Karen E. Woodward
partner
Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet, LLP
Meridian II, Suite 2000
275 Scientific Drive
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
ABOUT
Karen Woodward is a partner at Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet, LLP, specializing in civil rights, employment, and public entity matters. In addition, she provides direct representation to public entities, providing regular advice and counsel, drafting policies and legislation, negotiating contracts and intergovernmental agreements, conducting EEO and other employment-related investigations (e.g., police use of force investigations), and handling open records and open meetings issues.
Prior to joining Cruser Mitchell, for over 10 years, Karen was a senior assistant city attorney with the City of Atlanta Law Department where she was lead counsel to the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Water Department, and the Department of Corrections. In this capacity, she provided daily advice and counsel to the police chief, other department heads, and members of City Council. Karen handled a number of extremely complex cases including cases regarding the alleged systemic mistreatment of the homeless, inadequate medical care in the jail, and unhealthy jail conditions, as well as civil rights conspiracy actions and freedom of speech cases.
She has defended numerous alleged police misconduct and police shooting actions, motor vehicle lawsuits, and police pursuit cases, as well as employment discrimination matters asserting race, national origin, age, religion, disability, and sexual harassment claims. Karen also clerked for Magistrate Judge John E. Dougherty of the United States District Court in Atlanta.
Karen is a graduate of Duke University, where she obtained a B.A., and Emory Law School, where she obtained a J.D. She has published a number of articles on these topics, including “Mob Violence and the Ku Klux Klan Act: State of the Law After Park v. City of Atlanta,” Stetson Law Review, vol. 28, no. 3 (Winter 1999); “Attorney’s Fees in Civil Rights Litigation: The Latest Developments,” Labor and Employment Law: Rights and Benefits in the Workplace (special supplement to the Fulton County Daily Report), January, 1994; “Impact of the ADA on Employer-Provided Insurance: Limiting the Potential Financial Burden of Health Care for AIDS Patients,” The Labor Lawyer, vol. 8, no. 2 (Spring 1992).
In addition, she has been a speaker at CLE seminars and has provided client EEO and civil rights training.
Education
Emory University School of Law
Duke University
Areas of practice
Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
Georgia