Departments

Litigation

Practice Areas

Labor and Employment

Employment Litigation

Education

J.D., University of Minnesota, 2001
B.A., Dartmouth College, 1997

Admissions

Missouri, 2004
Kansas, 2005
New York, 2003
New Jersey, 2001

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2004
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, 2005
U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, 2005
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 2001

Kansas City (Downtown)

Phone: 816.360.4149

Fax: 816.374.0509

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Judy Yi

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In her labor and employment law practice, Judy Yi focuses on how to manage and minimize workplace risks associated with multi-state and federal statutory compliance issues. If a matter becomes adversarial, Ms. Yi represents management in agency investigations and lawsuits. Employers are kept informed by Ms. Yi’s counsel on virtually all employment related laws and regulations involving issues such as employment discrimination, collective actions, breach of contract, covenants not to compete, personnel policies, management training, protection of confidential and trade secret information, defamation and unfair labor practices.

Ms. Yi has been a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee since 2005.

Memberships and Affiliations

Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City
- President, 2010
- Treasurer, 2006-2009
- Director, 2005, 2011
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
National Employment Law Council
International Association of Korean Lawyers
Association for Women Lawyers of Kansas City
Asian American Chamber of Commerce
Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Association
Dartmouth "Heart of America" Alumni Club
- Executive Board

Distinctions

Honored as a 2011 Up and Coming Lawyer by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Selected for inclusion in 2010 and 2011 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers as a Rising Star

Experience

Ms. Yi's notable experience includes

Ms. Yi has represented national, regional and local health care facilities in state agency discrimination charges and lawsuits, and has provided advice and counsel on the coordination of national employment policies and issues and day-to-day employment matters
She has assisted multi-national, national, and regional corporations in negotiating the employment aspects of various mergers and acquisitions
She has conducted comprehensive employment / human resources audits, reviewing employment processes, policies, and documents for legal compliance
Ms. Yi has represented a regional grocery store chain in all employment counseling, discrimination charges and employment litigation matters

Representative Cases

Brown-Schreiner v. United Investors, L.P. d/b/a Life Care Center of Grandview, Case No. 4:05-CV-00556
Plaintiff, the former Assistant Director of Nursing for defendant, brought a cause of action against defendant alleging wrongful termination of her employment based on her Wiccan religious beliefs in violation of Title VII and the Missouri Human Rights Act. The matter was tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant on all counts.
Parker v. Life Care Centers of America, Case No. 6:04-CV-1206
Plaintiff, a registered nurse and former employee of defendant, filed suit against Defendant alleging (1) whistle blowing retaliation in violation of the Kansas Risk Management Act; (2) whistle blowing retaliation in violation of Kansas common law; (3) workers' compensation retaliation; (4) defamation; and (5) breach of implied contract. Defendant obtained summary judgment on four of Plaintiff's five claims. Plaintiff's breach of implied contract claim was tried on the merits before a jury in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Obtained jury verdict in favor of defendant.
Qualls, et al. v. Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Jurisdiction in the Western District of Missouri in a FLSA/Collective Action with a favorable settlement resolution.
Lee v. Life Care Center of America, Inc.
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in a race discrimination case with a favorable settlement resolution.
Young v. University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in a 42 U.S.C. §1981 race discrimination and retaliation case with a favorable settlement resolution.
Kankam v. University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in a race discrimination case under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. §1981 with a favorable settlement resolution.
Miller v. University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in an Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination and retaliation case with a favorable settlement resolution.
Rieker v. Cunningham Lindsay US, Inc., et al.
Jurisdiction in Eastern District of Missouri in a tortious interference with a business expectancy, defamation and failure to pay wages case with a favorable settlement resolution.
Walker v. Global Ground Support, LLC
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in an Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination and ERISA violation case with a favorable settlement resolution.

Publications & Presentations

February 2012	How to Deal with Whistleblowers and Managing the Internal Investigation Association of Corporate Counsel - Chicago Chapter
November 2010	Ten Mistakes Employers Make LSN - Human Resources Teleseminar Series
September 2010	Labor and Employment - The Use and Classification of Workers Both in the U.S. and Korea International Association of Korean Lawyers Conference Panelist at the 18th Annual Conference
August 2010	The "New" ADAAA: What the New Regulations Mean for Employers Polsinelli Shughart Labor, Employment & Benefits Symposium
June 2010	Beyond Getting in the Door: Success Tips for Diverse Attorneys Panelist for a program sponsored by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Kansas City Specialty Bar Associations
2009	Not Just For Hackers Anymore? ABA Intellectual Property Roundtable
2007	Recent D.C. Circuit Opinion May Have Broad Impact American Health Lawyers Association Labor and Employment