Celynda L. Brasher
Margaret A. Hesse
Melanie Gurley KeeneyAttorneys from Tueth Keeney are often in demand for their expertise in school law. On January 26, 2007, several firm Shareholders including Celynda Brasher, Margaret Hesse, Melanie Gurley Keeney, Tom Tueth and Pete Yelkovac were featured as presenters at Missouri United School Insurance Company (MUSIC)’s Annual Conference for School Administrators, held at The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
The Firm presentation was entitled “Nightmare on Elmstreet: Litigating MHRA Cases in the Post-Brady Era and Other Hot Topics.” Melanie Keeney and Margaret Hesse co-presented their topic, entitled “MHRA Liability Standards Overview” which focused on liability issues under the Missouri Human Rights Act. Tom Tueth’s presentation, “First Amendment Issues” focused on employee free speech matters. Celynda Brasher’s presentation, “The “New E-Discovery Rules” focused on electronic discovery in litigation. Finally, Pete Yelkovac’s presentation, “The Gideons go to School” focused on legal issues surrounding the distribution of bibles in public schools.
The Missouri United School Insurance Council (“MUSIC”) is a protected self-insurance pooling program for Missouri school districts. Its membership includes over 400 Missouri school districts and community colleges, representing approximately 75% of the school districts in the state. Tueth Keeney regularly represents MUSIC member school districts in school law and litigation matters. For more information on MUSIC and its programs, see its website at www.musicprogram.org/music/MuPublic.ns f/home
Celynda L. Brasher practices in the areas of school law, school litigation, and labor and employment law. Celynda represents many school districts throughout Missouri. She regularly advises boards of education and administrators on matters involving education, including employment and termination, students, special education, civil rights, contracts, Open Meetings Act, and an assortment of constitutional provisions. Celynda also represents numerous other public and private employers in a variety of employment law areas. Celynda has extensive litigation experience in federal and state courts and before federal and state administrative agencies. Celynda is a prolific speaker and author on school law topics. She is a columnist for the Missouri Association of School Nurses and co-author of the Missouri Bar School Law Deskbook, the primary treatise on school law for Missouri’s lawyers. Celynda is a former tenured teacher and a registered nurse.
Margaret A. Hesse practices in the areas of school litigation, education law and labor and employment law. Margaret is an experienced and successful trial attorney who has represented many Illinois and Missouri school districts in litigation matters. She has prevailed on behalf of educational institutions in numerous jury and non-jury trials in federal and state courts. In addition to her litigation practice, Margaret represents school districts in employment and student matters, including Title VII, the Safe Schools Act, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Equal Pay Act. She also regularly assists Illinois and Missouri school districts with wage-hour compliance under the Fair Labor Standards Act, with Workers”™ Compensation issues and with health care plan and HIPAA issues.
Melanie Gurley Keeney practices in the areas of school, higher education, labor and employment, and immigration law. Her experience in education law includes representing numerous Missouri school districts and institutions of higher education regarding a wide range of personnel and student matters. Melanie also specializes in First Amendment issues, ranging from free speech to religion in the schools, and she regularly advises school districts on these issues. She also serves as an invited speaker in the local and national level. Melanie has extensive experience litigating both federal and state cases. Melanie is a past board member of the National School Board Association’s Council of School Attorneys and is past Chairman of the Missouri Council of School Attorneys.
Thomas E. Tueth practices in the areas of education, higher education, and labor and employment law. Tom’s experience includes representation of public school districts, community colleges, colleges and universities, private schools and not-for-profit organizations. He counsels and speaks to education officials on a wide variety of topics including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, contracts and tenure, rights of students, negligence and general liability, church and state, and employee organizational matters. He was the editor and a co-author of the Missouri Bar’s School Law Deskbook, the primary treatise on school law for Missouri’s lawyers. Tom has served as Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law and has taught a course in education law to graduate students at Fontbonne University.
Peter G. Yelkovac concentrates his practice on the representation of Missouri school districts of all sizes. Pete’s school law and school litigation practice extends to all corners of the State, and he presently serves as legal counsel for dozens of Missouri school districts. Pete has successfully defended numerous federal and state lawsuits on behalf of many school districts. He also regularly represents school districts in administrative proceedings, ranging from certified staff termination hearings to special ed due process hearings. Pete speaks often to numerous educational organizations throughout Missouri. Pete is also a prolific author on school law topics. Pete is a columnist for the MoASBO Journal. He was the editor and a co-author of the Missouri Bar’s School Law Deskbook, the primary treatise on school law for Missouri’s lawyers.
Tueth Keeney maintains one of the largest education practices in Missouri, advising and representing public school districts in all parts of the state. The Firm also defends school-related lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout Missouri on behalf of MUSIC and other educational insurers