Current Employment Position(s)

Associate

Lawyer Overview

Joseph A. Ernst is an associate in the firm's Honolulu office and is a member of the Labor & Employment practice group. His practice involves counseling and defending employers in all aspects of employment law, including defense of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and retaliation claims. He also assists firm-wide clients with employer compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws.

Related Matters

• Representation of employers in state and federal claims and civil lawsuits alleging violations of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. $$ 1983, 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Hawaii Whistleblower Protection Act, Hawaii's Fair Employment Practices Act and other discrimination laws, retaliation claims, common law theories of wrongful termination and collateral torts.
• Drafting employee handbooks. Drafting personnel policies and advising employers regarding the legal requirements pertaining to family medical leave, wage and hour laws, alcohol and drug testing, e-mail usage and internet access, employee searches and surveillance.
• Representing property owners and management companies in state and federal claims alleging housing discrimination.
• Representation of clients in the defense of DLIR and DOL actions.
• Assisting employers with legal issues that may arise relating to downsizing, employer successor liability, and dislocated worker notification statutes.

Prior Work Experience

Before joining the firm, Mr. Ernst worked as a Law Clerk at Petersen & Ibold in Chardon, Ohio. While employed there, he assisted in the representation of plaintiffs in personal injury, workers compensation, and products liability claims. He also assisted in the representation of defendants in criminal matters.

Prior Work Experience

Before joining the firm, Mr. Ernst worked as a Law Clerk at Petersen & Ibold in Chardon, Ohio. While employed there, he assisted in the representation of plaintiffs in personal injury, workers compensation, and products liability claims. He also assisted in the representation of defendants in criminal matters.

Publications

Joseph A. Ernst, Occupancy Discrimination vs. The Federal Fair Housing Act, Hawaii Community Associations (Community Associations Institute, Hawaii Chapter), Dec. 2008.

Affiliations

• Hawaii State Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member-Labor & Employment Law Section
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Member

Areas of Practice

• Labor & Employment
• Administrative

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings

Bar Admissions

• Hawaii
• U.S. District Court District of Hawaii

Education

• University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  J.D.
  Honors: Editor in chief
  
  Law Journal: The University of Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law and Policy
• University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida
  B.A.
  Honors: magna cum laude

Address

ASB Tower
Suite 2200
1001 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Phones

808-523-2595

Faxes

808-523-0842

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.carlsmith.com