Suzanne P. Bartos

Suzanne P. Bartos is a partner in the firm’s Detroit office and a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Labor and Employment and Litigation practice groups. She also currently serves as the firm’s Education Law Practice Group Leader.

Ms. Bartos has over 20 years of experience representing public and private institutions in a wide range of employment and general litigation matters in state and federal courts. She has also devotes much of her practice to counseling educational institutions, including public academies, K-12 school districts and community colleges on various educational law issues. 

Representative Client Work

• Successfully represented a community college in an 11-plaintiff discrimination suit
• Represents business and educational institutions facing EEOC/MDCR charges
• Negotiated building leases for public academies
• Drafted chartering agreement between public academy and public university
• Advises educational institutions regarding contract, employment, and administrative matters
• Successfully litigated numerous employment matters against public and private institutions in state and federal court
• Defended a RICO and misrepresentation claim in federal court of over $9,000,000
• Successfully represented educational institutions in matters claiming violation of constitutional claims brought by both students and employees
• Negotiated and coordinated employee buyouts in litigation and pre-litigation matters

Notable Cases

• Farhat v Troy School District:  The plaintiff alleged the defendant violated his First Amendment rights by disciplining him for voicing his opinion regarding school administrators. Federal Court Judge O’Meara disagreed, dismissing this case finding that the various disciplines were justified. This case involved numerous counts of employment-related liability theories, including constitutional claims, as well as state discrimination claims.
• Nastase v Dearborn Public Schools:  The plaintiff claimed his discipline was in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, not based upon cause, and further that the individual administrators slandered him in actions associated with the discipline. Wayne County Circuit Judge Giovan found that the discipline was not in violation of the contract nor the plaintiff’s First Amendment rights. Further, he was not slandered in connection with this discipline. This matter involved state breach of contract claims, slander claims and First Amendment claims.
• Berkeihiser v Allan Chevrolet:  The plaintiff asserted she was sexually harassed by her male supervisors and co-workers when she was subjected to sexual comments and actions in the workplace. Federal Court Judge Feikens found that she failed to establish that she was subjected to unwelcome conduct and she failed to put her employer on notice of her complaints. The plaintiff's suit included federal and state employment discrimination claims.
• Foust v Jay Chevrolet:  The plaintiff asserted she was sexually harassed by her male supervisor with whom she had a previous sexual relationship. She claimed that the supervisor wished to continue the relationship and made continuous demands for sexual favors. When she rejected these demands, the conditions of her employment were negatively impacted. Judge Sosnick of the Oakland County bench found the plaintiff failed to establish she was subjected to unwelcome conduct, thereby dismissing her complaint. Her lawsuit contained classic allegations of sexual harassment in violation of the ELCRA.
• Cantin v McInerney:  The plaintiff asserted he was terminated in violation of his just cause contract of employment. He also asserted his termination was due to his refusal to drop a criminal complaint against a fellow worker. The Macomb County Circuit Court, Judge Maceroni, disagreed with the plaintiff finding that he was an at-will employee, and, furthermore, that he was dismissed for poor work performance. The plaintiff's allegations included breach of contract as well as termination in violation of public policy.

When the case is not dismissed by the court often times the best way to resolve the dispute is to negotiate a settlement, including a buyout, if the plaintiff is a current employee. This is true due to the high cost of defense, the emotional involvement and the usual fact-heavy scenario involved in employment litigation. Ms. Bartos has negotiated dozens of such agreements over the years, but when trial is necessary, she does not back down. The following is a sample of her numerous trials of which were employment claims:

• Shelton, et al., v Delta Community College:  11 teachers who had been dismissed claimed that their termination was based upon age, sex, weight, race and/or national origin. The Saginaw County jury found the job eliminations were based upon economic reductions, a legitimate business decision. The jury found in favor of the college on all claims.
• Gibson v Wayne County Community College:  The plaintiff claims she was subjected to unwelcome sexual comments by her male supervisor, and when she rejected this conduct, she was disciplined.  The Wayne County jury found no truth to her claim of sexual harassment and found her discipline was justified. The plaintiff’s claim was brought pursuant to the ELCRA.
• Maday v Public Schools of Saginaw:  The plaintiff claimed her job was restructured and she was replaced by a younger, less-qualified woman. She was eventually released for her failure to cooperate with the newly hired co-worker. The plaintiff claims she was fired due to her age, as well as exercising her rights under the Family Medical Leave Act. The federal jury in Bay City disagreed, finding no discrimination and no retaliation.
• McKinney v Pontiac School District:  The plaintiff asserted her administrative position was eliminated after the first year in breach of her three-year employment contract. The Oakland County jury disagreed, finding that the position was eliminated due to economic downsizing, which was not prohibited under the contract.

Professional Affiliations

• Macomb County Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Wayne County Mediation Tribunal
• Attorney Discipline Board (Panel Member)
• Michigan Council of School Attorneys (President, 2005)
• Michigan Association of Public School Academies

Community Involvement

• Ford PAS Business Education Advisory Council (Member)
• Grosse Pointe Hunt Club (Committee Chair)

Speaking Engagements

• Summer Camp for New Human Resources Professionals

News

• Bartos appointed to technology academy’s business advisory council