Carla Cotropia
Work in Mills Shirley LLP
Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 43 years of experience
Employment, Mediation
Three Riverway, Suite 670, Houston, TX 77056
About Carla Cotropia
Practice Areas
- Employment
- Mediation
Education
- Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas, 1980J.D.
- Texas A & M University-College Station, College Station, Texas, 1977B.A.
- Honors: cum laude
Representative Cases
- Benton v. Kroger Co., 640 F.Supp. 1317; 1986 U.S. Dist., Lexis 21505; 46 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1356, August 15, 1986 (Sexual Harassment) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Willson v. Shannon, 857 F.Supp. 34; 1994 U.S. Dist., Lexis 9307; 84 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 866, July 5, 1994 (Gender Discrimination) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Dorothy J. Fine v. GAF Chemical Corp., et al, 995 F.2d 576 (5th Cir. 1993) (Gender Discrimination) (United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit )
- O'Quinn v. Chambers County, 650 F.Supp. 25; 1986 U.S. Dist., Lexis 18907; 106 Lab. Cas. (CCH) P34,927; 27 Wage & Hour Cas. (BNA) 16, August 15, 1986 (Fair Labor Standards Act) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Gonzales v. Methodist Retirement Communities, 33 S.W.3d 882; 2000 Tex. App. Lexis 7998, November 30, 2000, Petition for Review Denied April 19, 2001 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District, Houston )
- Winchester v. Galveston Yacht Basin, 943 F.Supp. 776; 1996 U.S. Dist., Lexis 16675; 72 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 919, November 5, 1996 (Sexual Harassment) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Helene Willson and Arlynra Edward v. John W. Shannon, Secretary of the Army
- Beth Spiller, et al. v. Ella Smithers Geriatric Center
- Ronald L. Fee, et al. v. Joseph Milton Herndon and Dickinson Independent School District
- Ronald L. Fee, et al. v. Joseph Milton Herndon
- Robert G. McAdams v. Matagorda County Appraisal District
- Bobbye Kitchener v. T. C. Trailers, Inc.
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al
- Deanna K. Benton v. The Kroger Co.
- Sally Ann Ross Fields, et al. v. The City of Texas City and John Quinn.
- Robert J. Batson v. Honorable John D. Rainey.
- Board of Directors of By the Sea Council of Co-Owners, Inc. v. Melvin Sondock, et ux.
- Texas Peace Officers Association, et al. v. City of Galveston, Texas.
- Rebecca Duke Winchester v. Galveston Yacht Basin.
- Lulac Councils 4433 & 4436, et al. v. City of Galveston.
- Islander East Rental Program, et al. v. Bill Ferguson, et al.
- Gulf States Utilities Company v. County of Chambers, et al.
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al. Reported at 672 F. Supp. 279. (Fair Labor Standards Act.)
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al. Reported at 636 F. Supp. 1388. (Fair Labor Standards Act.)
- Benton v. Kroger Co., 640 F.Supp. 1317; 1986 U.S. Dist., Lexis 21505; 46 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1356, August 15, 1986 (Sexual Harassment) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Willson v. Shannon, 857 F.Supp. 34; 1994 U.S. Dist., Lexis 9307; 84 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 866, July 5, 1994 (Gender Discrimination) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Dorothy J. Fine v. GAF Chemical Corp., et al, 995 F.2d 576 (5th Cir. 1993) (Gender Discrimination) (United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit )
- O'Quinn v. Chambers County, 650 F.Supp. 25; 1986 U.S. Dist., Lexis 18907; 106 Lab. Cas. (CCH) P34,927; 27 Wage & Hour Cas. (BNA) 16, August 15, 1986 (Fair Labor Standards Act) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Gonzales v. Methodist Retirement Communities, 33 S.W.3d 882; 2000 Tex. App. Lexis 7998, November 30, 2000, Petition for Review Denied April 19, 2001 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District, Houston )
- Winchester v. Galveston Yacht Basin, 943 F.Supp. 776; 1996 U.S. Dist., Lexis 16675; 72 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 919, November 5, 1996 (Sexual Harassment) (United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division )
- Helene Willson and Arlynra Edward v. John W. Shannon, Secretary of the Army
- Beth Spiller, et al. v. Ella Smithers Geriatric Center
- Ronald L. Fee, et al. v. Joseph Milton Herndon and Dickinson Independent School District
- Ronald L. Fee, et al. v. Joseph Milton Herndon
- Robert G. McAdams v. Matagorda County Appraisal District
- Bobbye Kitchener v. T. C. Trailers, Inc.
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al
- Deanna K. Benton v. The Kroger Co.
- Sally Ann Ross Fields, et al. v. The City of Texas City and John Quinn.
- Robert J. Batson v. Honorable John D. Rainey.
- Board of Directors of By the Sea Council of Co-Owners, Inc. v. Melvin Sondock, et ux.
- Texas Peace Officers Association, et al. v. City of Galveston, Texas.
- Rebecca Duke Winchester v. Galveston Yacht Basin.
- Lulac Councils 4433 & 4436, et al. v. City of Galveston.
- Islander East Rental Program, et al. v. Bill Ferguson, et al.
- Gulf States Utilities Company v. County of Chambers, et al.
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al. Reported at 672 F. Supp. 279. (Fair Labor Standards Act.)
- David O'Quinn, et al. v. Chambers County, Texas, et al. Reported at 636 F. Supp. 1388. (Fair Labor Standards Act.)
