Darren M. Sharp

Employment Law

The Client: Long-tenured management-level employee at Fortune 500 Company
Problem: Employer-company terminated client due to his complaints of discrimination
Approach: Aggressively prosecuted claims through the EEOC and then court
Solution: On the eve of trial, obtained a settlement for client nearing $1 million
 

The Client: Long-tenured employee
Problem: Employer unjustly removed client from position due to client’s disability and initiated termination proceedings
Approach: Drafted detailed proposal letter to employer describing how the client’s medical condition in no way interfered with his ability to perform and negotiated the client’s return to work
Solution: Employer returned client to work at full salary and paid client’s attorneys’ fees

The Client: Executive leadership team of corporation
Problem: Parent company refused to honor contracted bonuses valued at over $5 million
Approach: Provided client team with thorough legal analysis of contractual rights and then privately approached parent corporation to enforce contracts
Solution: Parent corporation fully honored all aspects of its contractual obligations
  

The Client:  48 year-old executive
Problem:  Harassed and terminated by new board members because of religious beliefs
Approach: Aggressively pursued litigation against former employer
Solution: Achieved significant settlement for client, well beyond his goals

The Client: 33 year-old nurse and mother of five
Problem: State denied unemployment benefits after resigning from physically violent workplace
Approach: Appealed denial of unemployment benefits
Solution: Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed state’s denial; client received full unemployment benefits

The Client: 55 year-old IT consultant
Problem: Fortune 500 company terminated employee due to client’s cancer diagnosis and his missing work due to cancer treatment
Approach: Analyzed strengths and weaknesses of potential case and negotiated directly with company
Solution: Privately negotiated over 600% increase in severance offered by company

The Client: Experienced saleswomen
Problem: Former employer attempted to enforce non-compete agreements against clients
Approach: Advised clients and new employer in negotiations against former employer; directly negotiated with former employer
Solution: Non-compete dispute resolved; clients allowed to take their books of business to new employer and retain new employment

The Client: Healthcare worker
Problem: Co-worker bullied client and put patients’ health at risk; employer ignored client’s reports of illegal and inappropriate conduct
Approach: While the employee continued to work for the employer, approached employer and negotiated client’s separation
Solution: Negotiated substantial exit package for client, which included provisions, designed to enhance client’s ability to find replacement work

Condominium Law

The Client:  Minneapolis condominium association
Problem: Condominium association was facing bankruptcy because no financial reserves had been set up by the developers
Approach: Prosecute a groundbreaking case under Minnesota law against the developer
Solution:  Settled claims against developer during discovery for significant monetary relief and received a favorable jury verdict and award against other developer at trial, allowing the Association to repair the common areas, begin to establish adequate reserves, and avoid bankruptcy

Client:  Large condominium association
Problem:  Damaged and rapidly deteriorating underground garage facility needing $500K in repairs, inadequate reserves for common area upkeep and repairs, and monthly association dues set at unrealistically low levels by developer selling units.
Approach:  Prosecuted claims for fraud and Minnesota statutes protecting condominium owners from inadequate developer reserve funding and from false disclosures regarding monthly dues.
Solution:  Secured over $750K settlement for the Association weeks before trial set to commence that allows repairs to be done and reserves to be established to handle future repair needs.

The Client:  St. Paul condominium association
Problem: Condominium developers misled condominium association board and unit owners regarding the financial condition of the Association and the physical condition and integrity of the building.
Approach:  Prosecuted claims for fraud and Minnesota statutes protecting condominium owners from inadequate developer reserve funding and from false disclosures regarding monthly dues.
Solution:  Negotiated significant settlement for the Association, allowing the Association to repair the building to ensure its structural integrity

Other Litigation

The Client: Defendant to frivolous claims for reporting criminal conduct
Problem: Client sued in both state and federal court for reporting criminal conduct and testifying at plaintiff’s criminal trial
Approach: Defended client aggressively in both venues
Solution: Client awarded over $125K based on client’s immunity, with all claims against client in both state and federal court dismissed

• “Day in the Life of a Labor/Employment Lawyer” University of Minnesota Law School, November 2009 
• “Immigrant Rights in Employment” Guest Homily, Workers’ Interfaith Network, 2008
• “Plaintiff’s Side Employment Practice” Guest Lecturer, Workers’ Rights Clinic, 2008
• “Day in the Life of a Labor/Employment Lawyer” University of Minnesota Law School, November 2008
• “Employment Rights” Centro Campesino – Feria Informativa Faribault, Minnesota, 2008

• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
• Member, National Employment Lawyers’ Association
• Member, National Employment Lawyers’ Association, Minnesota Chapter