Melissa Losch
Attorney
Melissa Losch practices labor and employment law, education law and complex civil litigation. She helps K-12 schools, school systems and private employers comply with federal civil rights laws and their state equivalents to meet their goals and avoid litigation. When litigation is necessary, Melissa vigorously defends clients against high stakes claims involving alleged civil rights and constitutional violations.
Her practice also involves training, strategic planning, and advising school systems and employers on a wide range of employment and education matters, including:
- Employee discipline and performance management
- Employee requests for disability accommodations
- Leave administration and compliance
- Hiring and employment decisions
- Services and supports for students with disabilities
- Student discipline and due process
- Administrative complaints
Melissa has extensive experience handling discrimination, disability, and special education issues, and provides strategic guidance to clients navigating through the intricacies of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title VII).
Before entering the legal profession, Melissa owned and operated a restaurant, giving her firsthand experience running a business and managing real-world challenges. Early in her legal career, she also worked on the other side of table as an advocate for individuals with disabilities. Those experiences shape her practical, solutions-oriented approach, enable her to focus on the day-to-day realities facing her clients and resolve disputes efficiently and effectively.
Experience
- Secured a jury verdict in a wrongful termination case alleging disability discrimination, failure to accommodate and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Obtained summary judgement on claims of wrongful demotion based on age and gender discrimination and alleged retaliation for protected activity.
- Served as both trial and appellate counsel and successfully defended claims of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and retaliation against a client, with the Fifth Circuit affirming dismissal on summary judgment.
- Successfully represented a school system as trial and appellate counsel, securing Fifth Circuit affirmation of dismissal on summary judgment in a Title IX action alleging improper supervision and sexual harassment by a student.
- Obtained summary judgement on claims alleging denial of promotion based on race discrimination.
- Prevailed at an administrative hearing where parents alleged a failure to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Successfully negotiated the resolution of a parent complaint involving special education services, resulting in dismissal of the request for due process.
- Successfully defended a complaint filed with the Louisiana Department of Education alleging violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), resulting in dismissal of the claims.