Service and Support Animal Disputes are Rising: ADA Workplace Obligations, Housing and Public Access Rights, and Psychological Foundations

Dr. Margaret Cochran | Dr. Cochran

Dr. Cochran is a transpersonal psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, life coach, hypnotherapist, educator, YouTube personality and author with more than 25 years of clinical experience. A seasoned professional dedicated to the health and well-being of all her patients, Dr. Cochran takes a whole person approach to mental health and wellness.

Dr. Cochran has been featured in a range of media outlets throughout the country including BBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates, CBS Radio, Healthline, Yahoo Life, Total Beauty, Media News Group, Mercury News, and many additional outlets. In addition to the Huffington Post, she has also been featured regularly on NBC Sacramento’s morning show and hosted radio programs such as, “Wisdom, Love and Magic” and “A Mental Health Moment.” Dr. Cochran is also the author of a number of books including “What Are You Afraid Of?”

Dr. Cochran will work with both your mind and body in concert in addition to coordinating with any and all other members of your treatment team. She stands out for a number of reasons, primarily because of her ’whole person’ approach. Prior to recommending any treatment modality, she requires a complete lab work up on the patient and looks for the root cause of the presenting problem. She asserts that “For each person there’s a ‘secret’ healing formula. I am not interested in addressing people’s problems with preconceived notions. I am interested in discovering and honoring each individual’s particular personal ‘magic’. I use a systems perspective and work to consider the person in the context of their lives, rather than in isolation.” The key to invoking both sides of your brain in responding to any issue or conflict is to ask yourself three important questions. First, access the analytical left brain by asking, “What’s happening?” so that you can logically assess your circumstances and look for patterns. Next, you access your creative right brain by asking, “How do I feel?” so that you can tap into your intuitive and emotional self. And finally, you call upon both sides of your brain to ask yourself, ˜Who do I chose to be right now?” which can quickly allow you to become integrated, centered and present. This simple technique is one among many extremely powerful tools that can be brought to bear in addressing any person, problem or predicament.

Jeremy Cohen | Boston Dog Lawyers

The story of Boston Dog Lawyers begins long before the firm officially launched in 2016. In fact, the seeds were planted back in the seventh grade when founder Jeremy Cohen faced a pivotal moment.

Confronted with a racist teacher bullying his classmates, Cohen organized his peers to stand up and take action. This experience taught him a vital lesson: “You can be heard, and you can make change.” That belief in the power of using one’s voice to protect the vulnerable became a guiding principle for Cohen.

While his early passion for helping the “underdog” wasn’t as literal at the time, Cohen knew he wanted to stand up for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. Law school seemed like a natural path, but it presented the challenge of how to stand out in a crowded field.

The answer came unexpectedly when his stepchildren’s dog, Jesse, faced multiple accusations of biting, and the town sought to have him euthanized. Cohen stepped in, used his legal expertise to fight for Jesse, and won the appeal, saving the dog’s life.

That case changed everything. It showed Cohen that not only could he make a difference for animals, but he could also help families in devastating situations who often didn’t know they had options. Jesse’s case opened the door to other, similar cases, and by 2008, Cohen was representing dogs, cats, and even horses in legal battles. By the time he formally hung Boston Dog Lawyers’ shingle in 2016, Cohen had already handled 35 cases—many involving pets unfairly labeled as “dangerous” by those unfamiliar with animal behavior.

John P. Rodgers | Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

John Rodgers helps employers solve their employment-related problems. His practice is three-fold. First, he counsels clients on the numerous situations that can arise related to their employees, including termination and disciplinary decisions, reasonable accommodation issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), wage-and-hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state law, and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) problems. His goal is to work with clients in a practical, problem solving way.

Second, John helps clients in the transactional setting with their employees by drafting and negotiating employment agreements, including non-competition, non-solicitation agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.

Third, John represents public and private employers in employment-related litigation. He actively litigates employment disputes on behalf of employers and has handled discrimination and retaliation, wage and hour, FMLA, and non-compete cases in both state and federal court. He also devotes substantial attention to ERISA litigation (including claims for allegedly unpaid contributions to various plans) and representing individuals and businesses in conservatorship matters in probate court.

Katherine E. Griffin | Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Kate Griffin is an associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. Her experience includes working on a range of labor and employment litigation matters, such as situations involving Title VII, ADA, wage and hour law, FMLA, OSHA, and workers’ compensation. In addition, she has assisted clients in preparing a variety of employee-related documents, including employment agreements, severance plan agreements, and workplace handbooks. Kate enjoys making proactive recommendations and counseling clients on the best practices to ensure compliance with constantly evolving state and federal employment laws.

Kate recently served as a law clerk for the Hon. Eric L. Clay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where she reviewed and analyzed appellate briefs for a wide range of civil and criminal matters. Her experience also includes working as a felony clerk in the Public Defender’s Office of the Second Judicial Circuit and interning for the St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council.

Kate received her J.D. from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where she was Commentaries editor for the Washington University Law Review and president of the International Law Society. She has a B.S. (summa cum laude) in Political Science and Spanish from Florida State University.

Session I – Service Animals & Workplace Accommodations | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically related to service and emotional support animals as workplace accommodations
• Practical applications of the law, including hypothetical scenarios frequently arising in real-world contexts
• Understanding different types of service animals, such as service dogs, therapy dogs, and facility dogs

Break | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

Session II – Housing & Public Access Disputes Involving Service and Support Animals | 3:20pm – 4:20pm

• Handling housing denials and restrictive pet policies in private and public housing
• Recent trends and case law involving HOAs, landlords, and condominium boards
• How to challenge or respond to unreasonable accommodation denials
• Documentation requirements and best practices for legal compliance
• Strategies for representing clients in disputes with airlines, restaurants, and retail businesses
• Ethical considerations and avoiding abuse of ESA claims

Break | 4:20pm – 4:30pm

Session III – Dopamine, Oxytocin and Lawyers, Oh My! | 4:30pm – 5:00pm

• The lawyer’s usually unsung but vital role in the world of mental health treatment
• Why ESA’s are such an important part of healing and maintaining both mental and physical health
• How an ESA affects the brain
• Recognizing/identifying the incredible stressors that attorneys’ face while in law school and beyond and why this must be addressed
• How to utilize an ESA to help you and your clients survive and thrive in the adversarial environment that is the practice of law