Deborah Stephens Minnis - Tallahassee, FL

Overview

Awards and Honors

Education

• Legal Education

  • Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, 1983
    J.D.

• Non Legal Education

  • University of Georgia, Georgia, 1980
    B.S.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Shareholder

Past Positions

• Florida State University College of Law, Adjunct Professor, 2003 - Present
• State of Florida, Assistant Attorney General, 1985 - 1991
• Gadsden County School Board, General Counsel
• Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners, General Counsel

Classes and Seminars

• Florida Dental Association Convention, June 2021 – Presenter – “Contracts-What am I signing”
  
• Florida Dental Association Convention, June 2021 – Presenter “I’m in Charge of What?"
  
• Florida Dental Association – Presenter - "Harassment in the Workplace" – April 2016
  
• Florida Veteran’s Preference 2017
  
• CCBG – “Isn’t Florida an Employment At-Will State” – Presenter – July 2017

Pro Bono Activities

• Tallahassee Bar Association
• Board of Directors, Legal Aid Foundation, past treasurer, secretary and vice president
• Former member, Civil Justice Reform Act Committee
• Second Judicial Circuit Gender Bias Study Commission
• Tallahassee Women Lawyers Association, past president, board of directors
• Adjunct Professor, Florida State University College of Law, 2003
• Tallahassee Memorial Foundation Board of Directors (Chair 2020-2022)
• Tallahassee Memorial Health Care Board of Directors (Ex-Officio)
• Florida Board of Bar Examiners (2015-2020)
• Northern District Examination Committee
• Leadership Tallahassee Board of Governors (1996-1997)
• Leadership Tallahassee Class X
• Coordinator and host for the Northern District Court Naturalization Ceremony (1993-2003)

Representative Cases

• Martin v. Department of Economic Opportunity – Defense Summary Judgment granted in a multi-count discrimination case.
• Mullings v. Leon County School Board -Zero Jury Verdict in student injury case.
• Presha v. Leon County School Board – Litigated and managed resolution of district-wide class action suit relating to suit for minimum wage and overtime
• Working with employers in drafting and revising employment handbooks, policies and procedures
• Training of and consulting with employers on properly classifying employees under the exemptions to overtime and other provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act
• Providing training and consultation for employer on the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Consulting with employers on employee discipline and terminations

Published Works

Articles

• Today’s FDA-Avoiding Hiring Pitfalls – April 2020
  
• Today’s FDA-Bringing Balance to HR Management – September 2019
  
• Today’s FDA-Restrictive Covenants – February 2019
  
• Today’s FDA-Is Diversity That Important – August 2021
  
• Today’s FDA-Job References – August 2020
  
• Today’s FDA-Service Animals – June 2018
• Today’s FDA-Non-employee Harassment – August 2019
• Today’s FDA-Co-worker On Drugs – June 2019

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1985
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida