The tension between Duane Morris and partner Meagan Garland is intensifying as they clash over court jurisdiction in a lawsuit that could have significant implications for the classification of non-equity partners in law firms. Garland alleges that Duane Morris has engaged in a “massive tax fraud” by misclassifying some lawyers as non-equity partners, a tactic she claims is used to diminish business and tax expenses. In her recent court filing, she reiterated these allegations.
The firm is pushing to transfer the case from Oakland, California, to San Diego, where Garland works and where it plans to have unnamed partners testify about her alleged poor performance. Garland has accused the firm of orchestrating a “smear campaign” as part of its defense, which includes claims of her overbilling and unresponsiveness to clients. Her complaint, filed in July in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to represent a class of current and former non-equity partners at Duane Morris.
Garland, a Black woman, also alleges that Duane Morris has discriminated by paying women and minorities less than their white, male counterparts. The firm’s reply includes testimonies from seven anonymous partners ready to discuss Garland’s performance issues that they believe justify her lower compensation. Furthermore, the firm has drawn attention by referencing Garland’s “alleged disabilities,” a move her legal team has condemned as a violation of her privacy.
Duane Morris has adopted an aggressive defense strategy, retaining a team from Proskauer Rose, a firm experienced in employment litigation. Anthony Oncidi, co-chair of Proskauer’s labor department, is part of the legal team. Previously, Oncidi and his colleagues have represented other firms in similar discrimination lawsuits.
For further details on this ongoing litigation, you can read more on the original article.