Chad E. Wallace advises employers on employment-related and general business topics, including FMLA, disability and leave issues and termination issues.

Featured Video

Pay Equity: The Complicated Comp Issue Facing Employers Today October 23, 2018

Featured Experience

Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims for a national restaurant chain in a slip-and-fall personal injury case.

Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims in Kentucky federal court for a life insurance company in a case claiming breach of contract and bad faith claims practices.

2011

Obtained defense jury verdict for a national provider of funeral and cemetery services after a three-day trial in an age and gender discrimination case in which plaintiff sought over $350,000 in back pay and compensatory and liquidated damages, and an additional sum for punitive damages.

2012

Professional Biography

Overview

Working in the Firm's Johnson City office, Mr. Wallace represents clients before administrative agencies, and defends them in state and federal courts on age discrimination claims, gender discrimination and harassment claims, retaliation claims and enforces noncompetition covenants. Mr. Wallace also represents businesses in defense of personal injury claims, including premises liability and security cases.

He is a member of the Firm's 24 Hour Motor Carrier Emergency Response Team, a group of attorneys dedicated to providing rapid post-accident intervention and investigation throughout the Firm's footprint and beyond, whenever and wherever you need us.

Representative Matters

Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims for a national restaurant chain in a slip-and-fall personal injury case.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims in Kentucky federal court for a life insurance company in a case claiming breach of contract and bad faith claims practices.
Obtained defense jury verdict for a national provider of funeral and cemetery services after a three-day trial in an age and gender discrimination case in which plaintiff sought over $350,000 in back pay and compensatory and liquidated damages, and an additional sum for punitive damages.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims for a regional staffing service in a case in which the plaintiff alleged unlawful retaliatory discharge in violation of the Tennessee Public Protection Act and Tennessee common law and claimed more than $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Obtained bench trial judgment and dismissal of all claims in Tennessee state court for an insurance company in a case involving breach of contract and potential damages under Tennessee's bad faith statute.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims in Tennessee federal court for a regional staffing service in a case in which the plaintiff alleged gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims in Tennessee state court for an insurance company in a case in which the plaintiffs claimed breach of contract and bad faith damages relating to a total loss fire in a dwelling extension.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims for an insurance company in a breach of contract, uninsured motorist and bad faith case in Tennessee federal court.
Obtained a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of a plaintiff's claim for damages under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act against an insurance company in Tennessee federal court. Thereafter, the plaintiff abandoned all remaining claims and the entire suit was dismissed by the court.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of the plaintiffs' main claims in a case against an insurance/investment company involving claims of misappropriation of funds by the company's representative. The summary judgment reduced the plaintiffs' possible damages by approximately $600,000 and resulted in a very reasonable settlement shortly thereafter.
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims in federal court for a life insurance company on breach of contract and bad faith refusal-to-pay claims by plaintiff.

Professional Honors & Activities

Member – Federal, American, Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington County and Kingsport Bar Associations
Board of Directors – Holston Valley Futbol Club-FC Dallas-TRI, 2016
Recipient – Baker Donelson's 2014 Johnson City Office Public Service Award
Recipient – Baker Donelson's 2009 Johnson City Office Pro Bono Award
Board of Directors – Junior Achievement of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia (Chairman, 2013)
Named to The Business Journal of Tri-Cities, TN/VA's "40 Under Forty" (2011)
Member, Board of Directors – Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center (2002 – 2009)
Chairman, Board of Directors – Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center (2008)
Research Editor – Tennessee Law Review (2000 – 2001)

Publications

"Current Title VII May Soon Protect Sexual Orientation" (December 2016)
"State and Local Law Update Could Signal Trend" (April 14, 2016)
"Protecting the Impeachment Value of Surveillance Evidence During Discovery," For the Defense (December 2015)

Speaking Engagements

"Sexual Harassment and Internal Investigation Best Practices: Lessons from the Fox News Scandals" (September 2017)
"12th Annual Virginia Labor and Employment Law Seminar" (September 2017)
"The DOL's New Salary Regulations—How to Plan For and Live With Them," Tennessee Human Resource Agency board meeting in Nashville, Tennessee (September 2016)
"Urgent Issues for Modern Employers" (March 2015)
"Fallout from the Supreme Court's DOMA Decision," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (March 2014)
"The Evolution of Discrimination Laws and How to Remain Compliant," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (February 2013)
"Bulletproof Documentation," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (February 2012)
"Restrictive Covenants in the Workplace: New Developments and Limitations," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (February 2012)
"Social Media in the Workplace: The Next Steps," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (February 2011)
"A Review of Labor & Employment Law's 2010 Highlights," Labor & Employment Law Seminar (February 2011)