Rich Meneghello is the Regional Managing Partner of the Portland, Oregon office. He is passionate about assisting employers with their labor and employment problems in a wide variety of areas. Rich has focused much of his practice on defending and advising employers on disability discrimination issues. He has maintained this focus since 1999, when he was the lead associate attorney before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Albertsons v. Kirkingburg, a unanimous decision interpreting the Americans with Disabilities Act in favor of employers. However, Rich's practice is not limited to ADA matters. He commonly appears in court defending claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, injured worker discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and family and medical leave discrimination. He also counsels employers on proactive ways to avoid legal problems, by rendering advice, drafting policies, and providing training. Rich has written a monthly column in the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce entitled Solutions at Work since 2007, and he has supervised Fisher & Phillips' Supreme Court Alert service, which publishes summaries and offers practical advice about Supreme Court opinions, since 2008.
Representative Work
Defeated a disability discrimination lawsuit in an arbitration hearing held in Seattle, Washington, establishing that the employer properly accommodated a member of its sales force (Laske v. Ricoh Americas Corp., 2012).
Received a full defense verdict in a wage and hour trial in Oregon state court, defeating a claim by a former worker that she was improperly classified as an independent contractor and owed more than $100,000 in back wages (Foster v. North House Enterprises, 2010).
Won a unanimous jury defense verdict in Oregon's federal district court on behalf of Indian Head Industries in a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by a terminated employee (Stein v. Indian Head, 2009).
Scored a trial victory in Oregon state court on behalf of DHL Express in a contract dispute with a terminated manager, successfully arguing that employers have the ultimate authority to determine whether its employees are performing up to company standards (Martin v. DHL Express, 2008).
Prevailed in an Oregon state court jury trial on behalf of Cooperative Retirement Services of America, a senior living management company, defeating a claim for wrongful discharge and retaliation which sought over $11 million in damages (Mead v. CRSA, 2006).
Fisher & Phillips Delivers Arbitration Victory in Disability Claim
Fisher & Phillips Wins Full Defense Verdict in Wage-Hour Trial
Fisher & Phillips Scores a Trial Victory in Contract Dispute Case
Unanimous Verdict for the Defense
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Supreme Court of Oregon
Oregon Court of Appeals
Washington Supreme Court
Washington Court of Appeals
Reported Cases
Albertsons, Inc. v. Kirkingburg, 557 U.S. 555 (1999) - unanimous decision in favor of employer on ADA case before United States Supreme Court
Foster v. North House Industries, 260 P.3d 856 (Or.App. 2011), rev. denied, 271 P.3d 115 (Or. 2011) - Oregon Court of Appeals victory on independent contractor misclassification matter after successful trial court decision, upheld by Oregon Supreme Court
Mott v. Office Depot, 390 Fed.Appx. 658 (9th Cir. 2010) - successful defense of appeal at Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after securing dismissal of harassment and family leave discrimination lawsuit
Martin v. DHL Express, 234 P.3d 997 (Or. App. 2010) - Oregon Court of Appeals victory on breach of contract matter after successful trial court decision
Cornwall v. Electra Central Credit Union, 439 F.3d 1018 (9th Cir. 2006) - appellate victory at Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of employer and CEO in discrimination claim
Professional Activities
Has served on Associated Oregon Industries' (AOI) Labor and Employment Practice Steering Committee since 2008.
Elected Chairperson of the Oregon State Bar Disability Law Executive Committee in 2001 and served on that committee from 1998 to 2003.
Served on Oregon State Bar Labor and Employment Law Executive Committee from 2008 to 2011.
Elected to serve on Oregon State Bar's Board of Bar Examiners, 2006 to 2009.
Testified before the Oregon State Legislature on impact of disability discrimination laws on employers, 2006.
Recognition
Fisher & Phillips Partner Named "Employment Lawyer Under 40 to Watch"
March 24, 2011
Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers since 2007, in Oregon Super Lawyers since 2009, and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2010.
"AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2004.
Named one of Oregon's "Top 40 Under 40" by the Portland Business Journal, an award honoring local business leaders, in 2006.
Selected as a "Rising Star" in the national employment law community by Employment Law 360.com in 2011.