Joanne Rinardo defends clients in employment and constitutional litigation. She is best known for her successful representation in cases involving Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family Medical Leave Act, as well as general employment claims. She has recently defended a client against dozens of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agency charges in a tri-state area over a two-year period with no findings of “cause” issued against the client.
Joanne has a Ph.D. in education and has taught graduate courses in education law at the University of New Orleans. In her education law practice, she has represented independent grammar, middle and high schools as well as a large state university in all types of employment and student-related matters. She provides consultation on employment practices and training on various topics, and she develops employment policies, drafts handbooks for staff and students, and assists schools with employment and due process issues. She also assists clients with developing best practices, policies and procedures to avoid claims.
Joanne was employed by the New Orleans Public Schools (NOPS) for almost 20 years. As an administrator for NOPS, she supervised approximately 75 employees and twice served on the management bargaining team that addressed the concerns of thousands of union employees.
- Loyola University New Orleans (J.D., 1995)
- University of New Orleans (Ph.D., 1998)
- University of New Orleans (M.Ed., 1978)
- Louisiana State University (B.A., 1973)
- Louisiana
American Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Law Section
Federal Bar Association
Louisiana Bar Foundation, Fellow
Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
Association for Women Attorneys
Board Member, 1999-2004New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©
Warren E. Mouledoux Award for Ethics, Loyola School of Law
Highest grade in both Ethics and Educational Law
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
Executive Board
CYPRESS ACADEMY
Board Member, Vice President
Sims v. Town of Haughton
After obtaining a $1,300 judgment on a motion to compel and deposing the plaintiff, he agreed to dismiss all claims in exchange for Haughton not executing the judgment.
Beans v. Fenton
After winning several motions to compel, this case was settled for about two percent of the original demand.
Campbell v. Nationwide
Joanne assisted Nationwide’s in-house counsel. The state claim against the company for unfair employment practices has been dismissed.Vaughn v. Frankly Legal
Procured a “no cause” determination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Bryant v. Town of Washington
After discussions with the plaintiff's counsel, he withdrew. The judge dismissed all federal and state claims against the defendants before summary judgment was filed.
Seals v. Superior Options
Joanne won a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss. The court dismissed the plaintiff’s federal claims with prejudice and dismissed the plaintiff’s state claims without prejudice.
Qadhafi v. Habitat for Humanity
Obtained a “no cause” determination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Jones .v Habitat for Humanity
In an Americans with Disabilities Act case, Joanne obtained a dismissal with prejudice of all claims after a summary judgment status conference.
Gilley v. Lowes’
Joanne had all claims against the third-party defendants dismissed on summary judgment.
Gonterman v. Best Western
After Joanne deposed the plaintiff regarding the inflation of her claims, the case settled for 20 percent of the original demand.
