Dalton counsels employers on all aspects of employment law, including hiring and termination practices, policy and handbook drafting, plant closings and restructurings, discrimination/EEOC claims, unlawful termination under the North Carolina Retaliatory Discrimination Act (REDA) and Title VII, and wage and hour disputes. She has also represented numerous employers and insurance carriers in discrimination claims before administrative agencies (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor) and in state and federal courts. In addition, Dalton has represented employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation claims before the North Carolina Industrial Commission and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Dalton has a special interest in the intersection of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) with workers’ compensation laws, often referred to as “the Bermuda Triangle” of liability. Her experience in both employment practices liability and in the workers’ compensation arena make her uniquely qualified to address these issues. She has presented at seminars advising employers on how to avoid and defend against potential litigation and routinely counsels clients on such matters.
Dalton devotes a significant portion of her practice to leading internal investigations of complex and highly sensitive matters for clients involving claims of executive misconduct, whistleblowing claims, code of conduct violations, sexual and racial harassment, pattern and practice discrimination, and sexual assault. In addition, she routinely counsels clients on best practices for handling investigations and works with clients to develop robust complaint reporting and investigation policies and procedures.
Dalton’s recent investigative experience includes:
- Investigating allegations of wire fraud, identity theft and abusive behavior for an international pharmaceutical company.
- Investigating allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment at an international toy company.
- Investigating allegations of rampant systemic racial harassment and discrimination by department leaders at a local municipality.
- Investigation of allegations of sexual harassment and threats of retaliation by national manager of national financial services company
- Investigation of allegations of microaggressions and cultural intimidation against regional bank executive.
- Investigation of allegations of retaliation and improper government action against a city official for a large metropolitan city
- Investigation of harassment, bullying and hostile work environment by a regional director of a large national pharmaceutical corporation
- Investigation of harassment, bullying and hostile work environment against a managing director of a large multinational financial services corporation
- Investigation of allegations of drug use and sales at an international toy company
- Investigation of allegations of racial discrimination at a national trucking company
- Investigation of sex discrimination and retaliation against a multinational financial services corporation
