Watson Roach

Member

Emily C. Taylor

Emily Taylor has more than 12 years of experience in civil litigation and appeals, employment litigation defense, insurance defense, and governmental tort matters. Ms. Taylor also handles cybersecurity and data breach response matters for entities across the state of Tennessee.

Ms. Taylor is a faculty member for the Tennessee Bar Association’s continuing education program, where she has taught the courses “Tort and Insurance: TN Governmental Tort Liability Act,” and “Tort and Insurance Forum 2017.”

While in law school, she earned the Certificate of Academic Excellence for Pretrial Litigation and Trial Practice and had an article published in Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. She was recognized as a Top Collegiate Scholar in college.

Ms. Taylor and her husband enjoy spending time on the lake, traveling (particularly to National Parks), and hiking in Smoky Mountains.

Memberships + Associations

  • Knoxville Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association, Leadership Law Class of 2016
  • Chi Omega, Member of House Corporation
  • Phi Alpha Delta
  • Wesley House – Board of Directors, Past President
  • Sorority Village Association, Treasurer

Education

  • J.D., cum laude, University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, TN, 2008
  • B.S., summa cum laude, Retail and Consumer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2005

Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2008
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 2008
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, 2011
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2013

Representative cases

Brumley v. City of Cleveland (2019)

Obtained defense verdict after three day bench trial in employment discrimination matter involving whistleblower and retaliation claims.

Meadows v. Maryville City School System (2012)

Obtained favorable verdict after eight day jury trial in claim arising out of the alleged sexual assault of a student with physical and mental disabilities by another student while on a school bus.

SWard v. Knox Cty. Bd. of Educ. (2015)

Obtained decision in the Sixth Circuit affirming grant of summary judgment in trademark and copyright challenge to the Knox County Schools “Coupon Book” fundraiser program.

Young v. City of LaFollette (2015)

Secured favorable decision in Tennessee Supreme Court, setting precedent on the availability of a jury trial on Tennessee state law whistleblower claims brought in circuit courts.

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