R. Joseph Stennis, Jr.

Partner

Practices and Industries

Labor & Employment Litigation & Dispute Resolution Employment Practices Liability Insurance Diversity Services Group Construction

R. Joseph (“Joe”) Stennis, Jr. is a member of Wyatt’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Service Team. Joe’s primary practice area is employment law, where he defends employers against discrimination claims filed by current or former employees with either an agency (i.e. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, etc.) and/or actions filed in state/federal court. Joe has successfully defended his clients on multiple occasions against various employment claims which include (but are not limited to): wrongful termination; wage & hour (state and federal); employment based torts; ADA discrimination; ADEA discrimination; ERISA litigation; claims of discrimination pursuant to Title VII; and claims of discrimination pursuant to the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. Joe has also been very successful in drafting and enforcing employee executed arbitration agreements in state and federal court actions that led to securing reasonable settlements in many, if not all, instances.

Whether it be aggressively negotiating a reasonable settlement during a mediation, or obtaining a successful judgment in court, Joe’s focus is always what is in the best interest of his clients to resolve an employment dispute as efficiently and effectively as possible. He finds it very helpful and beneficial to treat each case with the upmost importance and urgency. Additionally, Joe also has spoken on various employment topics and written several articles. For example, he has presented on: how to address sexual harassment in the workplace; unconscious bias; the importance of engaging early on with the interactive process for an employee who has (or alleges to have) a disability; and EEOC updates and guidance to name a few.

In addition to his employment law practice, Joe frequently represents healthcare facilities in defending against medical malpractice claims. He also handles construction litigation matters. Lastly, Joe frequently defends companies and organizations against premises liability claims.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Represented multi-franchisee owners in wage and hour investigation conducted by the Department of Labor.
Successfully represented multiple private and public corporations, as well as nonprofit organizations, in defending against Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and retaliation claims filed with federal and state agencies.
Represented fortune 500 corporations in state and federal court disputes regarding discrimination actions.
Represent large national nursing home in administrative unemployment appeals proceedings.
Motion for Summary Judgment granted, Jefferson Circuit Court, regarding plaintiff’s state constitutional and Due Process claims, sect. 1983 claim, and vicarious liability.
Motion for Summary Judgment granted, Jefferson Circuit Court, regarding plaintiff’s race discrimination, racially hostile work environment, and retaliation claims.
Motion for Summary Judgment granted, U.S. Western District of Kentucky, regarding plaintiff’s due process, defamation and invasion of privacy claims.
Motion to Dismiss granted, Knox Circuit Court, regarding plaintiff’s wrongful termination and vicarious liability claims (affirmed on Appeal).
Motion for Summary Judgment granted, Jefferson Circuit Court, regarding plaintiff’s failure to promote claims.
Motion to Dismiss granted regarding plaintiff’s age and religious discrimination claims under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act as well as breach of an employment contract allegation (affirmed on Appeal).
Motion to Compel Arbitration granted, U.S. Western District of Kentucky, which contributed significantly to reaching settlement of plaintiffs’ employment discrimination claims.
Settled FLSA Wage and Hour claim filed in the U.S. Western District of Kentucky prior to certification of class action phase.
Second chaired quasi-arbitration hearings for local public school district.
Motion to Dismiss granted, Jefferson Circuit Court, regarding Plaintiff’s work injury claims. Dismissed on “exclusive remedy” grounds.
Assisted with representation of private construction owners, material suppliers and design professionals in various litigation matters as well as resolving disputes on their behalf with administrative agencies.
Represented clients with resolving disputes arising out of project and/or post-project completions regarding, among other things, defective design, training, and/or construction, prevailing wage issues, and other disputes.
Assisted with preparation and filing of dispositive motions in representation of large multinational conglomerate corporation in a hotel construction matter adverse to a subcontractor that led to resolution via the mediation process

EDUCATION

J.D., University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, 2007

Pirtle-Washer Moot Court Competition Winner
Journal of Law and Education, 2007

M.B.A., University of Louisville, 2001 (Finance and Entrepreneurship)

B.S., University of Louisville, 1996, (Accounting)

ADMISSIONS

Kentucky
Wisconsin
United States Western District of Kentucky
United States Eastern District of Kentucky
United States Western District of Wisconsin

HONORS

Kentucky Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense, 2024
Recognized by Best Lawyers® as “Ones to Watch” in Labor and Employment – Management, 2022-2025; Litigation – Labor & Employment, 2024-2025
Recognized by his peers as a Kentucky Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2013-2018

