Source: https://www.meenanesqs.com/colleen-meenan/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 10:14:09+00:00

Document:
Admitted: 1992, New York; 1992 Connecticut; 1994 U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts; U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals; and U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Colleen is the founder of Meenan & Associates and, before practicing law, Colleen was a decorated New York City police officer. Colleen’s selfless public service and innate “street smarts” influence the firm’s core values which include loyalty to the client’s best interests, personalized attention, and instinctive problem solving.
Colleen has successfully represented the interests of both businesses and clients for over 25 years.
She has effectively advocated for the fair and equitable treatment of employees with respect to compensation, work terms and conditions, contracts and severance. Colleen is a staunch advocate for workplace fairness for women in non-traditional employment, business and banking challenging for over 25 years gender discrimination, harassment, pregnancy discrimination and unequal pay.
Colleen has obtained successful jury verdicts after trial in a number of employment related cases, including in the case of Elliot v. City of New York, 99-cv-9308 (SDNY)(Mukasey) and Sorrenti v. City of New York, Index 126981/02 (N.Y. Co. Sup. Ct.).
She has won significant decisions in cases she has argued before the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state. Colleen has effectively broadened the scope of protection afforded employees experiencing work place retaliation as provided by the New York City Human Rights Law in the cases of Albunio v. City of New York, 16 N.Y.3d 472 (2011) and Sandiford v. City of New York, 22 N.Y. 3d 914 (2013). These favorable appellate court decisions clarified the interpretation to be applied by the trial courts in analyzing claims of retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law.
Colleen testified before the City Council in December of 2015 in support of Int. 0814-2015, a proposed amendment to the City’s human rights law, requiring trial courts to correctly interpret the statute in accordance with recent appellate decisions, including Albunio v. City of New York, 16 N.Y. 3d 472 (2011). This amendment was subsequently passed by the City Council, amending Administrative Code § 8-130.
In 2016, Colleen was instrumental in developing the legal strategy which challenged the New York City Police Department’s discriminatory treatment of hearing disabled police officers. The police department maintained a policy which prohibited the use of hearing aids, resulting in the medical disqualification from employment of officers otherwise qualified to perform their job. Two courageous police officers decided to challenge this policy when they were forced to retire from employment. Under Colleen’s leadership, the legal challenge was successful and resulted in a change in how police officers who sustain hearing loss are treated by the NYPD. See, James Phillips and Dan Carione v. City of New York, 11cv6685 (SDNY) (Polk-Failla).
Colleen has continued to advance the rights and interests of the hearing disabled in employment related matters.
In addition, Colleen is a well-known champion for protecting the rights and interests of the elderly and disabled. Her firm has successfully recouped substantial sums of money for elderly victims of financial exploitation by family members and care givers. She currently co-publishes the blog: “ny guardian advocate, ” a resource for guardians and guardianship professionals.
Finally, Colleen has effectively represented a small technology company for the past 20 years and currently leads the firm in its efforts to expand in this area of legal services.

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