Nossaman Litigation Partner Robert Adler Featured in Washington Post and CNN for Representation of Deborah Bryant

Nossaman Litigation Practice Partner Robert Adler was prominently featured in a front page story in the Washington Post that highlighted his hard work and perseverance in the matter of  Deborah Jean Bryant v. the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (DOC), and was interviewed on the MichaeLA show on HLN (a CNN affiliate ). Mr. Adler has been representing Ms. Bryant for 27 years in her fight against the DOC.  In 1992, the District of Columbia Human Rights Director Margie A. Utley found that Ms. Bryant was denied advancement due to sexual discrimination, and ordered the DOC to promote her and pay her back wages based on the positions she should have advanced to. The DOC appealed the ruling.  Mr. Adler and Ms. Bryant battled the DOC over the ruling and the amount of backpay for the next 20 years.  In 2012. a D.C. Court of Appeals Panel ruled, in a precedent setting decision, that Ms. Bryant was entitled to prejudgment interest on her backpay.  The DOC then made a calculation that Ms. Bryant was owed backpay of $152,000. However, DOC then raised an argument, seven years after the evidentiary record closed, that the backpay should be reduced to $100,000 because Ms. Bryant was not in pay status for a significant period of time.  Despite Mr. Adler’s strong protests, the Office of Human Rights agreed.  Two years later, the Court reversed, holding that records not introduced into evidence at the hearing could not be considered.  Since that time, Mr. Adler and Ms. Bryant have been fighting to have the DOC pay the additional $52,000 (plus interest). Both the coverage in the Washington Post and on the MichaeLA show praised Mr. Adler’s efforts and dedication to the case.