DeANDREA WASHINGTON
Associate
T: (713) 554-6762
dwashington@
thompsonhorton.com
- J.D., The University of Houston Law Center, 2009
- B.S., Washington University in St. Louis, 2006
Bar Admissions
- Texas
Affiliations
- State Bar of Texas, School Law Section
- Texas Young Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Lawyers Association, Young Lawyers Division
- Texas Association of School Boards, Council of School Attorneys
- Houston Area Urban League, Young Professionals
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DeAndrea Washington focuses her practice on the representation of school districts, colleges and universities, charter schools, and other governmental entities. Her areas of interest and experience include labor and employment matters; commercial disputes; student discipline hearings; and constitutional issues. Ms. Washington also has experience representing clients in employment litigation and appeals in both state and federal court. Ms. Washington has handled cases involving alleged age, race, color, gender, national origin, and disability discrimination; harassment; retaliation; wrongful discharge; and family and medical leave. She regularly represents clients before the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Ms. Washington has also prepared governance documents for charter schools and non-profit organizations and has drafted board policies. She advises clients on personnel matters, school board governance, the Texas Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act, reduction in force policy implementation, and special education matters.
Prior to joining Thompson & Horton LLP, Ms. Washington served as an intern to United States District Court Judge Nancy F. Atlas. During this time, she had the opportunity to work extensively on an appeal from a decision of a special education due process hearing officer brought pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While in law school, Ms. Washington also clerked in the office of the General Counsel of Humble Independent School District.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Walker v. Hitchcock Indep, School Dist., No. 09-CV-1439 in the 405th District Court of Galveston County, Texas. Served as second chair during a two-week jury trial and secured favorable unanimous jury verdict for public employer in wrongful termination suit based on alleged whistleblower activity.
Ray v. Houston Indep. School Dist., No. 4:10-CV-00312 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained summary judgment in a wrongful termination/due process case; judgment affirmed on appeal.
Muhammed v. Lone Star College System, No. 4:10-cv-02381 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained dismissal of civil rights claims.
Robinson et al v. Owens et al, No. 4:11-cv-2118 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained summary judgment in race discrimination and civil rights suit against a school district.
San Jacinto College District v. Halevy, No. 2009-77916 in the 164th District Court of Harris County, Texas. Obtained injunction restricting student's access to campus.
Gonzalez et al v. Houston Indep. School Dist. et al, No. 09-cv-77916 in the 333rd District Court of Harris County, Texas. Obtained summary judgment in negligence suit.
Guillory v. Beaumont Indep. School Dist. et al, No. 9:07-cv-00163 (E.D. Tex.). Assisted in mediating civil rights and Title IX sexual harassment suit.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES
Ms. Washington has prepared materials for and/or has given presentations on the following topics:
"Record Retention and Destructions," Thompson & Horton LLP Client Seminar, August 2011
"How to Develop a Legally Defensible Employee Drug-Testing Policy," Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Convention, September 2010
"The Nuts and Bolts of Student Discipline Hearings," Region IV Education Service Center Legal Summit, August, 2010