David H. Williams

Overview

Dave Williams has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of employment law and education law, representing private and public employers, 17 school districts, a college, and 2 private schools.

Dave represents employers in a wide variety of litigation matters, administrative proceedings, arbitration, and collective bargaining issues, as well as counsels and represents educational institutions in the full spectrum of legal issues.

As noted in Chambers USA, "David Williams takes on a wide variety of work, including litigation-based matters, counseling and arbitration, particularly with respect to collective bargaining agreements. He brings a "thorough, comprehensive and caring approach, uniformly and without exception" to his work, and is noted for his close ties with the education sector."

Experience

Representation of employers in all varieties of litigation and administrative proceedings, including employment discrimination, discharge, constitutional claims, wage and hour issues, unfair labor practice claims, and restrictive covenants

Arbitration involving employment related disputes, and the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements
Counseling aimed at avoiding employment claims
Collective bargaining
Counseling educational institutions on all legal issues, and representing such clients in litigation and administrative proceedings relating to discharge of employees, expulsion of students, students’ rights, Freedom of Information Act compliance, collective bargaining, constitutional issues of due process, Freedom of Speech and the Establishment Clause

Professional Affiliations

Delaware State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Sections
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Sections
National Association of School Attorneys
The Office of Child Advocate, Delaware, Guardian ad litem on behalf of abused and neglected children, Retired Volunteer (11 years)
Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, Past Member

Representative Matters

Bozeman v. the City of Wilmington
Following a four-day jury trial in the US District Court for the District of Delaware, we successfully secured a defense verdict for the City of Wilmington after plaintiff argued that the Chief of Police retaliated for the plaintiff’s exercise of his First Amendment rights and violation of the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process clause.

Bates v. Caesar Rodney
The Delaware Superior Court granted our motion for summary judgment in favor of the Caesar Rodney School District. The Court determined the District was not negligent in hiring or supervising the teacher who sexually abused a student.

Martin Meltzer v. City of Wilmington
Successfully secured summary judgment on the employment discrimination, constitutional and retaliation claims asserted against the City in State Court and two management employees, and secured affirmance on appeal in the Delaware Supreme Court.

Defense of Employers In Sexual Abuse Claims
Represented employers in 6 law suits involving sexual abuse claims alleging negligent selection and supervision of employees, including a pending claim. Partial summary judgment was secured in several of the cases, and, with the exception of the pending case, all of the claims were resolved.

O’Bier, et al. v. City of Rehoboth Beach
Secured partial summary judgment in a police promotion case in which the plaintiffs asserted constitutional claims, and subsequently resolved the case.

Johnson v. Delaware Technical and Community College.
Secured summary judgment for the college in action asserting First Amendment and Due Process claims. The judgment was affirmed by the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court denied the Petition for Certiorari.

L&W Insurance, Inc. v. Harrington
Represented Harrington in an action seeking to enforce a covenant not to compete. The Court denied the application for an injunction because Harrington established L&W Insurance, Inc. breached the agreement creating the covenant not to compete.

Labor Arbitrations and Collective Bargaining
Numerous favorable outcomes in arbitrations involving the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements, and negotiation of dozens of collective bargaining agreements on behalf of employers.