Contact Cary
(248) 398-9800 phone
(248) 268-7996 fax
LinkedIn

Cary S. McGehee

Founding Partner

Experience

Cary McGehee is a Founding Partner of Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers. Throughout her distinguished career, Cary has dedicated herself to representing victims of employment discrimination, civil rights violations, and institutional misconduct—holding powerful corporate and governmental entities accountable and securing justice for those most in need.

Cary has led and helped shape some of the most impactful civil rights and class action lawsuits in Michigan and beyond. She was instrumental in the $624 million Flint Water Class Action settlement, which held the state and other government entities accountable for the water crisis that devastated the city of Flint. Furthermore, Cary played a central role in two major class actions against the Michigan Department of Corrections on behalf of women and youth who were sexually assaulted while incarcerated, resulting in $100 million and $80 million settlements. She also achieved a confidential settlement for the religious rights of 16 Bengali Muslim employees in a lawsuit against their workplace that denied adjustments to accommodate for Ramadan.

Currently, Cary is serving as co-lead counsel in a groundbreaking lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of Flint residents. The lawsuit alleges that the EPA’s negligence during the Flint Water Crisis caused significant physical and emotional harm to thousands of people. In a major legal victory in January 2025, a federal judge ruled that the EPA is not entitled to immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act, allowing the case to move forward.

Cary has tried numerous civil rights cases to verdicts in favor of many clients in the state and federal courts, including discrimination cases based on age, national origin, sex, race and disability, and cases alleging retaliation, sexual harassment, and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, and constitutional law violations.

From 2013 to 2020, Cary represented a woman on a pro bono basis who was sentenced to life without parole when she was just 16 years old. Following the landmark case, Miller v. Alabama, which ruled that sentencing juveniles to life without parole constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Cary was successful in overturning the sentence, making the plaintiff eligible for parole after serving more than 30 years in prison. As a returning citizen, Cary’s client is gainfully employed and has completed her associate’s degree and is close to completing her bachelor’s degree.

Cary continues to fight for justice in other high-profile matters. She recently filed suit on behalf of a former DTE Energy employee who was sexually harassed by a customer and received no support from her employer. Cary also represents prisoners in Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility who have filed a class action lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for neglecting ventilation systems within the facility that produced mold and negatively affected the inmates' health. Recently, Federal Judge Stephen Murphy of the Eastern District of Michigan rejected MDOC’s motion to dismiss the case, citing that MDOC’s grievance process unfairly blocks prisoners from filing timely and valid complaints. In a separate class action against MDOC, Cary leads the lawsuit against Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility for knowingly permitting the spread of a scabies outbreak among prisoners for years. In May 2025, U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy denied MDOC's request for qualified immunity, forcing them to face the claims in court.

Cary is also at the forefront of litigation against the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center, exposing a pattern of sexual abuse and inhumane treatment of youth residents.

Cary’s approach to the law is shaped by her background as a collegiate and professional basketball player, giving her the tenacity, strategy, and competitive spirit to challenge even the most formidable opponents.

Cary’s passion for civil rights and social justice is deeply rooted in her upbringing—she is the daughter of Episcopal Bishop H. Coleman McGehee, Jr., a renowned civil rights leader. She honors his legacy through both her legal practice and community advocacy.

Education

Detroit College of Law , J.D.

Bowling Green State University, B.A.

Bar Admissions

Michigan – 1989

Professional Recognitions

2025 Lawdragon 100 Managing Partners You Need To Know

2025 Law360 Michigan Editorial Board

2025 Oakland County Bar Association Professionalism Award

2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers

2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers

Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

In 2013 selected as 1 of 20 Top Women Attorneys in Michigan and given the “Leader in the Law” Award

AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review (since 2005)

2009 Public Justice Foundation’s Trial Lawyer of the Year

2009 The Federal Bar Association’s Wade Hampton McCree Jr. Award for the Advancement of Social Justice

2008 People Award by the National Lawyers Guild, in recognition of extraordinary commitment to uphold human, civil, and constitutional rights

Super Lawyers – Employment and Civil Rights Litigation (since 2006)

The Best Lawyers in America (since 2005)

Professional Involvement & Advocacy

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights – Member since 1989. President/Treasurer (2010-2011); Chair (2010-2024)

Huntington Woods Anti-Racism Advisory Committee – Member

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Cooperating Attorney, Member of the Lawyers Committee, and Advisory Board Member (1990-Present)

Michigan State University School of Law – Trustee (2013-2020)

Frequent lecturer at seminars conducted by the Institute for Continuing Education (ICLE) and the Michigan Association for Justice.

Author of a chapter in the ICLE’s Michigan Civil Procedure manual on “Proofs at Trial” and Michigan Courtroom Evidence.

Instructor on the ICLE Online Deposition Skills and Negotiating Early Resolution of Employment Law Cases instructional videos.

Federal Local Rules Advisory Committee for the Federal Eastern U. S. District of Michigan Court- Chair (2017-2018); Vice Chair (2016-2017); Committee Member (2016-2022)