Biography
Mr. Noël has provided advice and has represented employers in all areas of federal and Puerto Rico employment law.
Mr. Noël has vast litigation experience in both state and federal courts. His initial assessment to clients is based on years of experience and takes into consideration the nature of the claims, the opposing counsel, the state-court judge, and the potential exposure of a jury trial, among other criteria.
Mr. Noël has handled matters involving more specialized knowledge than the usual employment case, such as the Railway Labor Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Federal Arbitration Act, ERISA, and COBRA. He has also served as counsel in cases before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
In addition to litigation, Mr. Noël has handled numerous due diligence matters, including the purchase or sale of businesses in Puerto Rico, as well as labor and employment audits.
He is the Past-President of the FBA, Puerto Rico Chapter; former Treasurer of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the FBA national; Vice-Chairman of the Counsel of Past Presidents of the FBA Puerto Rico Chapter; a Fellow of the Foundation of the FBA; and a member of the Board of the Labor and Employment Section of the FBA.
Mr. Noël provides advice to Corporación La Fondita de Jesús, a non-profit organization which helps people who have problems with controlled substances kick the habit. He has also provided pro bono services in Federal and State Courts.
Representative Cases
Some of his representative cases include:
Wage and Hour:
- Rodriguez v. Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, 923 F.Supp. 304 (1994), Judgment for our client aftera trial on the issue of whether the plaintiff was an exempt employee.
Discrimination:
- Ibrahim Arce v. Hotel San Juan y Casino, Case No. 96-0021 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 1998) judgment for defendant after trial on the merits of defamation, unjust discharge and age discrimination claims.
- Pages v. Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, 82 F.3d 533 (1996), summary judgment dismissing age discrimination claims.
- Leon-Nogueras v. University of Puerto Rico, 964 F. Supp. 585 (D.P.R. 1997), summary judgment for our client.
- Cordero v. El Conquistador Resort &Country Club, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Case No. 96-1160, claims of race, national origin and gender discrimination dismissed through summary judgment in favor of our client.
- Cordero-Irizarry et al v Sears Roebuck of Puerto Rico, Inc., Consumer Programs Incorporated, et al, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Civil No. 06-1796 (2007), summary judgment dismissing race, national origin and gender discrimination claims.
- Alberty Vélez v. Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública, 361 F. 301 (1st Cir. 2004) affirmed judgment dismissing the case, on grounds that the plaintiff was an independent contractor and not an "employee" for purposes of discrimination claims.
- Rivera Ramos v American Airlines,United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Civil No. 06-1089 (2007), summary judgment dismissing ADA and all other claims.
- García-Rivera v. Executive Airlines, Inc., Civil No. FDP 05-0251 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 2007), summary judgment dismissing discrimination and other claims, affirmed on appeal(2008).
Unjust Discharge (Act 80):
- Caballero v Mova Pharmaceutical, Civil No. CD 95-2745 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 1998) judgment for defendant after a trial on the merits.
- Rivera v American Airlines, Inc. Civil No. DPE 2006-0131 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 2003),judgment for defendant after trial on the merits.
Railway Labor Act:
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and District 100 etc. v Compañía Dominicana de Aviación, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Civil No. 87-0321, after trial on request for injunctive relief, judgment for the defendant.
- Narvaez v. Executive Airlines, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Case No. 07-1012, judgment dismissing Act 80 claim, based on preemption by the RLA.
- Crespo v. American Airlines, Case No. EPE 2004-0717 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 2008) (finding that plaintiff’s Law 80 claim was preempted by the RLA)
Defamation, Libel and Slander:
- Delgado v. El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Civil Case 95- 0306 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 1998), libel and slander, tort and contract claims dismissed through summary judgment; Ortiz Algarin v Federal Express Corp., 56 F. Supp.2d. 172 (USDC PR), partial summary judgment dismissing defamation claim.
ERISA and COBRA
- Mr. Noël has successfully handled sensitive issues in ERISA and COBRA cases before the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, involving issues such as whether a defendant properly gave the initial notice required by COBRA; compliance with qualifying event notices; and compliance with SPD drafting and notice requirements.
Other:
- Rivera Guzmán v. Ricardo Cruz Distributors, Inc., Civil No. DPE 97-0789 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 1998), summary judgment dismissing claim based on alleged violation of workers compensation leave reservation of employment right.
- Meléndez v Colon Cora, Civil No. 86-4355 (P.R.Sup.Ct. 1993) judgment for defendant after trial on tort and defamation claims.
Practices
News & Publications
News
- McV Labor & Employment Law NewsFebruary 3, 2017
- May 24, 2016
Publications
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMarch 7, 2023
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 5, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 4, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 20, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 20, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 11, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 22, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment AlertJanuary 13, 2022
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertSeptember 22, 2021
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 2, 2021
- An McV Health Care AlertJune 8, 2021
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertFebruary 9, 2021
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertNovember 4, 2020
- An McV Health Care Practice Team AlertOctober 21, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 13, 2020
- An McV Health Care Practice Team AlertSeptember 2, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 24, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 17, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 6, 2020
- An McV Tax & Health Care AlertJuly 1, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 19, 2020
- McV Labor & Employment Law NewsMay 20, 2020
- An McV Tax & Health Care AlertMay 5, 2020
- May 4, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertApril 28, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertApril 14, 2020
- An McV Health Care AlertApril 13, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMarch 30, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMarch 25, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMarch 20, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertFebruary 21, 2020
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertNovember 22, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 8, 2019
- An McV Health Care Practice Team AlertAugust 20, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 5, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 3, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 19, 2019
- An McV Health Care Practice Team AlertJune 11, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMay 6, 2019
- McV Labor & Employment Practice GroupFebruary 28, 2019
- McV Labor & Employment Practice GroupJanuary 4, 2019
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertNovember 26, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertSeptember 24, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 14, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 24, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 24, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 26, 2018
- An McV Corporate & Health Care AlertJune 20, 2018
- McV Labor & Employment Practice GroupJune 12, 2018
- McV Labor & Employment Practice GroupMarch 15, 2018
- McV Labor & Employment Practice GroupFebruary 13, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertFebruary 2, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJanuary 31, 2018
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertDecember 27, 2017
- An McV Welfare Benefits and ERISA Litigation AlertDecember 8, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertNovember 16, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 19, 2017
- An McV Health Care AlertOctober 13, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 6, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertAugust 22, 2017
- An McV Health Care AlertAugust 16, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertApril 10, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertMarch 13, 2017
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJanuary 10, 2017
- An McV Immigration Practice AlertNovember 15, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertOctober 21, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertSeptember 6, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJuly 1, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 21, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment Law AlertJune 21, 2016
- An McV Labor & Employment AlertMay 18, 2016
- March 8, 2016
- February 9, 2016
- January 7, 2016
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- U.S. District Court District of Puerto Rico
- U.S. Court of Appeals First Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
Education
B.A., Franklin & Marshall College
- Major: Government
J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law
Memberships
Puerto Rico Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Fellow of the Foundation of the FBA
American Bar Association
Puerto Rico Hospital Association
Society for Human Resource Management