Ian Cooper and Kate Nash win important MHRA case for Missouri colleges and universities

Jan 31, 2012

Ian Cooper and Kate Nash recently prevailed in a trial for Washington University against the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.   The University filed an action in the Circuit Court of Cole County challenging the jurisdiction of the MCHR over a former student’s discrimination and retaliation claims.   The University asserted that the MCHR lacked jurisdiction over the student’s Complaint of Discriminiation because the University’s academic program was not a “place of public accommodation” under the Missouri Human Rights Act.   On January 30, 2012, Judge Daniel Green found in favor of Washington University and held that the MCHR lacked jurisdiction over the former student’s claims.   The Court also held that the MCHR is prohibited from issuing a notice of right to sue where it lacks jurisdiction.

Ian Cooper is a founding Shareholder of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Prior to founding the Firm, Ian was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin (now Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP) in its St. Louis office. Before entering private practice, Ian served as Law Clerk to the Hon. James F. Warren of the Texas Court of Appeals, First Supreme Judicial District, in Houston, Texas from 1984-1985.

Ian practices in the areas of employment, higher education, commercial and tort litigation. Ian has tried numerous jury and bench trials in federal and state courts in Missouri and Illinois. Ian has served as lead counsel in significant employment, tort and commercial cases, including class actions and other complex litigation.

Kate Nash practices primarily in the areas of education, non-profit, litigation, labor and employment law. Kate has
extensive experience representing and advising private and public employers in all areas of employment law. She has experience advising employers as to all matters of human resource policy issues, specifically ensuring that employers are in compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws. She practices primarily in Missouri and Illinois state and federal courts. She has also represented clients in matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Missouri Human Rights Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. She also regularly represents schools districts, colleges, and universities in a general counsel capacity. Kate Nash currently serves as a Vice-Chair of the Missouri Bar Labor & Employment Law Committee.

Tueth Keeney has one of the largest and most successful higher  education law groups in the country. The Firm regularly serves the legal counsel needs of approximately 150 school districts throughout Missouri and in Central and Southern Illinois. Our Firm is also regularly appointed by insurers of educational institutions to represent districts in complex or difficult cases involving school or civil rights laws. Tueth Keeney also represents institutions of higher education. Our Firm is one of only twenty law firms in the nation that have been appointed to act as Select Counsel to represent colleges and universities insured by United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group, Inc., the nation’s largest insurer of colleges and universities. The Firm regularly represents more than a dozen colleges, universities and community colleges, including Washington University, University of Missouri, Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University, St. Louis Community College, and others.

Copyright 2012 Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P. C. The materials on this firm website have been prepared for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to be legal advice or the opinion of legal counsel on any particular issue.   The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This website is not intended to be advertising, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship between you and Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C.