Henry A. Platt

Henry A. Platt
Primary Office
Experience

Employment Litigation

Select matters:

  • Obtained a full defense verdict in a Maryland federal court jury trial on behalf of a large government contractor involving allegations of “reverse” race discrimination.
  • Won summary judgment in a nationwide wage and hour class and collective action in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for a large chain of retail mattress stores, establishing that certain sales employees were exempt from federal and state overtime laws under the inside commissioned sales employee exemption to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 
  • Obtained judicial approval of a favorable settlement of a wage and hour class and collective action in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a health insurance company.
  • Obtained victory in a Maryland federal court trial on behalf of a government contractor involving allegations that a former executive breached his employment agreement and tortiously interfered with a contract with the State of Louisiana worth tens of millions of dollars.

Higher Education

Select matters:

  • Obtained a dismissal, without leave to amend, in a case against a major university and its law school in the Northern District of California, establishing that neither the specific acts alleged in the complaint (involving a variety of claims ranging from defamation, “right of publicity,” and invasion of privacy to tortious interference with economic advantage, disability discrimination and retaliation), nor the university’s general recruiting and fundraising activities, were sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction over the university.

Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition

Select matters:

  • Successfully defended a CEO facing allegations of fraudulent inducement in the Northern District of California in connection with an investment the plaintiffs made in the client’s former company. The plaintiffs, who owned a controlling interest, claimed the client failed to disclose plans to leave the company to join a competitor, and sued for fraudulent concealment, breach of fiduciary duties, and alleged violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law. The court dismissed the complaint and the demand for damages of more than $30 million following a motion arguing that the plaintiffs’ complaint failed to state a claim, failed to establish the basis for an individual injury sufficient to establish Constitutional standing, and that the plaintiffs’ reasoning violated California public policy in favor of employee mobility. 
  • Obtained a settlement days before trial in the Northern District of Oklahoma for a start-up manufacturer of gaming equipment in a case alleging the client had infringed on dozens of trademarks, copied the trade dress and misappropriated trade secrets and confidential information of a competitor. The founders of the start-up previously worked for the competitor. Following two years of extensive discovery, briefings and motions that dismissed most of the case, the parties agreed to a settlement that allowed the client to keep its games in play and continue using its most important game features.