212.627.8100

Robert H. Stroup

Of Counsel rstroup@levyratner.com

Bob represents employees in disputes with their employers, both in individual cases as well as class actions. He has many years of experience representing employees in litigation of their claims of discrimination, harassment or other unlawful treatment in the workplace. He is also experienced in the negotiation of individual employment agreements as well as separation or severance agreements. His extensive experience in class wide litigation on behalf of groups of individuals has involved such issues as failure to properly pay wages and overtime, discrimination in hiring, pay and promotions arising from a wide range of discriminatory practices involving race, sex, religion, and national origin discrimination and hostile work environments. Bob represents individuals and labor unions in the mediation, arbitration, and litigation of disputes. He also provides counsel to individuals and labor unions concerning workplace investigations of sexual harassment and other workplace controversies.

Practice Areas

  • Race and National Origin Discrimination and Harassment
  • Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination
  • Age Discrimination
  • Religious Discrimination
  • Transgender Rights
  • Family Medical Leave and Paid Family Leave Act
  • Wage Theft: Unpaid Minimum Wage and Overtime
  • Employment and Separation Agreements

Case Highlight

  • Lewis v. Governor of Alabama, 896 F.3d 1282 (11th Cir., July 25, 2018) The Court of Appeals ruled in our favor in our challenge to the State of Alabama’s nullification of the City of Birmingham’s minimum wage law, holding that the district court improperly dismissed our complaint. The 11th Circuit Court, en banc, voting 7-5, concluded that our clients did not have standing to challenge the law.
  • Vulcan Society and the United States v. City of New York The District Court for the Eastern District of New York found that the City of New York unlawfully discriminated against black and Hispanic applicants for the firefighter job, and awarded class wide relief in the form of priority hiring of rejected applicants, monetary relief to rejected applicants totaling nearly $100 million, and development of a new hiring exam under the supervision of a court monitor
  • Wright v. Stern The District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a classwide settlement in excess of $20 million to African-American class members denied equal treatment by the New York City Parks Department regarding pay and promotions
  • Thompson v. HUD, District Court of Maryland After trial, the District Court found that HUD had violated the Fair Housing Act with respect to its practices affecting public housing residents within the City of Baltimore and ultimately approved broad relief in the form of an enhanced housing voucher program providing opportunities for class members to access housing in areas with improved housing, school, and employment opportunities
  • Keeler v. Hills, District Court of Georgia After class certification, approving a settlement offering relief to female employees of HUD in the Southeastern Region of HUD, at grade levels GS-5 and above, who were denied promotion and advancement opportunities on the basis of sex
  • Reeves v. Eaves, Northern District of Georgia Granting relief to a class of African-American applicants for police officer positions with the City of Atlanta, including development of a new hiring exam and monetary relief to rejected members of the applicant class

Awards, Honors & Recognition

  • 2015 Civil Rights Milestone Award.
    Presented by the State Bar of Georgia and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, for contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for equality of African-American citizens in the State of Georgia
  • 2012 – present Bob has been named a “super Lawyer” in Labor and Employment law every year since 2012
  • 2010 Social Change Award.
    Presented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, for landmark victories in representing the Vulcans Society and black firefighters in litigation against the City of New York for racially discriminatory hiring practices
  • 1998 Thurgood Marshall Award.
    Presented by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, for serving as counsel to Warren McCleskey, a human being under sentence of death
  • 1986 Distinguished Service Award.
    Presented by the Afro-American Patrolman’s League, for assistance and counsel in litigation against the City of Atlanta concerning discriminatory hiring practices in the Atlanta Police Department

Education

  • Emory University, School of Law, LLM 1988
  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD 1974
  • Indiana University, MA, History, 1968
  • Hiram College, BA, history and economics, magna cum laude, 1967

Admissions

State Admissions

  • New York
  • Georgia (Emeritus)

Court Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Outside Interests

  • Travel to far away places, preferably with lots of climbing and exploring in wide-open, mountainous areas
  • Photography (mostly landscape)
  • Escaping to a cabin in the Catskills on the weekend