Elizabeth MacDonald, of counsel in the firm's Denver office, has nearly 30 years experience defending employers in litigation and administrative law matters. In state and federal court at the trial and appellate levels, Beth has extensive experience defending employers against claims brought under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, federal civil rights statutes, and state law. Her expertise includes the defense of class action claims and complex multi-district employment litigation, and representing employers in administrative investigations conducted by federal and state agencies. Representative litigation matters Beth has handled include:

• Seven-day federal court jury trial of race discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII and Section 1981 for a national insurance company
• Five-day jury trial in U.S. District Court defending a telecommunications corporation against gender and gender-plus-age claims
• Judgment for a beverage manufacturer and distributor following Texas federal court trial of Title VII race and sex discrimination claims brought by the EEOC
• Judgment for a Colorado hospital after state court trial of claims for breach of employment contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and outrageous conduct asserted by discharged employee
• Judgment for a national food service company in state court action following jury trial on claims of statutory fraud and breach of employment contract
• Since 2004, defense of employment litigation and administrative charges of discrimination on a national basis for an independent distributor of agricultural inputs and professional non-crop products
• Early settlement of federal court ADA lawsuits for "nuisance value" amounts
• Experience successfully defending discrimination lawsuits brought by pro se plaintiffs

Employer Counseling

As an adjunct to her litigation practice, Beth regularly advises corporate employers on ways to minimize liability in the employment law area. Compliance with federal and state laws affecting the employment relationship, responding to internal sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, work force reductions, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations for disabled workers, the drafting and revision of personnel policies and employment handbooks, employee compensation and benefits, employment contracts, employee discipline and terminations are some of the many employment law issues on which Beth frequently counsels employers.

Internal Investigations

Beth is regularly asked by corporate clients to conduct internal investigations, including interviewing complainants, witnesses and managers and preparing an investigative report. Examples of such investigations include:

• Investigation of sexual harassment allegations against a non-profit's Executive Director by former employee
• Investigation of allegations of physical abuse by corporate executive against female in-house counsel
• Investigation relating to telecommunications employee's on-the-job misconduct preceding his kidnapping and murder of a Denver woman
• Investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Sun Valley, Idaho store manager asserted by female subordinate
• Investigation of female executive's allegation that she was raped by her executive co-worker on a business trip in Illinois; both executives were ultimately terminated

Honors