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, s.c., Milwaukee, WI, Attorney
Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP, Louisville, KY, Attorney
Kentucky Supreme Court, Frankfort, KY, Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Chief Justice Joseph Lambert
Fifth Third Bank KY, NA, Louisville, KY, Business Development Officer/Branch Manager/Investment Sales Representative
Chase Bank KY, NA, Louisville, KY, Branch Manager/Investment Sales Representative

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Louisville Bar Association’s Board of Directors
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
Louisville Black Lawyer’s Association (Past President and Board Member)
Legal Aid Society (former Board Member)
Member, Kentucky Defense Counsel, Inc.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

Leadership Louisville, Class of 2024
Lincoln Foundation, Board Trustee
DRI’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Member
Community Foundation of Louisville, Development Stewardship Committee
The Metropolitan Housing Coalition, former Board Member
Ronald McDonald Charities of Kentucky, former Board Member
Woods of St. Thomas, Board Member

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

“Overview of DOL’s Final Rule and FTC’s Non-Compete Ban”, Kentucky Bankers Association, May 2024
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Proceed With Caution” Wyatt Employment Law Update, May 2024
“The Current Legal Landscape of DEI and How the Use of Technology Impacts Employment Law” Wyatt Memphis Corporate Counsel Seminar, April 2024
“Legal Landscape Impacting DEI”, Kentucky Banker’s Association, February 2024
“Hot Topics in Employment Litigation,” Wyatt In-House Counsel Litigation Seminar, November 2023
Blog Article: “DEI Programs at a Potential Legal Crossroads (or Not),” October 2023
“Employment Law Update,” Wyatt In-House Counsel Seminar, June 2023
Blog Article: “Supreme Court to decide whether “Testers” have Standing in Discrimination Suits,” April 2023
“Employment Discrimination Case Law Update,” Wyatt Employment Law Update Seminar, April 2023
Blog Article: “NLRB General Counsel Offers Guidance on severance Agreements,” March 2023
“Labor and Employment Update,” Kentucky Banker’s Association, March 2023
“The Burden of Unconscious Bias on Diverse Lawyers and How to Fix the Problem,” In-House Defense Quarterly, December 2022
Presenter at Wyatt’s Litigation Seminar at the Botanical Gardens “Labor & employment Update: How to Avoid Ghouls and Goblins in the Workplace”
“Maintaining a Positive and Professional Environment: Harassments Prevention and Unconscious Bias Training 2022,” August, 2022
“Diversity, Inclusion, Unconscious Bias, and Discrimination-Claim Avoidance,” University of Kentucky Employment Law Institute. To view the presentation, click here.
Blog Article: “Employer’s Beware: Pre-Dispute Mandatory Arbitration of Workplace Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Claims Now Violates Federal Law,” March, 2022
“Employment Law Update: Managing the Workplace in the COVID Era,” Wyatt In-House Counsel Litigation Seminar, 2021. To view the presentation, click here.
“Discrimination Claims Prevention,” Wyatt Employment Law Seminar, 2021. To view the presentation, click here.
“Unconscious Bias in the Workplace and How to Confront the Issue,” 2021
Wyatt Employment Law Seminar, 2021
Payroll Professionals of Kentuckiana Employment Law Update, 2021
Society for Human Resource Management Employment Law Update, 2021
“Addressing Social Injustice: What Law Students Can Do To Get Involved,” Brandeis School of Law, 2021
“Nuts & Bolts of the EEOC,” 25th Annual Conference for the Kentucky Association of School Human Resource Managers, 2019
“Prescription for Trouble: Drug Testing in the Workplace,” Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Society for Human Resource Managers Conference, 2019
“Matter of Pay Equity,” Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Society for Human Resource Management Conference, 2018
Labor and Employment Update, Wyatt Employment Law Seminar, 2016 – 2018
Employment Law Mock Trial, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Society for Human Resource Management Conference, 2015-2018
Payroll Professional of Kentuckiana Employment Law Update, 2017
“Protecting the Attorney-Client Privilege for In-House Counsel,” Wyatt In-House Counsel Institute, November 2014
Blog Article: “6th Circuit Rules an Employer Violated Title VII by Terminating its Transgender Employee,” 2018
Blog Article: “Student Athletes as Employees,” 2014
Blog Article: “Private Employees Can Assert Retaliation,” 2014
Business First Article: “Employers Beware! Top 5 Wage and Hour Pitfalls to Avoid,” 2017
Blog Article: “DOJ Drops Appeal on Obama Overtime Rule,” 2017