implicated in the “Ethan Allen” tragedy on Lake George in which twenty persons perished, winning summary judgment on the client’s behalf; prosecuted a $4.5 million jury verdict in Columbia County against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court the landmark consumer fraud class action, Lee v. Basic Research, which resulted in a unanimous, 9-0 opinion overturning the lower courts’ decisions denying class certification; and argued before the Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court the precedent setting case of Tyler v. Michaels which declared unlawful the collection of personal identifying information in connection with retail credit card transactions. Jeff’s reputation for excellent results and dogged preparation, make him a formidable adversary, regardless of which side of the aisle any particular dispute may place him. Jeff is no stranger to the Courtroom, and has successfully tried to verdict a diverse number of matters, including securing a defense verdict for Madison Square Garden and Amtrak in a federal jury trial in the Eastern District of New York; winning a multi-million dollar jury award in a state court breach of contract action in White Plains; prevailing in a nine month real estate fraud arbitration in New York City in which he recovered a multi-million dollar judgment; and securing on the eve of jury selection tens of millions of dollars for clients with catastrophic losses. Jeff’s experience in the sports, media and entertainment industries has also allowed for his successful handling of a variety of matters including claims of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, breach of television Executive Production Agreements, royalty disputes, and artist-management conflicts. Jeff has advised television broadcast journalists, senior media executives and executive producers on a wide range of issues concerning non-competes, first amendment rights, and compensation and severance disputes. Jeff led the successful prosecution of the wrongful death action of Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Steve Bechler, helped extricate former light heavyweight World Champion boxer Reggie Johnson from an onerous promoter’s contract, and counseled the Estate of Tito Puente, the Latin Salsa King, in a misappropriation of name and likeness litigation. Jeff also spearheaded the successful prosecution of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) multimillion dollar breach of contract action against a sponsor of the US Open, as well as defended the USTA against a claim of disability discrimination which he successfully had dismissed, and successfully represented Heineken in a breach of contract action arising from a marketing services agreement. Jeff regularly counsels media and entertainment clients in contract negotiations, severance disputes, and intellectual property matters. Jeff’s skill with complex litigation has also helped the Firm to develop significant experience handling a diverse array of maritime and admiralty matters. Jeff has successfully defended boat builders, marinas, charter vessels, stevedores and other marine interests in both federal and state litigations throughout the Country. Among other successful outcomes, Jeff defended a marine terminal operator in a federal wrongful death action in Portland, Maine; represented a luxury yacht manufacturer in a premises liability action in federal court in New Jersey; defended a Manhattan sight-seeing tour operator against a personal injury claim; and handled a Society of Maritime Arbitrators (SMA) arbitration concerning the scope of a contractual indemnity between a terminal operator and a multinational transport company. The Firm’s experience includes handling claims arising under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as well as prosecuting exoneration from and limitation of liability actions. Jeff is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College, a graduate of Columbia Law School and began his career as a litigator at Cravath Swaine & Moore. He lives in West Harrison, New York, with his wife Lauren, a pediatrician, and their two children, one of whom works in New York City and the other who is attending college.

Attorney Adam D. Meshkov is an accomplished and experienced Easton personal injury lawyer who also handles Social Security disability, employment discrimination, unemployment compensation, and civil rights cases. Adam became an attorney because he wanted a career that would allow him to contribute to society by helping people solve their legal problems. He firmly believes that the world needs more attorneys who are willing and able to work for ordinary, everyday people who have found themselves in difficult situations. When people are harmed, they are often out-resourced; Adam seeks to provide those resources his clients need to fight back against an often unjust and imbalanced system. His goal is to stand in the way of powerful interests who wish to take advantage of regular people in unfortunate circumstances. Adam received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Pennsylvania State University. Adam went on to attend the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Adam is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is an active member of the Northampton Bar Association and the Lehigh County Bar Association, as well as the prestigious Trial Lawyers College, of which he is a graduate. Outside of his professional activities, Adam is a family man who enjoys spending time with his three children and his partner in law and marriage, Attorney Eleanor M. Breslin. He is also an avid fly fisher, devoted outdoorsman, and active member of Trout Unlimited.

Tresa G. Cavanaugh, Attorney at Law is a solo-practicing attorney, proudly representing clients in Vancouver, WA and its surrounding areas. I strive to provide legal services that are affordable and accessible to lower income clients who otherwise would not qualify for free legal aid services. I understand that many people do not plan to need a lawyer, and therefore they do not have the savings necessary to retain a large law firm to represent them in their legal case. However, I guarantee that I provide high quality legal representation at a fraction of the cost of other firms. I am passionate about providing legal services that are necessary in the lives of people who may not have anywhere to turn. I have therefore focused my practice on high-need areas that can benefit from attorney assistance. My bankruptcy practice is designed to help people overcome devastating debt and get back on their feet. My wills and estates practice, on the other hand, serves to help people arrange their affairs to save their loved ones confusion, bitterness, and expensive costs later on. Clients who come to me for employment matters have often been wronged by their employers and are otherwise left powerless in the face of big firm attorneys. Finally, I represent clients who are truly at their most vulnerable and emotional, as they face the loss of their marriage or even child custody. My ability to provide low cost legal services in these areas is truly the culmination of my passion for the law and purpose in life. My rates are based on the moderate means sliding scale. I also offer bundle services and flat fee rates. Legal problems can leave you exhausted, but you are not alone. Choose a compassionate attorney at Tresa G. Cavanaugh, Attorney at Law.