Susan Deniker joined Steptoe & Johnson in September of 1999 and focuses her practice in the area of labor and employment law.  Ms. Deniker's practice includes state and federal court cases, as well as cases before the West Virginia Human Rights Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  She is licensed to practice in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION   

Employment Discrimination Litigation
Ms. Deniker has experience defending employment discrimination claims, including race, gender, age, disability, religion and national origin, in state and federal courts in West Virginia, as well as before the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Maine Human Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Wrongful Discharge Litigation
Ms. Deniker has defended claims for breach of contract, retaliatory discharge, defamation, invasion of privacy and other employment-related torts. 

Harassment Investigations
Ms. Deniker has experience conducting harassment investigations on behalf of employers, as well as defending workplace harassment claims, including sexual harassment, racial harassment and age harassment.

Wage and Hour Law
Ms. Deniker has experience defending employers against claims for wage and hour violations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the West Virginia Maximum Hour and Minimum Wage Act and the West Virginia Wage Payment & Collection Act.  She has also tried claims to a jury involving employee classification and overtime pay issues.       

Industrial Injuries
Ms. Deniker has defended numerous personal injury and wrongful death cases involving workplace accidents, including, but not limited to, the underground coal mining, oil and gas, forest products and construction industries.

Counseling and Training
Ms. Deniker routinely counsels employers on a variety of employment issues including hiring and firing issues, maintaining proper documentation, handling employees with injuries and disabilities, including reasonable accommodation, and harassment investigations.  She also has extensive experience in providing training and seminars for employers.    

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS    

Ms. Deniker is a member of the West Virginia State Bar, the Harrison County Bar Association and the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Additionally, she is a member of the Employment Law Committee of the West Virginia Bar Association, as well as the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.  Ms. Deniker is a member of the Executive Committee of the Bridgeport Kiwanis and is past President of the Criss-Cross, Inc. Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the West Virginia Health Care Association and serves on its Human Resources Committee.

EDUCATION  

Ms. Deniker graduated from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary where she was a member of the William and Mary Law Review.  She received her undergraduate degree from Frostburg State University where she graduated with honors in general education and political science.