Photo of Katelyn W. Harrell

Katelyn W. Harrell is an associate in the New Orleans, Louisiana, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.

Katelyn’s practice focus includes the defense of ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries at both public and private companies. She is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits group, and is a contributor to the Employee Benefits Newsletter, the firm’s publication covering current events in benefits law.

In addition to litigating ERISA-based claims, Katelyn is also involved in litigating general employment law matters, including representing employers in Family and Medical Leave cases, discrimination claims relative to age, sex, disability, race, religion, and sexual harassment, and handling EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. She has trial experience including sitting first chair in two bench trials as well as second chair in a third.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Katelyn practiced general casualty litigation with a local New Orleans defense firm.

Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that the deadline imposed under ERISA for plan administrators to decide on benefit claims is a “bright line” rule. The court held that when a plan administrator misses this deadline, the “substantial compliance” exception to statutory compliance does not apply and the plan