Paul Bittner is a partner and past co-chair of the Firm's Labor and Employment Group. He has been practicing law since 1993 with an emphasis on labor and employment law and has extensive experience representing employers.
Paul has represented both public and private sector employers in union negotiations, labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, representation elections, and other related matters in front of the National Labor Relations Board and state agencies. Paul is a member of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute, providing counsel to employers on all aspects of wage and hour compliance. He has tried both individual and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Paul is a frequent lecturer on a variety of employment law topics including traditional labor law, ADA, FMLA, wage and hour and sexual harassment. He has successfully represented employers in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings.
Paul regularly counsels employers on union relations and union avoidance, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) , Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other wage and hour laws, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Paul has also defended employers in various employment law claims pursuant to employment practice liability insurance policies and represents individual executive-level employees in employment matters.
Notable clients include:
- Big Lots Stores, Inc.
- Rural Metro Corporation
- J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
- ResCare Inc.
- City of Dublin, Ohio
- City of Grove City, Ohio
- City of New Albany, Ohio
- Franklin County, Ohio
Reported and Representative Cases
- Darcy Croskey v. Universal Health Services, Inc. November 2009
Represented Universal Health Services, Inc. in a civil action alleging retaliation under the FMLA. Obtained summary judgment and succeeded defending appeals to the Fifth District Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Ohio.
- John Johnson, et al. v. Big Lots, Inc. June 2008
United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
Represented Big Lots, Inc. in a collective action consisting of roughly 1,000 current and former assistant store managers alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Successfully obtained Order from the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, decertifying class and dismissing opt-in plaintiffs’ claims at close of trial on the merits.
- Deborah Hunt v. Big Lots Stores, Inc. August 2007
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Represented Big Lots, Inc. in jury trial with allegations of violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Jury found unanimously in favor of employer on all claims.
- Gabbard v. USF Holland, Inc. November 2004
Obtained a summary judgment verdict for USF Holland, Inc., upheld on appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a matter involving a former employee's claims for violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Selected Experience
- Deputy General Counsel for large healthcare corporation