Kathleen Neary has been with Powers Law representing clients since 1998. As a skilled Lincoln workplace law, discrimination, employer harassment & retaliation, and personal injury attorney, Kathleen serves her clients & the community with passion and poise.
Kathleen is a past president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.
Community Involvement:
• Lancaster County Personnel Board Member;
2003-2013
• City of Lincoln, Nebraska Charter Revision Committee Member;
2007-Present
• Clyde Malone Community Center, Board of Directors;
2011-2018
Cases of Interest:
• Gavin v. Rogers Tech Servs. 276 Neb. 437 (2008)
Secured reversal of summary judgment by trial court in sexual harassment/constructive discharge case for employee.
• Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court: “The element of intending to force the employee to quit is satisfied if the employer could have reasonably foreseen that the employee would quit as a result of its actions.”
• Lacey v. State of Nebraska, 278 Neb. 87 (2009)
Affirmed verdict for employee in sexual harassment case.
• Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court heard: ” We cannot conclude, as a matter of law, that the State exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the sexual harassment…”
• Garcia v. Monument Management Group, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska 4:05 CV3139 (2006)
Summary Judgment granted in favor of employee on liability in gender and pregnancy discrimination case.
• Danhauer v. J.K. Tooling, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Case No. 00-1736
Plaintiff’s discrimination jury verdict affirmed on appeal without comment.
Professional Recognition:
• Kathleen Neary was elected by fellow lawyers to serve on both 3rd District- County Court and District Court Judicial Nominating Commissions.
Employment:
• Powers Law Attorney, Lincoln, NE, 1998 – present
• Neary Law Office, 1996-1997
• Associate Judge, Omaha Tribal Court, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, 1993-1996
• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Niesje J. Steinkruger, District Judge, State of Alaska, 1992-1993
Memberships/Organizations:
• President, Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys (NATA), 2016;
• Member, NATA Board, 2001-Present;
• Chair, Employment Rights Section of American Association Justice (AAJ), 2018;
• Member, AAJ, 1998-Present;
• Member, National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA);
• President, Nebraska NELA, 2013;
• Outstanding Contributor to Woman and the Law, 2015;
• Member, AAJ Employment Rights Executive Committee, 2014-present;
• Vice-Chair, Nebraska State Bar Association (NSBA), Labor and Employment Section, 2012-2013;
• NSBA House of Delegates, 1999-2006;
• Nebraska Bar Association, 1993-Present;
• Great Plains Super Lawyers, 2009-Present;
• Lancaster County Personnel Board, 2003-2013;
• Nebraska Bar Association, 1993-Present;
