In a case alleging sexual harassment by a researcher against a research assistant, the trial court ordered more than $300,000 in attorneys’ fees after the jury awarded a mere $1 in damages to the plaintiff. Jenkins v. The University of Minnesota et al., No. 13-CV-1548 (D. Minn. Oct. 13, 2017). The court awarded attorneys’
Alyssa M. Toft
Alyssa M. Toft is a Principal in the Minneapolis, Minnesota office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She defends employers in single and multi-plaintiff actions in state and federal court, including cases involving claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, whistleblowing, hostile work environment, defamation, and drug testing violations.
Ms. Toft also represents clients in non-competition, non-solicitation, and trade secrets lawsuits. She litigates cases at the appellate level and has served as an adjunct professor for an appellate legal writing course at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Toft regularly advises clients on a wide range of employment and compliance issues.
During law school, Ms. Toft served as an intern in the Minnesota Governor’s Office. Following law school, Ms. Toft clerked for Justice Christopher J. Dietzen at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Ms. Toft also served one year as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), a nonprofit in New York City, where she provided policy and strategic planning guidance.