Alicia Haynes

Practice Area

Plaintiff's Employment Law & Civil Rights Violations including
Age, Gender, Race, Sex, National Origin, Religious, and Disability Discrimination

Education

Cumberland School of Law School, J.D.
Northwestern State University, B.S.

Bar Admission

Alabama State Bar
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Memberships

National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Board Member
  Alabama Affiliate of NELA
  NELA Committee Member at National Level
  NELA President from 2016-2018
National Institute for Workers' Rights (NIWR) Board Member
Labor and Employment Section of the Alabama State Bar
  Former Chair and Board Member
Women's Section of the Birmingham Bar Association
  Former Executive Board Member
Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association
American Trial Lawyers Association

Biography

Alicia Haynes has been a practicing attorney in Alabama for 36 years, but the last 32 years of her practice have been devoted exclusively to plaintiff's employment discrimination and civil rights litigation. Alicia has tried over 70 jury cases and 20 or more bench trials, and has been involved in scores of employment discrimination and civil rights cases at various stages of litigation. Further, Alicia has appealed, or defended on appeal, numerous employment discrimination cases. She regularly co-counsels with lawyers within the state and outside the state on employment discrimination matters, and has been retained by defense law firms to conduct independent investigations of harassment and discrimination on behalf of their corporate clients.

In 1995, Alicia successfully litigated a sexual harassment/hostile environment case against Tyson Foods, Inc., resulting in an $8 million dollar verdict. In 2002, she litigated a race discrimination case that stemmed from the denial of promotions to two African-American males, also against Tyson Foods. The jury rendered a verdict of $3.5 and $1.5 million dollars in the case. She has had two separate cases heard before the United States Supreme Court, which resulted in favorable and per curiam opinions. One case, Ash, Hithon v. Tyson, significantly changed the standard in employment discrimination cases involving promotion decisions. 

In 2009, Alicia and Kenny tried a sexual harassment and retaliation case against Hyundai Mfg. wherein the jury awarded a $5.75 million dollar verdict.

Alicia's most recent trials resulted in a $650,000 verdict against Auburn University in a First Amendment retaliation case (2022); a $262,000 verdict against Koch Foods in a Title VII gender discrimination case (2019); a $1,000,000 verdict against Surgical Care Affiliates in a Title VII sexual harassment case (2017); a $2,100,000 judgment against CVS Caremark Corporation in an ADEA termination case (2015); a $800,000 judgment against CVS Caremark Corporation in an ADEA discrimination case (2013); and a $2,700,000 jury award against U.S. Security Associates, Inc., in a Title VII sexual harassment case (2010).

Each year from 2007 to 2023, Alicia has been recognized with Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Best Lawyers in Alabama lists in the area of Labor and Employment Law. Alicia has also been included in Alabama Super Lawyers' list of Top 25 Women Lawyers for several years.

Seminars and Papers

1. Maximizing the Value of Your Client's Case (2023); Presentation, Alabama National Employment Lawyers Association, Birmingham, Alabama.

2. Sexual Harassment Disputes and Mediation after the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, 9 U.S.C. § 401, et seq. (2022); Paper, Cumberland School of Law Annual Employment Law Seminar, Birmingham, Alabama.

3. Evidence Essentials (2022); Presentation, Judge Proctor, Judge Danella, Alicia Haynes and J.B. Ward, Birmingham Bar Association, Birmingham, Alabama.

4. What Happens After #MeToo and #TimesUp, Sexual Harassment in Alabama (2019); Cumberland School of Law Annual Employment Law Seminar, Birmingham, Alabama.

5. Keeping a Practice Thriving in Hostile Territories and Trying Times (2018); Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois.

6. Be the Change: Honoring Courageous Plaintiffs (2017); Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas.

7. Words Matter, How to Craft a Winning Opening Statement by Effective Word Choices (2016); National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention.

8. Top Ten Mediation Tips For Successful Resolution (2016); Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Fall Seminar.

9. Closing Argument, Making Your Final Pitch to the Jury (2015); Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Trial Boot Camp, Chicago, Illinois.

