Service Areas
- Business
- Employment + Labor
- Litigation + Trial
- Employment + Labor
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Employment + Labor
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
- University of Michigan, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Jerome R. Watson has a winning track record in litigating a wide variety of civil disputes. He has successfully represented employers in such areas as discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, wrongful discharge, retaliation, and employment class actions. He has also handled various commercial litigations involving a wide range of subject matters including fraud, tax disputes, and constitutional challenges. As a result of his extensive trial experience, Jerome is frequently asked to speak on various aspects of the litigation process including discovery, examining witnesses, taking depositions, and crafting compelling opening and closing statements.
Chambers USA, in its ranking of leading business lawyers, commented on Jerome's abilities: "soft-spoken and self-effacing, but will come up with things that will blow your socks off!"
For his biggest client, Detroit Public Schools, Jerome has handled a number of important cases, including a $259 million suit over alleged improper collection of taxes.
Experience
In a hotly disputed case, Jerome and his team successfully defended a company against accusations of age discrimination by four employees who had been laid off during an economic downturn.
“By winning the case, I was able to help the company retain its most-needed employees during a period when economic forces dictated significant layoffs.”
Jerome's courtroom experience includes handling major litigations in federal and state trial courts in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, as well as litigating matters before the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and Federal Court of Appeals.
Representative Matters
- Class Action Tax Litigation
Defended a class action case in which plaintiffs sought to recover over $250 million from a public entity based on claims that the entity violated various state and local statutes and constitutional provisions in collecting taxes. The circuit court granted our motion for summary disposition on all of plaintiffs' claims -- a decision which was affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Construction Company Employment Litigation
Represented a Canadian construction company in a breach of employment contract action filed in Federal District Court. Secured dismissal of the matter on jurisdictional and improper venue grounds.
- School District Class Action Defense
Represented a public school district in a class action brought by former employees who claimed that their layoffs were the result of age discrimination. Secured summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court. That ruling was affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals.
- School District Contract Litigation
Represented a public school district in its lawsuit seeking to recover millions of dollars of funds which the school district paid to various vendor defendants that did not have authorized contracts. Successfully secured an eight-figure settlement for the district and also obtained multi-million dollar judgments against former school district employees.
- Staffing Company Employment Litigation
Represented a Fortune 500 staffing services company that was sued by four managers who were terminated during a reduction in force. The managers asserted various age discrimination claims in their Federal District Court lawsuit. After a three-week trial, the jury no caused the plaintiffs, deciding in favor of the company on all claims.
- University Employment Litigation
Represented a Michigan university and its Board of Regents in a case filed by the former university president alleging a violation of the Whistleblower's Protection Act and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Secured summary disposition on both claims.
Professional Activities
- Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation
- American Employment Law Council, member
- National Employment Law Council, member
- American Bar Association, member, Labor Law Section
- State Bar of Michigan, 1976-present, member, Labor Law Section; Character and Fitness Committee
- Federal Bar Association, member
- National Bar Association, member
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Board of Directors
- Wolverine Bar Association
Honors + Awards
- Crain's Detroit Business, Best Lawyers Focus "Takes one to know one: Peers' picks make list of area's top lawyers," one of 20 metro Detroit 2010 Best Lawyers honored for newsworthy cases, firm business growth or outstanding civic or industry leadership), December 6, 2010
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment Law, 2004-present
- Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law 2007--2011; Employment Law-Management, Labor Law-Management, and Litigation-Labor and Employment 2012
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers 2007-present, Employment Litigation: Defense 2006-present
- DBusiness Magazine, Labor and Employment, 2010
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Crisis Turnaround Team for Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Department of Finance, May 2009-present
- NAACP Michigan State Conference, General Counsel
- Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), Board Member; Past Chairman
- Operation Jobs Program, Organizer and Chairman
- Inner City Youth Basketball Team, Coach
- Detroit Regional Chamber, Graduate, Leadership Detroit VI, 1984-1985
Publications
“Safety Issues: Workplace Violence,” Employment Law in Michigan 2010, Institute for Continuing Education
"Workplace Safety," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2007
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine: Evidentiary Challenges in Racially Hostile Work Environment Litigation," 19 The Labor Lawyer 381 (2004)
Defending Your Witness During Deposition, (Paper and Publication) ICLE, October 2000
"Employment Law in Michigan," chapter titled Safety Issues: Workplace Violence, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 1997
"Minority Set-asides--Affirmative Action after Adarand," Michigan Bar Journal, December 1995
"The Attack on Affirmative Action: Fact or Speculation," Washtenaw County Enquirer, April 25, 1995
"Maneuvering the Legal Minefield of Workplace Violence," Employee Assistance Professional Association Annual Spring Conference, March 1995
"Employer's Liability for Sexual Harassment by Nonemployees," EEO Review, June 1994
"Employer Liability for Sexually Harassing Actions of its Customers," Employee Relations Law Journal, Vol. 19, No. 3, Winter 1993-94
"Defending Reduction in Force Terminations," Michigan Employment Law Journal, April 1992
Speeches
“Making Difficult Human Resource Decisions,” Association of Legal Administrators, September 2010
“Wage and Hour Update and Guidance on Audits/Compliance,” National Employment Law Conference, April 2010
“Writing An Effective Appeal Brief,” Wolverine Bar Association, April 2010
“Strategic Issues In Defense of Major Wage and Hour Litigation,” National Employment Law Conference, April 2009
"Challenges and Opportunities Presented by a Diverse Workforce," Miller Canfield Labor Law Seminar, October 2007
"Supreme Court Update," NAACP National Convention, July 2007; NAACP State of Michigan Convention, September 2007
"Advanced Trial Skills - Judge, Jury, and Using Technology," National Employment Law Council, May 2006
"Class actions: how to anticipate, prevent and respond to the class action lawsuit," Miller Canfield Labor Group Seminar, October 2003
"Using Valuation Experts in Litigation, ICLE, November 2003
"Evidentiary Challenges in Racially Hostile Work Environment Litigation," Miller Canfield Labor Group Seminar, October 2003
"Personnel Law Update 2001," moderator and presenter, Council on Education in Management, May 2001
"The 10 Biggest Mistakes My Opponent Makes in Employment Litigation," 26th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, ICLE, April 2001
"Guidelines for Avoiding Workplace Violence," NALS of Detroit, March 2001
Instructor, Deposition Skills Workshop, ICLE, October 2000
"Crisis Intervention: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Potential Workplace Violence and How to Counsel Staff," Council on Education in Management, February 2000
"The Impact of the Supreme Court's Decision in Faragher and Ellerth on the Defense of Sexual Harassment Cases in Michigan." Michigan State Bar Association Mid-winter Meeting, January 2000
"Ten Songs of Employee Discipline." Miller Canfield seminar, October 1999
"Workplace Violence--Identification, Management, Prevention," Human Resource Institute Seminar, April 1998
"Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims," presented to Council on Education in Management, December 1997
"Defending Sexual Harassment Claims," presentation to the Ann Arbor Public School Board and other officials, December 1996
"Workplace Violence," presentation to the Ann Arbor Public School Board and other officials, December 1996
"Employment Discrimination Law," presented to Construction Industry Counsel, November 1996
"Survival of Affirmative Action," Operation Push Annual Seminar, July 31, 1995
"Workplace Violence: Risk Management of the 90s," Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Board Seminar, June 15, 1995
"Maneuvering the Legal Minefield of Workplace Violence," Greater Detroit Chapter of Employee Assistants' Professionals Association, Annual Spring Conference, March 29, 1995
"In Defense of Affirmative Action," Television Appearance on Detroit Black Journal (PBS--Channel 56 in Detroit), March 1995
"Ensuring Workplace Safety: A Legal Overview," presented at Workplace Violence Seminar, September 1994
"Workplace Violence: Epidemic of the 90s--Preventing, Evaluating, and Defusing Threats of Violence," presented at April 1994 Workplace Violence Seminar
"Understanding Personnel Law," Council on Education Management, 1993
"Voluntary Affirmative Action Undertaken by Private Employers: Developing a Permissible Plan," presented at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone 1993 Labor Law Seminar
"Affirmative Action in Education," presented at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, 1993 Labor Law Seminar
"State Set-aside Programs: Developing a Permissible Plan," Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone Labor Law Seminar, April 1993
"Ten Songs of Wrongful Discharge," Michigan Health Care Institute Seminar, 1993
"Litigating under the Civil Rights Act of 1991," National Association of College and University Attorneys' Annual Convention, 1992
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