Source: http://wtotrial.com/raymond-martin
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 08:12:41+00:00

Document:
of labor and employment litigation."
Ray Martin has represented many of Colorado's largest employers, as well as national Fortune 500 companies, in federal and state courts in the Rocky Mountain region for more than 30 years. The leader of WTO’s employment practice group, Ray is a zealous representative of his clients and takes pride in the open and interactive relationships he develops with both in-house counsel and the management teams whose decisions are challenged in litigation.
For nine consecutive years, Chambers USA has ranked Ray in Band 1 in Colorado for Employment Litigation, which currently consists of the top three employment litigators in Colorado. In 2018, Chambers wrote, "Raymond Martin is a leading light in the area of labor and employment litigation. He is described as 'a phenomenal lawyer' and is widely lauded for his ability to collaborate with opposing counsel, as well as for his deep expertise. A source states: 'He has tremendous tactical and strategic instincts that transcend his expertise and experience in labor and employment matters.'"
In 2016, the editorial board of Law Week Colorado named Ray the Barrister's Best Employment Lawyer for Defendants. Ray has twice been listed in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, which recognizes just four to five Colorado lawyers in its management labor and employment listing each year. He has also been recognized by the Denver Business Journal as one of the top three employment lawyers in Colorado based on voting by practicing attorneys in the state.
Ray is an elected Fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed upon no more than five percent of Colorado lawyers for outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community, the traditions of the profession, and the maintenance and advancement of the objectives of the Colorado Bar Association.
Ray Martin has built a reputation as a premier employment litigator. He routinely represents Fortune 500 and other sophisticated clients in FLSA, whistleblower, discrimination, EEOC, and trade secret and noncompete lawsuits across a range of highly regulated industries including aviation, telecommunications, and healthcare. Chambers USA has ranked Ray in Band 1 for Employment Litigation in Colorado since 2010.
Won a defense jury verdict in federal court for a Fortune 500 telecommunications client facing age discrimination and retaliation claims.
Obtained complete dismissal of claims under the Federal False Claims Act for CollegeAmerica (aka The Center for Excellence in Higher Education).
Obtained dismissal of all claims against University of Colorado Hospital Authority in a whistle blower case filed in district court in Colorado Springs.
EEOC v. CollegeAmerica Denver (D. Colo. 2016) - Won a complete defense verdict for CollegeAmerica (aka The Center for Excellence in Higher Education) in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. WTO attorneys won dismissal of two claims relating to severance provisions in 2014. A federal jury decided for CollegeAmerica on the final claim of retaliation in 2016.
Prevailed against allegations of racial discrimination against a tech industry employer in Nevada. Following a two-and-a-half-year investigation, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concluded that no discriminatory conduct had occurred.
Menge v. AT&T (10th Cir. 2014) - Won Tenth Circuit affirmation of a lower court ruling for AT&T in an ERISA dispute.
EEOC v. CollegeAmerica Denver (D. Colo. 2014) - Obtained dismissal of key claims brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of alleged violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and involving the EEOC's national campaign to limit employers' language in separation agreements. Two claims brought by the EEOC were dismissed outright for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. A third claim continues to be litigated.
Represented a range of clients in seven recent noncompete cases, resulting in five preliminary injunctions enforcing the clients' noncompete agreements and, in two cases, defeating plaintiffs' attempts to enforce noncompete agreements against our clients.
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a race discrimination case brought against FedEx Freight in federal court in Colorado. The case was dismissed based on the plaintiff's discovery misconduct.
Successfully defended a nonprofit organization in a pro bono matter involving claims of national origin and religious discrimination filed by a former employee. The Colorado Civil Rights Division rejected all of the plaintiff's claims and dismissed her charges of discrimination. The organization assists refugees to establish economic self-sufficiency in the U.S. after fleeing persecution in foreign countries.
Obtained a preliminary injunction following a full-day evidentiary hearing in a Colorado district court on behalf of a large Ohio-based commercial painting company in a case involving trade secrets and a noncompete agreement.
