Giovanna Tiberii Weller Partner Office: New Haven, CT Phone: 203.575.2651 Fax: 203.575.2600 Email: gweller@carmodylaw.com Service Areas Appeals Employment Litigation Labor & Employment Litigation Products Liability Education Education University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 1991 ~ with honors University of Connecticut, B.A., 1987 ~ cum laude Admissions Bar Admissions Connecticut; 1991 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit;1996 U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut;1993
Overview Giovanna Weller is a partner and co-leader of Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey s Litigation Group. She is also co-chair of the Labor and Employment Subgroup and leads the firm s employment litigation practice. Giovanna is a trial lawyer and has over 20 years of experience in counseling CEOs, senior management, and boards of directors of public and private businesses of all sizes. Described in Chambers USA as a great trial attorney tenacious and confidence-inspiring, and highly recommended for her trial work on employment matters, Giovanna has successfully defended many significant employment cases in federal and state courts, including discrimination, trade secret and non-competition claims, whistleblower, as well as numerous cases before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. She has successfully argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Connecticut Appellate Court. Her clients include large and small employers, manufacturers, schools, utilities, and insurers. Giovanna regularly trains management personnel on a wide variety of employment related topics. As a member of the education law team, Giovanna advises heads of schools, educational institutions and their trustees on legal issues of particular interest educational institutions, including employment, governance and litigation matters. She is also a member of the firm s product liability team and defends product liability cases in both state and federal courts through the United States. She has represented a broad range of clients on matters alleging product defect, personal injury and property damage. Experience Successful lead counsel in jury trial in November 2018 of sex discrimination and retaliation case involving current employee Obtained defense verdict in January 2018 after a jury trial involving a claim of breach of contract brought by a former student against a large private university Successful lead counsel on appellate team that secured employer-friendly federal appellate court decision providing novel interpretation of state jurisdictional statute in favor of employers with out-of-state former employees Outside employment litigation counsel for several companies, including utilities and regional bank Enforced covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements in state and federal courts Obtained injunction and sanctions on behalf of herbal remedies company against former employee who had violated covenant not to compete and misappropriated trade secrets Obtained summary judgment on behalf of employer in two matters in federal court brought by former employees alleging disability and sexual orientation discrimination claims Presented customized, in-house training programs in several states for large manufacturing client
Before Carmody Before joining Carmody & Torrance, Giovanna served as Clerk of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly. Distinctions Highlighted in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA Guide to America s Leading Lawyers for Business for placing in the Top Tier of Lawyers in Connecticut. Connecticut Magazine named Giovanna one of the Top 25 Women Lawyers in Connecticut, 2009 and 2011 Recommended by Chambers USA in 2011 2015 and 2017, for contentious employment litigation matters, and noted for her trial work and diligent application to client service ( Chambers USA 2012); Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Named a Benchmark Litigation Future Star, 2013-2019 Named to the Top 25: 2018 Women Connecticut Super Lawyers Selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers in the area of Employment Litigation Defense, General Litigation, Employment & Labor, 2007 2018 Selected for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers in the area of Employment Litigation Defense, General Litigation, Employment & Labor, 2007 2018 Waterbury Young Lawyers Award, 2003 Appointed by Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court to serve as member of the Appellate Rules Advisory Committee, 2004-present Judicial Law Clerk for Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Robert I. Berdon, 1991-1992 Editor, International Law Journal, 1990 and 1991 News Alerts Carmody & Torrance s Litigation and Labor and Employment Groups Receive Honors from Chambers USA 34 Attorneys Selected to the 2016 Connecticut Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List 39 Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Attorneys Selected to the 2017 Super Lawyers, Rising Stars In Connecticut Lists 41 Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Attorneys Selected to the 2018 Super Lawyers, Rising Stars in Connecticut Lists 33 Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Attorneys Selected to the 2018 New England Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists Data Privacy and Security & Education Law Alert: Ready for the GDPR? New European Privacy
Law to Impact U.S. Schools and Universities Education Law Alert: New Law on Background Check Process for Private Schools Education Law Alert: School Trips and the Duty to Warn L&E Law Alert: Connecticut Supreme Court Rules Punitive Damages Not Available Under State Anti-Discrimination Statute L&E Law Alert: Connecticut Court Issues Favorable Decision for Medical Marijuana Users L&E Law Alert: New Law on Pregnancy Discrimination Labor & Employment Law Alert: COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended and Expanded Labor & Employment Law Alert: Connecticut Legislature Increases Penalties for Employee Misclassification Labor & Employment Law Alert: Genetic Information Law To Take Effect Labor & Employment Law Alert: Increased Government Scrutiny on Employee Misclassification Issues Labor & Employment Law Alert: New Connecticut Law Requires 30 Months OF COBRA Coverage Labor & Employment Law Alert: New Connecticut Laws Labor & Employment Law Alert: Recent Developments Labor & Employment Law Alert: Significant Developments Labor & Employment Law Alert: The Effect of Health Care Reform on Employers Labor and Employment Law Alert: Decision Protects Employees Online Speech Labor and Employment Law Alert: Federal DOL Issues Broad Administrator s Interpretation on Joint Employment Publications A Sneak Peak at Upcoming High Court Cases Intern or Employee: Court to Clarify Classifications Events 2018 Annual Labor & Employment Seminar Presenter, Ahead of the Curve Risk Management for Lawyers. Intellectual Property and Digital Asset Protection Workshop Complying with the CT Rules of Professional Conduct: Avoiding Discipline & Malpractice CLE Speaker, What s a Mediation Advocate to do? A Guide for Mediation Advocates CAIS Annual Conference on Business, Legal and Facilities Affairs Communication for Professional Growth - Learning to Hold-On to Who You Are Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Seminar Seminar What Does the New Federal Overtime Rule Mean for Non-Profit Organizations? Wage and Hour Developments What Every Attorney Should Know About Key Developments in Labor & Employment Law
Affiliations Fellow, American Bar Association Fellow, Connecticut Bar Association Member, Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society Connecticut Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section Waterbury Bar Association Community Board of Trustees, Independent Day School, 2006-2015 Board of Directors, Midstate Medical Center, 2012-2015 Member, Connecticut Women s Council Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Waterbury, 2002-2011 2018 Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP contactus@carmodylaw.com