Dana L. Collins practices before state and federal courts and administrative agencies primarily in the areas of education, insurance and employment law. Her representation of school districts throughout the state includes work on a wide range of issues including civil rights, employment discrimination and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, among others. Dana represents a number of employers in EEOC and OCR matters and labor arbitrations. Dana is also a trained mediator, having completed Mediation Training at Just Solutions.

Dana also practices in the areas of labor & employment, defending individual and class action employment matters, unemployment claims and labor disputes in a variety of forums, including federal and state administrative agencies and courts.  She also provides advice to employers on personnel policies and procedures, employee discipline, sexual harassment investigations and termination decisions.

Ms. Collins has been a featured speaker at several seminars on the topic of education law and has been involved in significant court decisions in this area. Ms. Collins recently successfully defended a Kentucky school district in class action litigation challenging single sex classes.

Following law school, Ms. Collins clerked for former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Charles M. Leibson. This experience gives her additional insight into appellate arguments and briefing.

Honors & Awards

• Kentucky Super Lawyer® for Schools and Education in 2013-2020
• Top 25: 2015 Women Kentucky Super Lawyers

Representative Matters

• Nelson v. Turner, Ky., which defined teachers’ obligations under the Kentucky child abuse reporting statute and clarified the issue of qualified governmental immunity for government employees
• Cornett v. Jefferson Cty. Bd. of Educ., Ky., which confirmed a school board’s right to conduct drug testing of its school bus drivers
• Ransom v. B. F. South, Inc., Kentucky Court of Appeals, obtained dismissal for restaurant chain in suit alleging transgender discrimination
• Hisle v. Wendy’s of Louisville, Kentucky Court of Appeals, obtained dismissal of case for restaurant chain in suit by employee alleging race discrimination
• Vinova v. Henry County Bd of Educ., U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, obtained dismissal of case for school board in suit alleging discrimination on basis of same-sex marriage
• A. N. A. v. Breckinridge Cty. Bd of Educ., U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, obtained dismissal of case for school board in suit alleging Title IX violation for instituting same gender program
• Akridge v. Kentucky Baptist Foundation, Jefferson Circuit Court, obtained $500,000+ judgment for family against Kentucky Baptist Foundation for unduly influencing elderly man into entering into annuity contract
• Fant v. Sypris Technologies, Jefferson Circuit Court, obtained defense verdict for manufacturing company in suit by employee alleging race discrimination and retaliation
• Trumbo v. B. F. South, Inc., Jefferson Circuit Court, obtained dismissal of case for restaurant chain in suit by employee alleging racial discrimination

Learn More About My Experience

News

Professional & Community Activities

Princeton Alumni Schools Committee, Member

Louisville Collegiate School Alumni Board

Kentucky Council of School Board Attorneys, Former President