Classes and Seminars
- Lecture, "What Works In Arbitration and Mediation From An Arbitrator's And Mediator's Perspective," Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas, June 4, 2010
- Lecture, Preventing Sexual Harassment Cases, 2003
- Lecture, "Choosing and Courting a Jury - The Focus Group - How It Can Aid in Choosing Your Jury," Defendant's Perspective, State Bar of Texas, Radisson Hotel Astrodome, Houston, Texas, April 26, 2002
- Lecture, "Investigation Allegations of Sexual Harassment," Texas Council Risk Management Fund, The Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, March 26, 2002
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment Issues," Texas Council Risk Management Fund, The Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas, March 27, 2001
- Lecture, "Jury Selection in the New Millennium," Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2000 Spring Meeting, San Diego, California, April 5-9, 2000
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment": Managing Risks Related to Employment, Texas Council Risk Management Fund, The Warwick Hotel, Houston, Texas, March 14, 2000
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment," Texas Council Risk Management Fund, "Managing Risks Related to Employment," Le Meridien Hotel, Dallas, Texas, March 30, 1999
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment Training for Faculty Members and Staff," Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas, August 19, 1998
- Lecture, "Employment Retaliation Litigation: An Overview," Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, Doubletree Hotel, Houston, Texas, May 14-15, 1998
- Lecture, "Employee Status Issues," Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Spring Meeting, Seattle, Washington, April 25, 1996
- Lecture, "Confidentiality Issues," Coastal Area Health Education Center Second Annual Family Violence Conference, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas, March 8, 1996
- Lecture, "Governmental Liability," Galveston County Bar Association, Attorney Ad Litem Seminar, Galveston, Texas, August 17, 1995
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment and Work Place Damage Claims," Texas Association of Defense Counsel Spring Meeting, Houston, Texas, May 4, 1995
- Lecture, "Public Law Update," Annual Labor and Employment Law Update, State Bar of Texas, El Paso, Texas, March 25, 1995
- Lecture, "Update on Texas Cases Affecting Governmental Bodies," Texas Municipal League Attorney Workshop, Austin, Texas, August 19, 1994
- Lecture, Emotional Torts in the Workplace, Texas Association of Defense Counsel Spring Meeting, Hawaii, April 27, 1994
- Lecture, "How to Avoid Litigation," Housing Authority Insurance for Public Housing Authorities, Houston, Texas, September 28, 1993
- Lecture, "What You Absolutely Can and Cannot Do: The Legal Aspect of the ADA," St. Mary's Hospital, October 29, 1992
- Lecture, "Sexual Harassment," St. Paul Insurance Company, August 13, 1992
- "Executive Director/Staff - Working With Legal Counsel," Tarrant County MHMR Services and the Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers, Inc., June 25, 1992
- Lecture, "The Use of Summary Judgments in 42 USC 1983 Cases," State Bar of Texas, Austin and San Antonio, 1985 - Present
- The Cotropia Workshops, Director
- Lecture, "Workplace Ethics and Liabilities," Texas Association of Defense Counsel Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 27-October 1, 2006
- Lecture, "Update on Sexual Harassment," Housing Authority Defense Attorneys, June Program, Washington D.C., June 22, 2005
- Lecture, "Job Order Contracts: What We Know and What We Don't Know," 8th Annual Texas Association of Community College Attorneys Conference, Austin, Texas, January 27, 2006
- Lecture, "Managing Another Kind of Risk: Personnel Issues – What You And Your Company Can Do To Prevent Lawsuits For Sexual Harassment," CNA Risk Management Seminar, San Antonio, Texas, November 13, 2003
- Lecture, "Office Protocol vs. Practice: Where It Can Land You is Not Where You Want To Be and Top Ten Tips of Preventing Bad Behavior with Examples of X and R Rated Behavior From Various States," HADA, June Program, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, June 18, 2003
- Lecture, "How to Lawfully Conduct an Internal Investigation," Sterling Education Services, Marriott Hotel, Houston, Texas, August 6, 2002
- Lecture, "How Your Housing Authority can be Sued for Sexual Harassment and What You Can Do to Prevent It," Housing Authority Defense Attorneys – June Program, Denver, Colorado, June 26, 2002
- “Using Jury Consultants for Employment Cases,” HBA Labor & Employment Law luncheon meeting on November 11, 2013
- “Mediation Tactics and Strategy,” 26th Annual Employment Law Conference on July 25, 2013 – July 26, 2013
- "The Varying Perspectives on City Curfews of Minors - Constitutionality of NonEmergency Curfews Under the United States Constitution," Semi-Annual Conference hosted by the Texas City Attorneys Association, June 11-12, 1992
- Frequent Public Speaker, State Bar on Employment Law
- "Employer's Liability" 11th Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, July 19, 1995
- 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training; A. A. White Dispute Resolution Institute at the University of Houston, C. T. Bauer College of Business
- Arbitrator I Workshop; Department of Neutrals' Education and Development with the American Arbitration Association
- Arbitrator II Advance Case Management Training Workshop; Department of Neutrals' Education and Development with the American Arbitration Association
- AAA/ICDR Neutrals Conference; American Arbitration Association, 2012 - Present
- Lecture, "Employment Mediations: Beyond Insults and Impasse", HBA Labor & Employment Law Luncheon, 2016
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1980
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- American Arbitration Association (Panel, Employment Mediations and Arbitrations)
- National Arbitration and Mediation Company(NAM) (Panel, Employment Mediations and Arbitrations)
- American Bar Association (Member)
- Galveston Bar Association (Member)
- Houston Bar Association (Member)
- Houston Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (Board)
- Association of Attorney-- Mediators (Member)
Office Info
Other Colleagues
Nearby Lawyers
- Employment
- Mediation
- 1.2 miles away
- 2.9 miles away
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