Katherine M. Vander Pol

Katherine Vander Pol is dedicated to defending employee workplace rights and zealously advocates for her clients. She represents employees in a variety of employment matters, including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, whistleblower, breach of contract, defamation, tort, medical leave, licensing, benefits, and wage and hour disputes.  Katherine handles both individual cases and class and collective actions in state and federal court, and litigates False Claims Act/qui tam cases.  She also negotiates employment contracts, severance agreements and non-compete agreements.  Katherine joined Nichols Kaster in 2009 as a law clerk and has been an associate attorney since 2010.

Prior to joining Nichols Kaster, Katherine worked as a judicial extern for both U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis and U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank.  While in law school, Katherine was a member of Hamline’s National Moot Court team, participated in the Minnesota Justice Foundation Law School Public Service Program, and worked as a research assistant for one of her professors.

Admissions

• Minnesota Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota
• U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court – Western District of Wisconsin

Education

• J.D. Hamline University School of Law, 2009
• B.A. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2006

Publications / Speaking Engagements

• “The ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation.” Minnesota State Bar Association Investigator Training. Minneapolis, MN, March 2013.
• “A Paralegal’s Guide to Federal Court.” Institute for Paralegal Education Webcam Seminar. Altoona, WI, February 2013.
• “The Enemy’s Point of View: Hot Topics in Employment Litigation from the Perspective of an Employee’s Attorney.” Southern Minnesota Area Human Resource Association Employment Law Seminar, Mankato, MN, June 2012.
• “Public Sector Employee Speech: Whistleblowing and the First Amendment.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, Saint Paul, MN, May 2012.
• “Whistleblower Litigation: Martyrs and Tattletales.” Minnesota Chapter of Legal Nurse Consultants, Minneapolis, MN, May 2010.
• "What Happens When the First Amendment Knocks at Your Company Door?", West's HR Advisor: Legal and Practical Guidance, 2009.
• "Navigating a Reduction in Force," Thompson Publishing Group's Human Resources 2008: Answers to the Top 25 HR Questions, 2008.

Selected Results

• Age Discrimination: Kirsch v. St. Paul Motorsports, Inc. d/b/a St. Paul Harley-Davidson/Buell, et al., Civ. No. 11-2624 (MJD/JSM) (D. Minn. May 7, 2013) (denying defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s federal and state age discrimination claims).

• First Amendment Retaliation: Coffey v. City of Oakdale, et al., Civ. No. 10-4060 (JNE/TNL), 2012 WL 760749 (D. Minn. Mar. 7, 2012) (denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s First Amendment Retaliation claim).

• State Wage & Hour Class Action: Karl, et al. v. Uptown Drink, LLC, et al., No. A12-0166, 2012 WL 3262974 (Minn. Ct. App. Aug. 6, 2012) (affirming award of civil penalties assessed and attorney’s fees/costs awarded to Rule 23 class after successful trial on the merits involving violations of the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act and Minnesota Payment of Wages Act).

• Sex Harassment and Battery: Mehl v. PortaCo, Inc., et al., --- F. Supp. 2d ---, 2012 WL 1593215 (D. Minn. May 7, 2012) (denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s Title VII and MHRA sex discrimination/harassment claims and battery claim).

• Unemployment: Peil, et al. v. Integrated Logistics Holding Company, No. A11-668, 2012 WL 171393 (Minn. Ct. App. Jan. 23, 2012) (affirming award of unemployment benefits to 18 former employees of Hmong and Hispanic descent after unlawful terminations in violation of Title VII and the MHRA).

• Race Discrimination: Coleman v. Oracle USA, Inc., Civ. No. 09–3472 (DSD/JJG), 2011 WL 2746187 (D. Minn. July 14, 2011) (denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s Title VII, MHRA and section 1981 race discrimination claims).

• Disability Discrimination, FMLA, and Promissory Estoppel: Seegert v. Monson Trucking, Inc., 717 F. Supp. 2d 863 (D. Minn. 2010) (holding after-acquired evidence did not bar truck driver’s discrimination claims and finding genuine issues of material fact on his Family Medical Leave Act, disability discrimination, and promissory estoppel claims).

Titles / Awards / Memberships

• Dean’s Honor Roll, 2007-2009
• Hennepin County Bar Association Member
• Minnesota Justice Foundation Law School Public Service Achievement Award
• Minnesota National Employment Lawyers Association Member
• Minnesota State Bar Association Member
• Minnesota Women Lawyers Member
• National Employment Lawyers Association Member