Sheri L. Pizzi

Sheri L. Pizzi is an experienced trial attorney concentrating in the fields of employment law, nursing home, health care and other forms of professional liability litigation. She handles complex employment matters in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including those arising under the ADA, ADEA, Title VII, and other state and governmental laws affecting municipal and private employers.

Ms. Pizzi counsels employers on various employment issues, including: the discipline and termination of employees; the enforcement of non-compete agreements; the negotiation and drafting of employment and severance agreements; the protection of confidential business information; the creation of employee policies; and the resolution of wage and hour concerns. Ms. Pizzi regularly leads and participates in seminars for medical professionals, nursing home administrators and owners, and human resource managers on topics such as medical liability, nursing home risk management and employment practices.

Representative Accomplishments

Ms. Pizzi has notched a number of significant victories involving employment issues, medical professional liability and nursing homes. They include:

• Obtaining a directed verdict on behalf of a cardiac surgeon in a case alleging ventricular damage as a result of emergency cardiac surgery;
• Securing injunctive relief at a bench trial on behalf of nursing home concerning guardianship for an incapacitated resident;
• Successfully defending a retailer in a federal court employment action brought by terminated employee;
• Successfully pursuing a federal bench trial on behalf of a Fortune 500 Company seeking to enforce an arbitration clause; and
• Securing injunctive relief in a municipal breach of employment contract action.

Ms. Pizzi served as local counsel in a patent infringement case in which a Rhode Island federal jury awarded her client a $338 million verdict in what is believed to be the largest patent infringement verdict in Rhode Island history.

Clerkships

Ms. Pizzi served as a law clerk for the Rhode Island Superior Court in 1996-1998.

Professional and Civic Affiliations

Ms. Pizzi has taken on leadership roles for a variety of professional organizations, serving as an executive board member of Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association and an officer of the Justinian Law Society. She also serves on the board of directors for the Rhode Island Healthcare Association. Ms. Pizzi has served on the board of directors for the Rhode Island Childhood Lead Action Project as well. She is past president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Inns of Court, and is also a member of the Nursing Home and Employment Litigation Sections of the Defense Research Institute.