Beth M. Rivers

Equity Partner

Beth Rivers joined Pitt McGehee in 2001 after more than 20 years of representing plaintiffs in employment and civil rights actions in state and federal courts throughout the country. In June 2005, she became an equity partner and is now instrumental in the management of the firm.

With an emphasis on research and writing and appellate advocacy, Beth has authored many briefs and presented arguments to the courts which have defeated preliminary legal arguments raised by defendants seeking to deny plaintiffs access to the courts, preserved jury verdicts for the firm’s clients and reversed adverse decisions so that our clients can obtain justice.

In addition, Beth has established or clarified legal precedent through her appellate advocacy including the contours of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the availability of an inverse condemnation theory to obtain damages for environmental disasters such as the Flint water crisis and the Edenville dam failure and the elements of a same-sex sexual harassment claim under Michigan law.

Additionally, Beth is deeply involved in the multitude of class and collective actions in which the firm is involved including the Flint Water class actions, age and race discrimination class actions challenging a forced ranking performance evaluation system utilized by FCA, sexual abuse claims against MSU and EMU, and the environmental disaster caused by the failure of the Edenville Dam.

Beth’s most enjoyable time, however, is that spent mentoring the firm’s new associates, teaching the practical application of lessons learned in school as well as instilling a belief that justice can be obtained for our clients through the legal system.