Breanna Young is a partner at Starnes Davis Florie and serves as the firm’s Associate Training Partner and on the firm’s Recruiting Committee. Breanna’s practice is focused primarily in the areas of labor and employment law. She also practices in the field of Title IX and ADA compliance litigation. Breanna regularly deals with Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and state non-competition laws. She represents both public and private employers in all types of labor and employment litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. In addition to her litigation experience, Breanna routinely advises employers in making employment decisions and developing policies that reduce the risk of being sued by employees. Breanna graduated summa cum laude from both the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law.
Professional Recognition
- Recognized as a “leading individual” in the field of Labor and Employment by Chambers USA
- Named a Rising Star for the state of Alabama by Mid-South Lawyers magazine
- Elected to the Order of the Coif
- Listed as a 'Local Litigation Star' for the State of Alabama in Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Litigation
Community Involvement
Breanna serves on the Board of Directors for the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation and as a member of the Restoration Academy Advisory Council.
Highlights
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of local municipality in a breach of contract case based on an employee handbook.
- Obtained summary judgment on all claims in a discrimination case for one of the largest wood products manufacturers in case alleging violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
- Successfully obtained a complete dismissal for university officials sued in a wrongful death action involving a highly-publicized mass shooting at an academic medical center.
- Obtained Favorable 11th Circuit Decision in a Case Alleging Violations of the Rehabilitation Act and the FLSA.
- Terri Lynn Cruce Corder v. City of Bessemer – Obtained summary judgment in favor of a municipality against a former employee’s claim that the City discriminated against her based on her race, sex, and disability and in retaliation for previous complaints when it terminated her employment.
- Jesse Hunt v. Altec Industries, Inc. – Obtained summary judgment for a manufacturer on a former employee’s claim that the company interfered with this FMLA rights and retaliated against him when it terminated him for violation of the company’s attendance policy.
- Eric Mitchell v. Evergreen Transport, LLC – Obtained a jury verdict for a trucking company against a former truck driver’s claim that the company fired him because of his race and in retaliation for his complaints about his coworkers’ racial slurs.
Presentations and Publications
- The Intersection Between HR and OSHA, Manufacture Alabama HR, Safety & Environmental Conference, Birmingham, AL, November 10, 2022.
- Thinking Outside the Box, Act II: Global Perspective to Risk Management, Etc, Alabama Nursing Home Association Mid-Year Conference, Orange Beach, AL, April 27, 2022.
- What the Vaccine Mandate Could Mean for You & Your Business, Webinar hosted by BMSS Advisors & CPA’s, November 10, 2021.
- Labor & Employment 2021 – Impacts of COVID-19 on Employment Law. Birmingham Business Journal, April 30 – May 6, 2021, Vol.38, No. 18.
- Give Me a Break: Accommodations Under the ADA and the Title VII, Alabama Employment Law Seminar, Birmingham, Alabama (November 30, 2018)
- How Does the #MeToo Movement Affect Long Term Care Employers, Alabama Nursing Home Association Annual Meeting, Birmingham, Alabama (June 25, 2018)
- Is Your Employee Handbook a Defense or a Trigger to Legal Liability? 2016 Alabama Nursing Home Association Legal Compliance Seminar, Birmingham, Alabama (February 15, 2016)
- Every Day Decisions That May Affect the Outcome of Litigation, Labor & Employment Disputes, and Surveys, 2015 Alabama Nursing Home Association Mid-Year Convention, Orange Beach, Alabama (April 2015)
- How to Avoid Becoming the Plaintiff’s Star Witness: Understanding the Defense of Employment Claims, presented to Supervisors and Human Resources Managers (April 2014)
- The Art of Internal Investigations: What to do When an Employee Complains of Discrimination, presented to Supervisors & Human Resources Managers (April 2014)
- Wipeout: If It’s Not Documented, It Didn’t Happen!, presented to Supervisors and Human Resources Managers, Pensacola, Florida (August 2014)
- Garnishments, Levies, and Salary Deductions, presented at the Birmingham Payroll Association’s statewide seminar (October 2014)
- “South Dakota Employment Law,” Chapter of Employment At Will: A State-by-State Survey, publication of the American Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section, pages 1013-1033 (2011) and supplements (2012-2016).
News & Insights
- Starnes Davis Florie Ranked a Top Law Firm by Chambers USA 2023
- Are your Policies & Practices Aligned with the Upcoming Enhanced Protections for Pregnant Workers?
- Labor & Employment Group News Alert: What Should You Do in Light of the FTC’s Effort to Ban Non-Compete Agreements?
- Starnes Davis Florie Highly Ranked in Benchmark Litigation 2023
- STARNES DAVIS FLORIE RANKED A TOP FIRM BY CHAMBERS USA 2022
- SDF L&E News Alert: Employers Can No Longer Force Employees To Arbitrate Sexual Assault/Harassment Claims
- Vaccine Mandate Update: OSHA Clear to Enforce, CMS in Limbo
- Breanna Young & Weathers Bolt Present on the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers
- Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
- OSHA Issues Vaccine Mandate: Common Questions on OSHA’s Large Employer Vaccine Mandate
- Update on Vaccine Mandates
- STARNES RANKED AS A “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FIRM” IN THE 2022 EDITION OF BENCHMARK LITIGATION
- PRESIDENT BIDEN’S COVID-19 ACTION PLAN: WHAT PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKFORCE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
- COVID-19 Is Once Again Changing The Employment Landscape: Are You Keeping Up?
- L&E News Alert: Biden’s Executive Order & the Effect on Non-Competes
- L&E News Alert: Alabama Unemployment (UI) Fraud and Abuse
- STARNES DAVIS FLORIE RANKED A TOP FIRM BY CHAMBERS USA 2021
- SDF Partner, Breanna Young Featured in BBJ – “Impacts of COVID-19 on Employment Law”
- Starnes Ranked as a “Highly Recommended Firm” in the 2021 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
- American Rescue Plan Extends and Modifies FFCRA’s Tax Credit Provisions
