With an MBA and business degree, Carrie thinks like a business owner to better understand her clients' needs and goals throughout the litigation process.
Overview
Carrie defends management clients in employment and commercial disputes across a broad range of industries nationwide. Her trial experience spans more than 20 years, informed by a keen understanding of technological and legislative changes impacting how companies do business.
Carrie represents a broad range of companies in complex state and federal wage and hour, class or collective-action Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) matters and other complex litigation. Her matters have involved exempt status misclassification, independent contractor misclassification, overtime, off-the-clock work, meal and rest periods, itemized wage statements, vacation pay, commissions, wrongful termination, unfair competition, violation of public policy and common law tort claims.
In addition, Carrie defends clients in unequal pay, race, sex/gender, pregnancy, age, disability, religion and hostile environment harassment, whistle-blower and other forms of retaliation, constructive discharge, wrongful termination and reasonable accommodation claims. She also handles trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, covenants not to compete and employment agreements.
In an era when few cases go to trial, Carrie has considerable trial skills and experience before federal and state courts, tribal courts, arbitration panels and administrative agencies. During trial, Carrie incorporates the use of advanced courtroom technology to tell the client’s story more effectively.
Experience
Carrie has counseled clients in industries including automotive, construction, education, funeral, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, technology, transportation and logistics, retail, pharmaceutical, real estate, tribal communities and other clients.
Automotive
She defended a car rental company against claims prosecuted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for failure to accommodate an individual employee's religious attire as a deviation from company uniform and attire policy.
She defended an auto dealership against allegations by two service technician plaintiffs of national origin discrimination and retaliatory termination prosecuted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Carrie defended an auto dealership against five sales department plaintiffs alleging constructive discharge, age, race, disability and gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.
Construction
She defended a regional construction company in arbitration against an employee plaintiff alleging sexual harassment and whistleblower claims.
Funeral
Carrie defended an international cemetery and funeral home conglomerate in various multistate FLSA actions in which a nationwide group of former employees alleged that the company instituted illegal pay policies to prohibit the recording of straight time or overtime hours for certain categories of hours worked.
She defended an international cemetery and mortuary company in malpractice trial against four sibling plaintiffs alleging negligent interment, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Defended national funeral company in class misclassification, harassment, and PAGA cases in multiple California state court jurisdictions against independent contractor direct sales service providers.
Health Care
She represented a diagnostic imaging company in claims for breach of lease and violation of non-disclosure terms.
Representing medical device manufacturer (California based) in nationwide and international non-compete enforcement defense efforts to facilitate sales staff hiring from competing manufacturers.
Real Estate
Carrie defended a real estate company against a designated broker asserting whistleblower and retaliatory discharge claims.
She defended a property manager company against complaints of housing and disability discrimination.
Shipping and Transportation Logistics
She defended a national package delivery company in claims of disability discrimination and retaliatory termination against a driver employee.
Carrie represented a delivery company for breach of independent contractor agreement with a retailer.
She has advised trucking, transportation and delivery companies on operational employment issues, including the Motor Carrier Exemption of driver employees.
Tribal Communities, Other Business Entities, and Other Relevant Experience
Carrie successfully defended a business entity against the claim of a violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Defending cosmetology school (California and Georgia based) in defense of employment and student based claims and investigations of all forms of whistleblower complaints.
Carrie defended a tribal business entity against the claims of a marketing vendor for breach of contract.
She represented a high level executive in a business defamation suit resulting in a multimillion dollar award.
Carrie has represented employers, private club or 501(c)(7) entities, and sovereign tribal entities in employment matters including wage payments, exempt classification, hiring, discipline, termination, discrimination and harassment and related litigation.
She has represented companies in litigation concerning commercial contract disputes, trade secrets and non-competition agreements.
Represented high end clothing company in non-compete and severance negotiations with separating CEO (California based CEO and Kansas based company).
Carrie speaks and writes on employment law topics. She teaches a course at Arizona State University Law School, "Litigation and Courtroom Technology," which instructs students to augment oral advocacy through demonstrative aids, images and videos.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Co-presenter, “The Law of the Land: Recent Legal Decisions & Hot Topics Affecting Tribal Employers,” The 2018 REDW Tribal Finance & Leadership Conference, November 2018
Co-presenter, "Sovereignty & U.S. Agencies," 2018 NNAHRA Annual Conference
Co-presenter, “2017 Indian Law Update” and “A Job Worth Doing,” 2017 NNAHRA Annual Conference
Co-presenter, at 2016 Arizona SHRM Conference, September 2016
"Hot Legal Topics Today," SWSPGA Education Summit, April 2015
"I-9s and the Interview Process: Avoiding Pitfalls," The Greater Southwest Chapter Club Managers Association of America, August 2014
Publications
"California Case is the Latest to Address Whether Worker is an Independent Contractor or Employee," Stinson Leonard Street Alert, February 2018
"California: The Transgender Work Opportunity Act," Stinson Leonard Street Alert, November 2017
"New California Law Bans Salary History Questions," Stinson Leonard Street Alert, October 2017
"California's 'New Employee Leave Act' Will Impact Small Businesses," Stinson Leonard Street Alert, October 2017
Co-author, "Danger: Service Charges and Tipping Policies," Club Director, Summer 2016
"To Tip or Not to Tip," Stinson Leonard Street Article, July 2016
"Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act Seeks to Exempt Native American Tribes from ACA," Stinson Leonard Street Alert, June 2016
"EEOC Addresses Interplay Between Pregnancy Discrimination Act and ADAA," Stinson Leonard Street Insight, July 2014
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2023-2025
Recognized in the 2018-2024 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Labor & Employment. Carrie was described as "spectacular" by one source. She brings considerable skill to wage and hour disputes, a range of discrimination cases and matters relating to the ADA. "She has a breadth of knowledge that has been very helpful. Her litigation experience provides valuable insight," one client says.
Selected for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers® for Employment & Labor in 2015-2018
Selected for inclusion in Southwest Rising Stars for Employment & Labor Law, 2012 and 2013
Listed in the 2012 Top Lawyers ranking by AZ Business Magazine's Ranking Arizona, 2012
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Tribal Human Resources Certified (THRP), 2016
State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of California
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Volunteer Lawyers Program, Pro Bono Attorney
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Arizona, 2000
- California, 2016
- U.S. District Court for the District of Southern California, 2016
- U.S. District Court for the District of Central California, 2016
- U.S. District Court for the District of Northern California, 2016
- U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern California, 2019
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, 2007
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, 2000
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, 2001
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, 2021
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2005
- Hualapai Tribal Court, 2015
Education
Arizona State University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000
Arizona State University, MBA, 1999
Arizona State University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1996
Tribal Human Resources Certified (THRP Certified, 2016)