Obtained a preliminary injunction enforcing WTO's client's non-competition agreement with a former employee after a two-day hearing in Jefferson County, Colorado.
Apodaca v. Allstate Insurance (Colo. June 20, 2011) - Won a Colorado Supreme Court decision favorable to WTO's client, Allstate, and all Colorado auto insurers in a purported class action involving disclosures associated with underinsured and uninsured motorist policies.
Successfully defended a major engineering firm against an FLSA class action.
Represented a major federal contractor in connection with a pattern and practice EEOC investigation relating to alleged gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and glass ceiling issues.
Won a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction (PI) for an international software developer in federal court in Colorado. The TRO and PI enjoined two of the clients' former employees from violating their non-compete and proprietary information agreements.
Won a defense ruling in a week-long arbitration involving seven-figure damage claims and punitive damages brought by a former CEO and chairman of WTO's client, a securities broker-dealer.
Obtained a temporary restraining order to stop the former employee of a healthcare third party administrator (TPA) and his new employer from contacting the TPA's customers. WTO also obtained a declaratory judgment that the TPA's noncompete agreement was enforceable under Colorado law.
Robinson v. FMC; Carnagua v. FMC (D. Id.; S.D. Ind.) - Represented FMC Corp. in ERISA class actions brought by FMC retirees in Idaho and Indiana, respectively, who asserted that they were entitled to lifetime healthcare based on terms of various collective bargaining agreements. In the Idaho case, plaintiffs stipulated to the dismissal of the litigation with prejudice following discovery and filing of WTO's motion for summary judgment. In Indiana, following the completion of discovery, the Court entered summary judgment in favor of FMC on all claims.
Successfully argued that a judgment previously entered against WTO's client was improper. The new order vacated the $500,000 judgment entered against the defendant by a Colorado state court in 2008 in an ERISA matter handled by another firm.
Successfully defended a class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Colorado against a national financial institution accused of discriminating in its lending practices based on national origin.
Obtained injunctive relief in Colorado state court for an international payroll services company, enforcing the company's rights under a nonsolicitation agreement against a former employee who had gone to work for a competitor.
Successfully defended a Colorado college before the Colorado Civil Rights Division in one of the first complaints filed under the 2007 amendment to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, which extended state protection in the workplace to discrimination based on transgender status. WTO established that the plaintiff, a staff member and instructor at the college who had started a gender change from male to female, was terminated solely for her misconduct, not because she was transgender.
"She's Forgetful? Hope It's Just Stress: Using Compassion to Avoid Legal Pitfalls."
"Misconceptions About Employment Arbitration," presented at the Labor and Employment Relations Association's Labor and Employment Conference (September 22, 2011).
"Emerging Trends and New Developments in Colorado Employment Law," presented at Colorado Personnel Law Update 2003 (October 28, 2003).
"Handling Workplace Violence: A Collaborative Approach to Protecting Your Organization From Liability and Your Employees From Harm," presented at Colorado Personnel Law Update 2001 (June 20, 2001).
"Terminating Employees on FMLA Leave: Protecting Your Business From Lawsuits and Sub-Standard Work Performance," presented at FMLA Update 1999 (July 28, 1999).
"Personal Liability for Workplace Lawsuits," presented at Public Sector Employment (April 1999).
"Preventive Measures to Avoid Wrongful Discharge Claims," presented at Disciplinary and Termination Law (November 1998).
"Terminating Poor-Performing Disabled Employees: Protecting Your Business From Lawsuits and Sub-Standard Performers," presented at ADA Update (May 12, 1998).
"Employee Benefits and the 101st Congress," 19 Colo. Law. 1825 (September 1990).
Law Week Colorado, "Chambers 2014: Attorney Rankings," July 11, 2014.
Denver Business Journal, "Employee Classification a Top Issue for Enforcement Agencies," October 5, 2012.

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