10. The “Crucible”: Closing Argument in Employment Discrimination Cases (2014); Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Trial Boot Camp, Chicago, Illinois.

11. Developing A Winning Case Theme to Tell Your Client's Story, (2013); Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Trial Boot Camp, Chicago, Illinois.

12. Trial Evidence, Top 10 Tips, Strategies and Visual Advocacy (2013); Paper and Presentation, Summit for Worker's Rights, National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado.

13. Identifying Juror Bias During Voir Dire (2012); National Employment Lawyers Association, San Diego, California.

14. Top Ten Do's and Don'ts For Using Social Science Regarding Bias In Your Practice and At Trial, Haynes, Rozen and Wood, The Employee Advocate (2012); Presentation for the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

15. Creating Successful Trial Themes in Employment Cases (2012); Paper and Presentation; Georgia affiliate of National Employment Lawyers Association, Atlanta, Georgia.

16. Developing A Winning Case Theme In Direct And Cross-Examination. Paper and Presentation; Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Trial Boot Camp, Chicago, Illinois.

17. Top Ten Do's and Don'ts For Using Social Science Regarding Bias In Your Practice and At Trial (2012); Paper and Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Fall Seminar (Bias 2.0: What Every Employee Advocate Should Know), Atlanta, Georgia.

18. Starting Strong (2012); Presentation, National Employment Lawyers Association Illinois, 7th Circuit Conference.

19. Developing a Case Theme in Employment Cases (2011); National Employment Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

20. Post-Trial Considerations And Determining Whether To Appeal, Case Study: Ash, Hithon v. Tyson Foods(2012).

21. Rebutting the Myth: Asking The Questions When You Do Not Know The Answer (2011); National Employment Lawyers Association, Chicago, Illinois.

22. Defending Your Verdict (2010); Appellate Law Conference, National Employment Lawyers Association, Denver, Colorado.

23. Making Lemonade From Lemons: Turning Trial Issues Into Strengths (2010); National Employment Lawyers Association Trial Seminar.

24. The Use of Racial Slurs and Code Words in Proving A Racially Hostile Work Environment (2008); Paper and presentation, Cumberland School of Law 15th Annual Employment Law Update, Birmingham Alabama.

25. Testimony of Cyrus Mehri, Before the Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate, Hearing: Barriers to Justice: Examining Equal Pay for Equal Work (September 23, 2008); Case Study Written Comments provided on Ash v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 129 Fed. Appx. 529 (11th Cir. 2005).

26. Overcoming the Challenge: The Art of Defeating Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment in Discrimination Cases (2007).

27. Emerging Litigation Trends - The Plaintiff's Perspective, “Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity” (2006); Paper and presentation to Society for Human Resources, Birmingham, Alabama.

28. Beyond Stereotypes: Discovering and Proving Hidden Bias in Employment Cases(2006); Paper presented to National Employment Lawyers, October 13, 2006. Washington, D.C.

29. Age Discrimination: What If There is No Economic Damage? (2005); Paper presented to National Employment Lawyers Association.

30. The Nuts and Bolts of Establishing and Growing the Small Plaintiff-Side Law Office (2004); Paper and presentation for the Birmingham Bar Association, Birmingham, Alabama.

31. Haynes, Secrets to Obtaining Million Dollar Verdicts (2004); The Employee Advocate.

32. Marketing Yourself and Your Practice: Ethics and Tips (2004); Women Trial Lawyers Caucus of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association.

33. Litigating the Sexual Harassment Case, The Plaintiff's Perspective (1999); Paper and Presentation. Cumberland School of Law Annual Employment Law Update, Birmingham Alabama.

34. Sexual Harassment: Latest Development from The Plaintiff's Perspective (1999); Alabama School of Law  Annual Employment Law Update. Birmingham Alabama.

35. Office Sharing and Potential Liability for Acts of Others in Office Sharing Situations (1994); Birmingham Bar Association Journal, Birmingham, Alabama.