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Melissa I. Softness

Partner
Miami Office
305.995.5479
Email

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Practices

  • Product Liability
  • Employment and Labor
  • Casualty Litigation
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    Profile

    Melissa Softness focuses her practice in the areas of product, employment and casualty litigation.  She represents clients in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, automotive, boating, marine and personal watercraft industries throughout Florida against negligence and product defect claims. Melissa also represents employers against claims of employment discrimination and retaliation such as religion, national origin, race, gender, age, and political patronage, asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Chapter 760, Florida Statutes; Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871; the American Disabilities Act (ADA); and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA.)

    While working at the Office of the State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, Melissa gained extensive trial experience, trying 18 jury trials and more than 50 bench trials. In addition, she conducted several highly contested evidentiary and Daubert hearings and successfully defended a First Amendment Appeal.

    Before joining RumbergerKirk, she worked in civil practice gaining further trial experience in both state and federal courts.

    Drawing on her trial experience, Melissa teaches trial skills to law students by serving as a faculty member at the Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques at Emory Law. This week-long, required course for students includes a series of workshops that culminates with a simulated jury trial. The program integrates second-year students’ knowledge of substantive evidence law with practical skills in a “learning-by-doing” format, all under the watchful eye of renowned trial lawyers, judges, and trial skills teachers who travel in from all over the country to teach Emory’s students.

    Details

    • Boating and Marine
    • Motor Vehicles

    Emory University School of Law — J.D., 2012

    • Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Scholar
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Dean’s Award for Excellence in Criminal Litigation
    • Dean’s List (Fall 2010)
    • Emory Mock Trial Society
    • Emory Moot Court Society
    • Vanderbilt University National First Amendment Moot Court Competition 2011 (Best Brief and Quarterfinalist)
    • American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition 2011 (Regional finalist)
    • Merit Scholar

    University of Florida — B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2009

    • Policy Debate Team (Recipient – speaker awards at Vanderbilt and UF competitions)

    • Florida — 2012
    • Georgia — 2013

    • U.S. District Courts of Florida (Southern)
    • Third District Court of Appeal

    • Author, "The Importance of Trial Themes and How to Use Them Before a Jury," Daily Business Review, October 28, 2022 edition
    • Author, "When are COVID-19 Policies a “Business Necessity”? The EEOC’s New Guidance on Navigating the Post-Pandemic Workplace," September 2022
    • Co-Author, "Social Unrest, COVID-19 and School-Required Masks: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" published in Business Alabama, September 2020
    • Co-Author, "Social Unrest, the COVID-19 Pandemic and School-Required Masks: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" August 2020

    Melissa's News and Insights

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio
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    FEATURED
    02.01.2023
    Firm News

    RumbergerKirk Promotes Three New Partners From Its Miami Office

    MIAMI, Fla., February 1, 2023 – RumbergerKirk announces three attorneys from its Miami office—Ligianette (Gigi) Córdova, Justin Guido and Melissa...

    01.17.2023
    Employment and Labor

    New Non-Compete Rule May Not Pass But Employers Should Stay On Alert

    For the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed rule to ban...

    Photo:Shutterstock/Piotr Swat
    10.31.2022

    The Importance of Trial Themes and How to Use Them Before a Jury

    If you use it right, a great theme will serve...

    09.19.2022
    Employment and Labor

    When are COVID-19 Policies a “Business Necessity”? The EEOC’s New Guidance on Navigating the Post-Pandemic Workplace

    On July 12, 2022, The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission  (EEOC)...

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/Vitalii Vodolazskyi
    09.24.2020
    Education

    Social Unrest, COVID-19 and School-Required Masks: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

    With public schools back in session, there is a new...

    08.26.2020
    Government and Administrative

    Social Unrest, the COVID-19 Pandemic and School-Required Masks: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

    With many public schools back in session, there is a...

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio

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    300 South Orange Avenue
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    Orlando, FL 32801

    407.872.7300

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    80 Southwest 8th Street
    Suite 3000
    Miami, FL 33130

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    Suite 2000
    Tampa, FL 33602

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    Suite 120
    Tallahassee, FL 32301

    850.222.6550

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    2001 Park Place North
    Suite 1300
    Birmingham, AL 35203

    205.327.5550
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