ATTORNEYS

Nicholas G. B. May

(612) 353-3344
nmay@fmalawyers.com

Nick litigates employment and related business disputes. He represents employees on their claims of workplace discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, failure to pay wages and commissions, and whistleblower violations. His business experience includes representing clients in shareholder and partnership disputes, contract claims, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty and defamation.

Nick has successfully tried lawsuits, including a multi-million dollar contract verdict, and has negotiated major settlements for many clients. He also has successfully handled appeals in the state and federal courts. Nick continues to write and lecture on the topic of workplace discrimination and other employment law topics.

Nick is a member of the Minnesota Bar Association (including the Labor and Employment Section) and a current member and a former president and board member of the Minnesota chapter of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association.

See Nick discuss issues related to sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination and age discrimination on television:

Sexual Harassment
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/sexharass_wm1.html
(Windows Media)
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/sexharass_qt1.html
(QuickTime)

Pregnancy Discrimination
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/pregnancy_wm1.html
Windows Media)
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/pregnancy_qt1.html
(QuickTime)

Age Discrimination
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/age_wm1.html
(Windows Media)
www.humanrights.state.mn.us/education/video/age_qt1.html
(QuickTime)

Education

J.D. 1998, William Mitchell College of Law, Magna Cum Laude
B.A. 1994, University of Iowa

Admissions

Minnesota Supreme Court
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court for Minnesota
U.S. District Court for Minnesota
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Titles/Awards/Memberships

Named a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Law & Politics, 2001-2008
Named a "Who's Who in Employment Law" by Minnesota Law & Politics, 2001-2008
Rated A.V. by Martindale Hubbell
National Employment Lawyers' Association (past president and board member of Minnesota chapter)
Minnesota Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Dakota County Bar Association

Publications/Speaking Engagements

Hot Topics in Employment Law, Dakota County Bar Ass’n; 2008.
A.D.A. or R.I.P? – Breathing Life Into An ADA Claim; National Employment Lawyers Association, Eighth Circuit Conference 2006.
What Caps? Mixing and Matching Damages to Maximize Recovery in Employment Discrimination Cases; Employment Law Institute, 2004.
What Really Counts: Practical Tips For Wage And Commission Claims Under Chapter 181; 2004.
Internal Investigations Involving Executives and Other Senior Management: Problems and Pitfalls; 2003.
Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make in Discipline and Termination Decisions; 2002.
Preemption of Common Law Negligence Claims by the Minnesota Human Rights Act; 2001.

Representative Cases

Powell v. MVE, 626 N.W.2d 451 (Minn. Ct. App. 2001) (affirming $3.5 million judgment for breach of an oral contract);
Cline v. Clay County, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, Court File No. 01-2239 MJD/RLE ($1.5 million settlement for female deputy who was sexually harassed and assaulted by county sheriff);
Shockency and Moore v. Ramsey County and Sheriff Bob Fletcher, 493 F.3d 941 (8th Cir. 2007). (obtained a $750,000.00 settlement for two sheriff’s deputies who were retaliated against for campaigning against Sheriff Bob Fletcher.)
Cousineau v. Norstan, Inc., 322 F.3d 493 (8th Cir. 2003) (recovered $699,000 in commissions, attorneys’ fees, statutory penalties and prejudgment interest for salesman / employee);
Sherburne v. City of Big Lake, Court File No. 07-cv-04161 (D. Minn. 2007) (obtained $100,000.00 settlement and maintained employment for police officer who was retaliated against by police chief for reporting illegal department practices in violation of Minnesota’s whistleblower statute, for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, for violations of the Family Medical Leave Act and other Constitutional violations.)
Murry v. Cannon Valley Coop, 2006 WL 3804252 (D. Minn. 2006). (successfully defeated defendant’s motion for summary judgment in disability and Family Medical Leave Act suit)
Rubel v. Century Bancshares, Inc., 2004 WL 114942 (D.Minn. 2004) (successfully defeated defendant's motion for summary judgment in age discrimination suit)
Stockberger v. Physicians Mutual Ins. Co., 2001 WL 1640109 (D.Minn. 2001) (successfully defeated defendant's motion for summary judgment in whistleblower suit)
Martin v. Clear Channel Television, Inc., 2001 WL 920013 (D.Minn. 2001) (successfully defended defendant's motion for summary judgment on unpaid wages claim)
Oleatha Curtis v. City of St. Paul, Ramsey County Court File No. 62-C9-05-003952 (Minn. Dist. Ct. 2005) (obtained $57,500 settlement for client arising out of claim for workplace sexual harassment)