Departments

Litigation

Practice Areas

Employment Litigation

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Illinois, 1983, Illinois Law Review (1982-83)
B.A., Purdue University, 1977, with distinction

Admissions

Illinois, 1983
Missouri, 1984

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2001
U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, 2001

St. Joseph

Phone: 816.364.2117

Fax: 888.231.5874

vCard

Carol C. Barnett

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Carol C. Barnett serves both as a trial lawyer and as a counselor to clients on preventive strategies to avoid employment-related litigation. She has extensive jury trial experience and counsels and litigates on behalf of numerous business and governmental entities on a wide range of employment-related matters, including ADA, FMLA, Title VII, retaliatory discharge, wage and hour issues, and age discrimination. Ms. Barnett’s defense work includes cases brought in federal and state courts, as well as administrative agency charges. She has successfully handled dispositive motions in employment law and other matters.

Ms. Barnett has previously worked as an assistant prosecutor for Buchanan County (1986-1991), where she handled a variety of complex criminal matters, ranging from homicide prosecutions to child sex abuse jury trials. She also handled civil cases for the Prosecutor’s Office.

Ms. Barnett regularly conducts training and seminars on hostile work environment issues and other areas of employment law of interest to businesses and government entities. She also frequently makes presentations to various community groups on legal issues. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Barnett worked for three years in employee relations/employee communications for Armstrong World Industries, a Fortune 500 company, in its corporate headquarters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Memberships and Affiliations

The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
St. Joseph Bar Association
U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
- Former Federal Practice Committee
Society for Human Resource Management
Missouri Western State College's Legal Studies Department
- Former Adjunct Professor
Ms. Barnett advises United Cerebral Palsy of St. Joseph and United Way of St. Joseph on a pro bono basis
St. Joseph Public Schools, Volunteer
St. Joseph Safety Council, Board of Directors
St. Joseph Tennis Foundation, Board of Directors
St. Joseph Social Welfare Board (community health organization)
- Buchanan County appointee

Distinctions

KC Magazine recognized Carol as a Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer in 2005.
Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert C. Underwood, Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.
Ms. Barnett has received various awards for outstanding victim advocacy for her work as an assistant prosecutor.

Experience

Ms. Barnett's cases have included representing:

A large health care provider on a successful Motion to Dismiss in a multi-count employee benefits case under ERISA. No appeal.
A public official charged with various First Amendment violations. Received summary judgment in favor of official and dismissal of related claims. Upheld on appeal.
A health care provider on a successful Motion to Dismiss a contract claim in state court, using ERISA preemption argument. No appeal.
A major health care provider on a successful Motion to Dismiss (employee benefits case). No appeal.
A large health care employer in obtaining summary judgment in an age discrimination case and related claims. Upheld on appeal.
A large health care employer in a four-plaintiff, multiple theory employment discrimination matter in federal court. Received summary judgment in favor of the employer on all claims. Not challenged on appeal.
Multiple, large manufacturing facilities in obtaining favorable National Labor Relations Board rulings.
A major meat processing operation. Received summary judgment on workers' compensation retaliatory discharge and all other claims. Not challenged on appeal.
A major food processing operation in federal court. Received summary judgment in the employer's favor on all claims (sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliatory discharge claims). Upheld on appeal.

Publications & Presentations

2008-2009	Miscellaneous Topics: OSHA, Fair Labor Standards Act, Immigration Reform and Control Act, Worker's Compensation, Employees' Records and Retention, Using Facebook, Etc. Presentations to St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
2009	HR For Small Business - Avoiding Landmines Presentation for St. Joseph Human Resources Management Association
March 2009	The New FMLA Questions from the Employer's Perspective Legal Funamentals Seminar, Presented by Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. with St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce
01/01/2009	College 101 Talk at Missouri Western State College
May 2008	What Did You Do Last Night? Regulating Off-Duty Conduct in the Workplace 2008 Labor, Employment and Benefits Symposium, Sponsored by Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, PC
February 2008	Hiring Do's and Don'ts (Including I-9 and Immigration Issues) Legal Fundamentals Presentation to Northwest Missouri Area Employers
September 2006	Workers' Compensation and ADA Accommodation Issues (No FMLA Issues Considered) Presentation at 2006 Labor, Employment and Benefits Symposium, Sponsored by Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.
January 2006	Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 - What's New? Webinar Hosted by Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.
December 2005	Sunshine Law in Missouri - Practical Applications Presentation to St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce
October 2005	FMLA: The Good, The Bad, and The (Almost) Incomprehensible Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management
June 2005	Discrimination and Diversity Presentation to Counselors for Boy Scouts of America
June 2005	Three Easy Pieces . . . Current Issues Facing In-House Counsel Ethics Presentation
February 2005	EEOC Issues New Guidance on Intellectual Disabilities Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management
October 2004	FMLA Update Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management
May 2004	Personnel Law Update 2004 Council on Education in Management
April 2004	Major Developments in Employment Law Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management
April 2004	Employee Privacy in the Workplace: Regulating the Off-Premises Conduct of Employees 2004 Labor, Employment and Benefits Symposium, sponsored by Shughart Thomson & KIlroy, P.C.
December 2003	Effectively Managing Return to Work Issues: Understanding Your Employer Rights and Responsibilities Council on Education in Management
September 2003	Update on Privacy and Emerging Issues in Electronic Workplace Litigation: Policies and Practices to Safeguard Your Organization Council on Education in Management
May 2002	Auditing Your Employee Handbook for Legal Landmines Council on Education in Management
November 2002	The Definitive Guide to Employment Law for HR Professionals Moderator
March 2002	Employment Law - Recent Developments 2000-2002 Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management
October 1998	Employment Law Issues for Nurse Managers Missouri Western State College Nurse Managers’ Class
September 1998	Update on Employment Law Issues Presentation to Northwest Missouri Society for Human Resources Management