| Rita M. McKinney | |
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| Overview | Rita McKinney currently directs the Firm’s upstate and labor practice in addition to her business litigation practice. She has been a certified mediator since 1996. She frequently lectures on employment law topics, workplace safety and security. As a business and employment litigator, she has handled cases in federal and state court in a wide range of areas including discrimination, retaliatory discharge, retaliation claims, wage claims, contracts, fraud, securities, environmental, torts, products liability and environmental matters. |
| | | Recent Engagements |
- Successful mediation of labor dispute in 2001
- Defended accused in death penalty case (by appointment); Defendant was convicted of murder but did not receive death penalty
- Represented group of plaintiffs in federal court certified class action in early case brought under South Carolina Business Opportunities Sales Act
- Represented group of former employees in federal court alleging breach of oral employment contracts against large, multi-state utility; successful settlement
- Represented parents of three year-old child seriously injured while riding a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle; successfully settled
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| | | Awards and Recognition |
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2008
- Selected permanent member of the United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
- Elected President of National Association of Government Labor Officials (“NAGLO”), (Association of States’ Highest Labor/Employment Officials) 2002-2003
- First Annual Order of Jessamine Award, presented by Greenville-News Piedmont Company to ten outstanding Women in the Upstate, 1990
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| | | Professional and Community Involvement | Current:
- University of South Carolina Alumni Association Board of Governors (President 2004-2006)
- Columbia College Board of Visitors
- Hollings Cancer Center Citizens Advisory Board
- Greenville County Workforce Investment Board
- Commerce Club Board of Directors
- National Safety Council – SC Chapter Board of Directors (President, 2006)
- City of Greenville, Firemen’s Pension Fund Board
- Permanent member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference (1990 forward)
- Member, Middleburg College Parents’ Committee
- Member, Greenville Professional Women’s Forum (President, 1988)
Former:
- Director, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (1999-2003)
(member, Governor’s Cabinet)
- President, National Association of Government Labor Officials (2002-2003)
- Member, University of South Carolina Board of Trustees (2004-2006); Chair, Student-Liaison Committee
- Chair, Governor’s Workplace Security Advisory Committee, 2001-2003
- President, South Carolina Occupational Safety Council, 1999-2003
- Board of Governors, South Carolina Bar, 1997-1998
- President, Greenville County Bar, 1993
- South Carolina Bar Judicial Qualifications Committee (2005-2006 and an earlier term in the 1990s)
- President, Warehouse Theatre Board of Directors
- President, Emrys Foundation Board of Directors
- Treasurer, Wings for Kids Foundation Board of Directors
- Member, United Way of Greenville Board of Directors
- Member, United Way of Greenville Campaign Cabinet
- Member, Greenville Urban League Board of Directors
- Member, Community Food Bank of the Piedmont Board of Directors
- Member, Legal Services Agency of Western Carolina, Inc. (Treasurer, Secretary)
- Member, St. Francis Women’s Hospital Professional Board of Counselors
- Member, Leadership Greenville Board of Regents
- Member, Old 96 Girl Scout Council Board of Directors
- Member, South Carolina Commission on Consumer Affairs
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