Ian P. Cooper
Mollie G. Mohan
Veronica E. PotterOn March 1, 2023, Judge Jon Beetem of the Circuit Court of Cole County entered Judgment for Lincoln University following a five-day jury trial between January 22 and 30, 2023. Judge Beetem directed a verdict for Defendant, Lincoln University, on all of Plaintiff’s claims under the Missouri Human Rights Act. The Plaintiff, Jim Marcantonio, was employed by the University as its Director of Human Resources for 18 years. Plaintiff claimed in his lawsuit that he was subjected to a hostile work environment based on his race (white) and his age and in retaliation for his complaints of discrimination. He also claimed that he was constructively discharged from his job and that the University made his workplace intolerable in an effort to force him to quit. Plaintiff also filed a public employee whistleblower claim under Section 105.055 of Missouri statutes but he dismissed his whistleblower claims on the first day of trial. Judge Beetem concluded that “insufficient evidence was adduced at trial which, when viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff and if believed, could support a verdict in favor of Plaintiff . . . .”
Lincoln University was represented at trial by Tueth Keeney attorneys Mollie Mohan, Veronica Potter, and Ian Cooper.
Mollie G. Mohan practices primarily in the areas of labor & employment, litigation, and higher education. Mollie represents colleges, universities, and private employers in labor and employment matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mollie worked at a large-sized litigation firm in Saint Louis. While in law school, Mollie was a student law clerk to the Honorable Jean C. Hamilton of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Veronica E. Potter practices primarily in the areas of higher education, litigation, and labor and employment law. Veronica represents colleges, universities, and private employers in education and employment litigation matters. Veronica started her legal career as a prosecutor, where she gained experience in all stages of litigation, including case investigation, discovery, arguing pre-trial motions, and presenting cases to both judges and juries. Prior to joining the firm, Veronica also practiced civil litigation at a large defense firm in St. Louis.
Ian P. Cooper is a founding Shareholder of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Ian practices in the areas of employment law, higher education law, and litigation and regularly serves as lead trial and appellate counsel in significant employment lawsuits, including class actions and other complex litigation. Ian has been elected a Fellow in both the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and in Litigation Counsel of America. He has also been named a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Ian was named the 2022 St. Louis Lawyer of the Year in Labor and Employment Litigation by Best Lawyers.
Higher Education – Tueth Keeney maintains one of the largest and most successful higher education law groups in the Midwest. Our higher education practice includes representation of numerous colleges and universities throughout Missouri and Illinois. The attorneys in the Firm’s higher education group provide a full range of services to colleges and universities, ranging from day-to-day counseling on legal issues, to representation in complex litigation.