Janis handles employment litigation and nursing home defense before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.  She also assists clients with employment policies, personnel forms and employee handbooks, conducts employee investigations, and gives management training seminars for clients.

Janis also serves as national discovery counsel for asbestos litigation, managing a large document repository, developing discovery responses, preparing witnesses, and defending depositions.

She serves as a mediator in employment matters, mediating in several states for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Indianapolis District Office.  Janis has been listed in annual editions of Ohio Super Lawyers.  She carries Martindale-Hubbell's AV rating.

Before joining the firm, Janis served as law clerk to Hon. Nicholas J. Walinski of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Western Michigan University in 1980 and a law degree cum laude from The University of Toledo College of Law in 1986.  Janis is a member of the Order of the Coif.

Published Works:

• The FLSA's "salary-basis" test - Are unpaid suspensions for managers okay?, Labor Law Reports, May 1997
• Common Personnel Practices Can Destroy the Exempt Status of Salaried Employees, Labor Law Journal, April 1997

Professional Memberships:

• Toledo Bar Association
• Toledo Women’s Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Defense Research Institute

Representative Clients:

• Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
• Dana Companies, LLC
• HCR Manor Care
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio
• Lourdes College
• Norplas Industries, Inc.

Representative Cases:

• Colacci v. Bimbo Bakeries, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (2004).  One of two defense attorneys in age discrimination case.

• Crews v. In Home Health, Inc., United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (2001).  Lead defense attorney in wage and hour class action.

• Etter v. American Family Life Insurance Company, Erie County Common Pleas Court (2008).  One of two attorneys defending disability insurance coverage claim.

• Mays v. Norplas, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (2001).  Lead attorney defending claims of race discrimination against employer.

• Palmer v. Health Care Manor Care, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2000).  Defended appeal after obtaining summary judgment for employer in discrimination case.

• Prater v. Owens-Illinois Closure, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (2006).  Lead counsel defending the employer against Family & Medical Leave Act and retaliation claims.

• Summer Thompson v. Air-Way Manufacturing Co., United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (2007).  Lead counsel who negotiated settlement in pregnancy discrimination action.

• Thakur v. HCR Manor Care Services, Lucas County Common Pleas Court (2008).  One of several lead counsel representing the nursing home and individual care-givers in resident death case.

Community Involvement:

• Executive Committee, OSBA Labor & Employment Council