Kenneth B. Chapie

Kenneth B. Chapie

 education law

Kenneth B. Chapie

Curriculum vitae

EXPERIENCE

Kenneth is an equity partner in the firm’s Municipal and Schools Litigation Group. Kenneth represents public school districts, municipalities and employers against claims of: wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, retaliation, wage and hour laws, and family medical leave laws. Kenneth also assists public school districts and intermediate school districts with student issues involving:  special education, civil rights and constitutional claims, Title IX, student discipline and due process, peer-on-peer harassment, and personal injury. As a trial lawyer, Kenneth has defended clients in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, including the United States Supreme Court.

Additionally, Kenneth has experience in counseling and advising clients on their employment agreements, employment policies, non-compete agreements, insurance agreements, employee issues, disciplinary actions, WARN Act compliance, FMLA compliance, and ADA compliance.

Kenneth is admitted to practice in the State of Michigan (2003), the Eastern District of Michigan (2004), the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (2007), and the United States Supreme Court (2015). Kenneth has been named a Michigan Rising Star (Super Lawyers) in 2012, 2013 and 2014, was named a “Top Lawyer” in the areas of School Law and Litigation by dbusiness, and recognized as a Top Attorney in Michigan by the New York Times.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EXPERIENCE

Kenneth is an equity partner in the firm’s Municipal and Schools Litigation Group. Kenneth represents public school districts, municipalities and employers against claims of: wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, retaliation, wage and hour laws, and family medical leave laws. Kenneth also assists public school districts and intermediate school districts with student issues involving:  special education, civil rights and constitutional claims, Title IX, student discipline and due process, peer-on-peer harassment, and personal injury. As a trial lawyer, Kenneth has defended clients in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, including the United States Supreme Court.

Additionally, Kenneth has experience in counseling and advising clients on their employment agreements, employment policies, non-compete agreements, insurance agreements, employee issues, disciplinary actions, WARN Act compliance, FMLA compliance, and ADA compliance.

Kenneth is admitted to practice in the State of Michigan (2003), the Eastern District of Michigan (2004), the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (2007), and the United States Supreme Court (2015). Kenneth has been named a Michigan Rising Star (Super Lawyers) in 2012, 2013 and 2014, was named a “Top Lawyer” in the areas of School Law and Litigation by dbusiness, and recognized as a Top Attorney in Michigan by the New York Times.

Practice Areas
  • School Law
  • Employment
  • Litigation
  • Municipal
  • Insurance Defense
EDUCATION

•  Michigan State University B.A.
•  University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., cum laude

Admitted to Practice

•  Michigan: 2003
•  Eastern District of Michigan 2004
•  Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 2007

Memberships

•  Michigan Council of School Attorneys
•  American Bar Association

representative cases

Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, et. al., 137 S.Ct. 743 (2017) (obtained summary judgement, successfully argued at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, argued before the United States Solicitor General, and argument before the United States Supreme Court regarding exhaustion of administrative remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.)

Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, Case No. 20-1076 (6th Cir. 2020) (obtained summary judgement and argument before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the issue of administrative exhaustion under the IDEA.)

Doe v. Centreville Public Schools, et. al., Case No. 19-1611 (6th Cir. 2020) (obtained summary judgement and argument before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on students claim of Title IX discrimination.)

McDaniels v. Plymouth Canton Community Schools, 755 Fed.Appx. 461 (6th Cir. 2018) (obtained summary judgement and successfully argued appeal before 6th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Plaintiff’s FMLA retaliation and gender discrimination claims.)

Jahn v. Farnsworth, 617 Fed.App’x. 453 (6th Cir. 2015) (obtained summary judgement and successfully argued appeal affirming summary judgment on behalf of the school district on plaintiff’s constitutional claims of procedural and substantive due process violations arising out of a student suspension hearing and suicide.)

C.Y. v. Lakeview Public Schools, et. al., 557 Fed. Appx. 426 (6th Cir. 2014) (received summary judgment on behalf of the school district defendants on plaintiff’s procedural and substantive due process claims arising out of her expulsion from school; dismissal affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.)

Patterson v. Hudson Area Schools, 551 F.3d 438 (6th Cir. 2009) (obtained summary judgment at District Court, argued appeal before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and successfully defended the school district following 4 week jury trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.)

Scheick v. Tecumseh Public Schools, 766 F.3d 523 (6th Cir 2014) (argued before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of dismissal of age discrimination claim brought against the school district.)

Philko v. Set Seg Ins. Services Agency, Inc., Case No. 13-11485, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Judge Arthur j. Tarnow (received no cause of action following 3 week jury trial on disability discrimination claim brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act.)

Marlene Mills v. Mason Consolidated Schools, et. al., 2008 WL 4457808 (E.D. MI) (received summary judgment on behalf of the school district defendants on plaintiff’s gender discrimination, hostile environment, and retaliation; breach of contract; constitutional; and Equal Pay Act claims arising from the former superintendent’s claim of constructive discharge.)

Joseph Martinez v. Lipari Foods, Case No. 2:10-cv-15093 (E.D. MI, Judge Friedman) (received summary judgment on behalf of the employer on plaintiffs’ race and national origin discrimination and hostile environment claims brought under Title VII arising out of his termination.)

Jacqueline Turner, et. al. v. East Detroit Public Schools, Case No. 2:09-cv-10092-JCO-SDP (E.D. MI, Judge O’Meara) (received summary judgment on behalf of the school in lawsuit brought by the ACLU for race discrimination under Title VI, alleging race based peer harassment and disparate treatment.)

Thorns, et. al. v. Madison District Public Schools, et. al., 2007 WL 1647889 (E.D. Mich.) (received summary judgment on plaintiffs’ race discrimination and Constitutional violation claims arising out of a fight at school that led to the plaintiff’s long-term suspension.)

Constance Hensely v. Romeo Community Schools, 2014 WL 265511 (Mich. Ct. App.) (received summary disposition on plaintiff’s gender, age and disability discrimination and retaliation claims dismissed; affirmed by the Court of Appeals.)

Iyapo Montgomery v. East Detroit Public Schools, 2009 WL 1397139 (Mich. Ct. App.) (received summary disposition on behalf of the school district on plaintiff’s race discrimination and retaliation claims arising out of his termination; affirmed by the Court of Appeals.)

Elysa Rott v. Madison District Public Schools, 2010 WL 5175457 (Mich. Ct. App.) (received summary disposition for the school district on plaintiff’s gender discrimination claims arising out of her reassignment and ultimate separation from the district, affirmed by the Court of Appeals.)

Distinctions

lawyer award

top lawyer

lawyer award

top attorney

lawyer award

rising star: 2012-2014

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