Caryn Markowitz Groedel
Caryn Markowitz Groedel received her Bachelors of Arts degree from George Washington University and her Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. Caryn is a certified specialist in employment and labor law.
Throughout her career, Caryn has been recognized for her accomplishments, including recognition by Cleveland Magazine in 2009 as one of Cleveland’s Top 50 Lawyers and as one of Cleveland’s Top 25 Women Lawyers. She was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Ohio Super Lawyer Magazine from 2006-2020, and in February 2008 was recognized as one of Ohio’s Top Employment Lawyers by Corporate Counsel magazine.
Caryn’s major accomplishments include a $2.1M verdict in a gender/pregnancy discrimination/sexual harassment case; a $1.3M verdict in an age discrimination and retaliation case; an $800,000 verdict in a reverse sexual harassment case; and a $42.8M verdict against Nationwide on behalf of a former insurance agent.
She is a founding member of the Cleveland Employment Lawyers Inns of Court, and she is a long-term member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, and the Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association. Caryn has been featured in local and national media, is a frequent speaker on employment-related issues, and is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
Certified Legal Specialties
Employment and Labor Law
Bar Admissions
Ohio
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia
Maryland
Washington
Education
George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
Juris Doctorate
George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
B.A.
Honors and Awards
- Selected by peers to be included in Cleveland’s Best Lawyers in labor and employment law, 2012-2016
- Named a Super Lawyer** in employment law by Ohio Super Lawyer Magazine, 2006-2020
- Ranked one of the “Best Lawyers Best Law Firms”, U.S. News and World Report, 2011-2012 & 2014-2015 Ed.
- Named one of “Women In Law” by Best Lawyers in 2016
- Ranked in the Top 10% of America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2011 and 2012
- Named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in labor and employment law, 2006, 2011-2015
- Named one of the Top Attorneys in Ohio by Cincinnati Magazine, 2011
- Named one of Ohio’s Top Employment Lawyers by Corporate Counsel Magazine February, 2008
- Named “One of Cleveland’s Most Interesting People” by Cleveland Magazine, January 2006
Litigation
- $42.8M jury verdict in a breach of contract, fraud, and retaliation case (Lucarell v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, November 2012)
- $132,000 (plus attorneys’ fees) jury verdict in a legal malpractice case resulting from representation in a race discrimination lawsuit (Thomas v. Avery Friedman, et al., Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Feb. 2013)
- Successful appeal to 8th Appellate District on direct evidence issue (Birch v. Cuyahoga Cty Probate Ct., 173 Ohio App.3d 696, 2007)
- $300,000 bench verdict in an age discrimination case, reduced by $100,000 on appeal (Campolieti v. Cleveland Department of Public Safety, 2013-Ohio-5123)
- $2.1M jury verdict in a pregnancy discrimination and pregnancy harassment case (Lehman v. Kohl’s), Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, May 2007)
- $155,000 jury verdict in sex harassment and retaliation case (Vick v. Northcoast Business Systems, Inc., Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, November 2005)
- Prevailed in COBRA case in an excellent opinion by presiding Judge Ann Aldrich (Nero v. U.H., Case 1:04CV1833 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio)
- $1.4M jury verdict in age discrimination and retaliation case (Laraway v. Auto Nation, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, November 2003)
- $412,000 jury verdict plus attorney’s fees in a sexual harassment and retaliation case (Guciardo v. Thistledown, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, October 2003)
- $1.8M jury verdict in a co-counseled handicap discrimination case (Maracz v. UPS, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, June 2003)
- Successful appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in a reverse race discrimination case (Zambetti v. Cuyahoga Community College, 314 F.3d 249 (2002)
- Negotiated settlement on behalf of 3 women for sexual harassment and retaliation against Hunting Valley Police Department and its Police Chief (February 2000)
- $850,000 jury verdict for male victim of sexual harassment on a reverse sex harassment claim (Stepic v. Penton Media, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, August 2000)
- $200,000 jury verdict in gender discrimination case (Capiccione v. UPS, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, 1997)
- $525,000 arbitration award against Cintas corporation for race discrimination
Professional Associations and Memberships
Fellow Of Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation Nomination
Cleveland Employment Lawyers Inn of Court (founding member), 2005-present
Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2004-2008
National Employment Lawyers Association, 1996-Present
Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association, 1996-Present
Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, 2002-present
WomenSpace Roundtable Coalition, 1993-1995
Greater Cleveland Community Shares, 1992-1996
Cuyahoga County Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Law, 1992-1996
Judicial Selections Committee of Montgomery County Women’s Bar Assn., 1990-1992
State of Maryland Coalition for Family Equity in Courts, 1991-1992
Co-chair, Access to Legal Services Committee of Montgomery Cty., Md., 1990-1992
Co-founder, Center for Divorcing Families, Montgomery Cty., Md., 1992
Volunteer Attorney, A Woman’s Place of Montgomery Cty., Md., 1988-1991