about Jeffrey A. Stankunas
Always the calm in the eye of any legal storm, Jeff Stankunas heads Isaac Wiles’ Labor and Employment Law services. He is also responsible for all aspects of representation of public officials and local governments.
Jeff’s steady guidance has led to victories in cases at every level. He’s argued and won in federal courts in Ohio and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, as well as numerous trial and appellate state courts. He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
He also has broad experience representing business clients before several administrative agencies, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the State Personnel Board of Review, the State Employee Relations Board, and the National Labor Relations Board.
Earlier in his career, Jeff served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, where he practiced in the Employment Law Section.
services
Industries
education & admissions
Education
The Ohio State University, J.D., 2000
Bowling Green State University, B.A., cum laude, 1997
Bar & Court Admissions
Ohio, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
case studies
Gatti, et al. v. Smith, et. al., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8146 (N.D. Ohio, January 18, 2018)
Practice Area: Labor and Employment Law
Date: January 18, 2018
Outcome: Summary Judgement granted for clients on all claims brought by five plaintiffs who were current and former employees.
In the Matter of the Arbitration between Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and Athens County Commissioners (FMCS No. 170131-00829-6).
Practice Area: Labor and Employment Law
Date: August 28, 2017
Outcome: Client’s argument that union had negotiated away statutory right to recognition of prior service credit with the state of Ohio or another political subdivision for purposes of vacation leave accrual, despite brief period of time for which recognition was given, was adopted, and employee’s grievance was denied
In the Matter of Arbitration Between The Whitestone Group, Inc. and Int’l Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, Local No. 329 (FMCS Case No. 150929-03756-8)
Practice Area: Labor and Employment Law
Date: May 2, 2016
Outcome: Client’s argument that the arbitrator lacked jurisdiction over the grievances of three terminated employees was adopted
Robyn Marshall v. Belmont County Board of Commissioners, et al., 110 F.Supp.3d 780 (S.D. Ohio 2015), affirmed by 634 Fed. Appx. 574 (6th Cir. 2016)
Practice Area: Employment Law/Public Law
Date: May 20, 2015
Outcome: Summary Judgment granted for all clients.
Sister Michael Marie et al. v. American Red Cross, et al., 771 F.3d 344 (6th Cir. 2014)
Practice Area: Employment Law/Public Law
Date: November 14, 2014
Outcome: Judgment for client affirmed.
articles & presentations
Articles
Times High Education (“THE”) Article (by Jeffrey A. Stankunas & Emily Dilloway): Private US Colleges Need to Prepare for More Student Unionisation, published October 23, 2022
Society for Human Resource Management (“SHRM”) Article (by Allen Smith, J.D.): DOL’s Proposed Form Revision Could Have Chilling Effect on Contractors, Jeffrey Stankunas Quoted, September, 2022
Columbus Dispatch Article (by Jeffrey A. Stankunas & Emily Dilloway): Minding do’s and don’ts can make or break company’s case in Starbucks union effort/Opinion, published June 24, 2022
Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic: Taking Action in the Workplace. Collaboration with Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Opioid Education Alliance, 2020.
Guest Column: Asking about a prospective employee’s criminal past? Think twice during application process, Co-author, Ohio Restaurant Association, February 8, 2017
IW Win Establishes Guidelines for Governments to Use to Keep Their Volunteers From Claiming They are Employees, Isaac Wiles Blog, November 24, 2014
County Layoff Guidelines, CORSA Members, February 2, 2009
Is There A Public Policy Tort For Your New Wrongful Discharge Claim? OSBA, Labor and Employment Section Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 1, Winter 2003
- Private US colleges need to prepare for more student unionisation
- Minding do’s and don’ts can make or break company’s case in Starbucks union effort
- How the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Janus v. AFSCME Affects Public Employers
- Asking About a Prospective Employee’s Criminal Past? Think Twice During Application Process – Ohio Restaurant Association
- IW win establishes guidelines for governments to use to keep their volunteers from claiming they are employees
Presentations
Presenter, “What Administrative Judges Need to Know About Employment Law” for the Ohio Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, January 27, 2023
Presenter, COVID-19 Legal Update For Employers, ORA Legal Center Live, March 9, 2022
Presenter, HR & Collective Bargaining, CCAO/CEAO Winter Conference, December 2021
Presenter, “Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate” for GBQ Restaurant MasterClass In Person Event, October 13, 2021
Presenter, “HR & How Not To Get Sued (or at least not sued successfully), CCAO New Commissioner Training, August 20, 2021
Presenter, “Understanding and Preventing Harassment in the Workplace” for Knox County JFS, April 15, 2021
Presenter, “Open Meetings During A Global Pandemic” for CLCCA, July 17, 2020
Webinar Presenter, “Update to Employment Implications and Options” for CCAO, April 3, 2020.
Presenter, “Administrative Judges Fundamentals” for the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, February 20, 2020.
Presenter, Sunshine Lawsuit – “The Gang of Five” (dangers of using cell phones for public work), CLCCA Spring Meeting, April 12, 2019
Presenter, CORSA HR Hotline: What Issues are Trending—Webinar, County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO), June 2017
Presenter, Human Resources Hot Topics, Express Idea Exchange Workshop, 2016 CCAO/CEAO Annual Winter Conference and Trade Show, December 2016
Presenter, Current HR Issues, CCAO/CEAO Winter Conference, December 2015
Presenter, Reasonable Accommodations Under the ADA—Webinar, County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO), November 2015
FMLA Update, 2014 County Loss Control Coordinators Association of Ohio (CLCCAO) Fall Meeting
Presenter, Ebola—How it may Impact your Workplace, Chamber Event B.E.D. and Breakfast, Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce, November 2014
professional & community activities
Professional
Ohio State Bar Association
Columbus Bar Association
Community
Knights of Columbus, Council 10876
Past Treasurer, Granville Town & Country Club
Volunteer, Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
honors
Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2023
ColumbusCEO, Best Lawyers 2022, Employment Law
The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2018-2020
Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2017-2020
Ohio Super Lawyers® Rising Stars, 2010-2015
