Civil Rights and Employment:
Represented two seasoned women attorneys who had suffered discrimination and retaliation by their employer based upon their gender. Charissa obtained highly confidential, significant monetary settlements in these matters, which allowed both women to move on in life and continue to excel in their careers.
Represented a man against his employer, an educational institution, and an individual perpetrator, for sexual assault and other related claims under Title IX. Though the sexual assault claims were barred by the statute of limitations, Charissa was able to negotiate a settlement with the educational institution based upon its insufficient investigation of the incident under Title IX, achieving a substantial confidential monetary settlement for her client.
Represented a public school teacher who had battled breast cancer in a federal lawsuit against her employer involving claims of disability discrimination and retaliation under the ADA and Michigan law. Charissa vigorously litigated the matter, defeating the school district’s numerous motions to dismiss the case. Shortly before trial, the public school district agreed to a confidential resolution, to Charissa’s client’s satisfaction.
Represented a minor who was sexually groomed and abused by an athletic coach against a public school district. Charissa worked with the minor and minor’s parents to resolve the Title IX claims confidentially with the school district, involving a substantial monetary settlement.
Represented a financial services executive who suffered violations of whistleblowing and retaliation provisions under federal and state law including the Dodd-Frank Act, FINRA and SEC rules, and the Michigan Whistleblower’s Protection Act in her workplace. The financial institution paid Charissa’s client $100,000 upon merely receiving her strongly worded letter.
Obtained compensation for a young woman who was sexually harassed and assaulted by her supervisor at her first job at a non-profit organization. Settled potential claims pre-suit for $97,500.
Represented a state prisoner, pro bono, in a federal case alleging among other causes of action, claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and 42 USC § 1983 for Constitutional violations arising from prison officials’ failure to protect the prisoner from an assault and battery by another prisoner. The state defendants paid Charissa’s client $40,000 in settlement of the claims.
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death:
Charissa Huang and Matt Wikander obtained a confidential settlement of $1.75 million on behalf of the estate of a woman killed in an industrial accident. The product liability case, which involved industrial machinery, spanned the course of multiple years, resolving prior to the jury reaching its verdict.
Charissa Huang and Matt Wikander reached a $2,000,000 settlement after their client, then 30-years-old, was catastrophically and permanently injured as a direct result of a defective and illegal firework. The case involved highly technical issues related to pyrotechnics, products liability and array of applicable state and federal laws and regulations applicable to the manufacture, testing, importation and sale of consumer fireworks. The primary contested issue in the case was plaintiff’s comparative negligence. Plaintiff’s counsel was aggressive in pursuing legal rulings prior to trial, leading to the case settling approximately one month before trial.
Working in conjunction with other members of her legal team, Charissa achieved a jury verdict in the amount of $14,450,683 for the estate of an individual who was killed in a catastrophic automobile crash with a garbage truck.
Working in conjunction with other members of her legal team, Charissa achieved a settlement in the amount of $950,000 on behalf of the estate of an individual who was killed in a catastrophic automobile crash.
In conjunction with Matt Wikander, Charissa was successful in obtaining a settlement of $650,000 on behalf of a client who suffered numerous injuries after his car crashed into a backhoe. The defendant was operating the backhoe illegally, at night and without sufficient warning flashers or markings. The defendant’s insurance company refused to offer any money prior to litigation, instead blaming our client for the crash. Shortly before trial, the defendant’s insurance company agreed to the settlement.
Commercial Litigation:
Working in conjunction with other members of her legal team, Charissa achieved a settlement of $10.3 million less than the claimed damages against three former shareholders of a business in a complex dispute arising from the sale of a manufacturing company.
Working in conjunction with other members of her legal team, Charissa obtained complete summary dismissal with prejudice for individuals in collection suits brought by successors in interest to a large, national bank.
Represented a law firm in a class action filed by tens of thousands of individuals alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Represented a Hong Kong based products distributor in a federal lawsuit involving claims related to trade debt, breach of implied warranty, conversion, and fraud.
Previous Experience
Summer Clerkship, Hon. Robert H. Cleland, U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
Teaching Assistant (Negotiation), Northwestern University School of Law
Mediator, Center for Conflict Resolution
