Melanie R. Leitman

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Overview

Melanie Leitman focuses her practice on employment defense litigation and Human Resources consultation. Melanie has experience representing management-side clients in various employment-related claims, including Chapter 760, Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, whistleblower retaliation claims, drafting and enforcement/defense of covenants prohibiting competition, and constitutional claims arising out of employment disputes. She has represented clients in pre-claim consultation, EEOC/FCHR position statements and investigations, state/federal court litigation, and appellate disposition thereof.

Melanie also represents clients in civil and administrative litigation, including state constitutional issues, tort defense, general business and contract disputes, rule challenges, licensure and discipline matters, other litigation under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes as well as state and federal appellate advocacy arising out of these areas.

Notable Experience

  • Secured summary judgment and Eleventh Circuit affirmance, with written opinion, for school board in a Title VII race claim.
  • Represented a large federally-funded health center employer in litigation brought under the Church Amendment by out-of-state special-interest law firm on behalf of a job applicant.
  • Represented large private employer in on-site EEOC investigation and administrative subpoena.
  • Represented a Clerk of Court in a constitutional challenge of statutes which affect its funding.
  • Represented a state agency in a whistleblower jury trial which the appellate court later found should have been disposed of in defendant’s favor on a motion for directed verdict.  Managed all post-verdict procedures, damages evaluation, and taxation of fees and costs before the appeal as well as the remand and entry of judgment for the state agency.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., high honors, Florida State University College of Law, 2011
    • Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, Editor in Chief
    • Florida State Law Review
    • Book Awards: Legal Research and Writing I, Legal Research and Writing II, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Florida Water Law
    • Order of the Coif
  • B.A., with honors, Political Science, University of Florida, 2007
  • B.A., with honors, Environmental Science, University of Florida, 2007

Admissions

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

Professional & Community Involvement

  • The Bridge to Law School Program, Co-Founder and Director, 2023-Present
  • America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Board Member, 2019-Present
    • Vice President, 2024-Present
    • Secretary, 2021-2024
  • Meritas Women’s Leadership Congress, Present
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), Present
  • William H. Stafford American Inn of Court, 2017-Present
    • Treasurer, 2023-Present
    • Secretary, 2019-2023
  • Tallahassee Women Lawyers (TWL), 2011-Present
  • Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee, 2013-2020
  • The Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section  – Law School Liaison Committee
  • Gulf Winds Track Club
  • Gulf Winds Triathletes

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-Present
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2015-2024
  • Tallahassee Democrat, 25 Women You Need to Know, 2020

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