Meredith Hamilton focuses her legal practice on employment law and defense of public and private employers as well as civil liability defense of retailers, restaurants, and business owners in premises liability matters and business disputes. Meredith advocates for her clients to protect their interests and brands while working with them to achieve their goals. Meredith has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, a prestigious Peer Review Rating system that recognizes attorneys for their legal ability and high ethical standards. She serves on the Cranfill Sumner COVID-19 Response Team.
Meredith assists private and public entity employers with claims of harassment and discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA). She represents private and public entity employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Labor (DOL). Meredith handles wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). She also counsels private and public entity employers regarding internal and administrative investigations, employee relations, policies, and pre-suit matters.
Meredith defends municipalities and public entities throughout North Carolina in employment law matters and against claims of constitutional and civil rights violations. She has defended numerous public officials, including police officers, in various matters involving state law claims and state and federal constitutional violations.
Meredith has litigated matters in both state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Business Court. Meredith has trial experience in North Carolina Superior, District Court, and Small Claims Court, and has handled appeals before the North Carolina Court of Appeals. In addition, she has successfully represented clients in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.
Meredith earned her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. She graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Cases or matters referenced do not represent the lawyer’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.
- Obtained a dismissal in favor of a North Carolina municipality in a lawsuit alleging violations of the United States and North Carolina constitutions that was then upheld on appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
- Obtained a partial dismissal in favor of a university with claims alleging violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 brought by a student
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a retailer in a lawsuit alleging a slip and fall on the retailers premises
- Defended private and public entity employers in charges of employment discrimination in violation of federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ARTICLES, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS
- Co-Author, “Peeling Back the Label: Current Trends in False Labeling Claims,” In-House Defense Quarterly, Spring 2018
- Author and Presenter of “What to Expect: Overview of Discrimination Claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog 2018 Seminar: General Liability & Workers’ Compensation Law Update, November 1, 2018
Most Recent Posts
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Volunteer for Legal Aid Eviction Project
In May 2020, Legal Aid of North Carolina launched an effort to help North Carolinians who were struggling to pay rent and were facing eviction. Legal Aid paired available emergency financial support with a search for volunteer attorneys from across the state who could help negotiate past and future payments with landlords.… Read More
Meredith Hamilton Selected as Vice Chair of DRI Subcommittee
Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton has been selected to serve as the Vice Chair for the DRI Young Lawyers Committee Substantive Law Committee Liaison and Engagement Subcommittee for 2020-2021.… Read More
Meredith Hamilton Receives AV Rating from Martindale Hubbell
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Meredith Hamilton has received an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.… Read More
New Proposed Rule from the EEOC Presents Possible Changes to the Conciliation Process
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in which it has proposed changes to the… Read More
Deedee Gasch and Meredith Hamilton Lead Webinar
Deedee Gasch and Meredith Hamilton presented a webinar for RestaurantOwner.com. The webinar entitled “How to Handle the Mask Debate When the Customer is Always Right: Conversations with Guests That You May Have During the COVID-19 Pandemic” was held Oct. 6.… Read More
Does an Employee Who Contracts COVID-19 at Work from a Co-Employee Have a Legal Remedy?
As more employers begin to open their doors and their employees return to work, unanticipated and unusual issues are likely… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Launches COVID-19 Response Team
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (Cranfill Sumner) announced the creation of its COVID-19 Response Team. The team is comprised of… Read More
Voluntary COVID-19 Support Payments to Furloughed Employees
Due to the challenges of COVID-19, many North Carolina employers have placed employees on furlough, which is generally understood to… Read More
COVID-19 and Compliance with Open Meeting Laws: Going Virtual
*Updated information about Remote Public Hearings can be found on a June 11, 2020 blog “Remote Public Meetings: COVID-19’s Impact… Read More
COVID-19: Balancing Employee Safety and Privacy
As we face uncertain times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a question on the top of many employers’ and employees’ minds… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 13th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6.… Read More
Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton Appointed Marketing Liaison
Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton has been appointed to the position of Marketing Liaison for the DRI Substantive Law Committee for the Lawyers’ Professionalism and Ethics Committee. The committee is part of the DRI Marketing Committee for the 2019 DRI Annual Meeting which will be held October 16-19, 2019 in New Orleans. … Read More
Ryan Bolick and Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton Obtained Summary Judgment
Ryan Bolick (Charlotte) and Meredith Fitzgibbon Hamilton (Charlotte) obtained summary judgment in the employer’s favor dismissing claims of age discrimination… Read More
Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton to Serve as DRI Young Lawyers Liaison
Meredith FitzGibbon Hamilton has been selected to serve as the DRI Young Lawyers Vice-Liaison for the Lawyers’ Professionalism and Ethics Committee. Her term began March 27, 2019 and runs until December 31, 2019. … Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Published in DRI Publication
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recently featured in the Spring 2018 edition of In-House Defense Quarterly. The article, “Current Trends in Handling False Labeling Claims,” discusses legal issues surrounding labeling of food items.… Read More
Employee or Independent Contractor?
A Hot Question for 2018 due to The North Carolina Employee Fair Classification Act Employee misclassification is not a new… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 10th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 3. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA).… Read More
Fourth Circuit Articulates New Standard for “Joint Employers”
Until recently, there has been inconsistency as to what constitutes a “joint employer” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).… Read More
Summary Judgment Granted in Action Against Real Estate Agents
Russ Racine, Virginia Wooten, and Meredith FitzGibbon obtained Summary Judgment for a North Carolina real estate agent and her employer… Read More
Meredith FitzGibbon Joins Cranfill Sumner Charlotte Office
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Meredith FitzGibbon has joined its Charlotte office as an Associate Attorney. FitzGibbon focuses her practice on civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and defense of municipalities and public entities.… Read More