Kathleen M. Daniels

Kathleen Daniels has been an associate of DeSisto Law since 1994.  Immediately after law school, Kathleen served a year as a law clerk for all divisions of the R.I. Court system including Superior, District and traffic court tribunals before becoming law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Victoria Lederberg. 

In her 26 years as an associate with DeSisto Law, Kathleen has worked on all aspects of the litigation matters defended by the firm. Kathleen’s primary focus has been on offering legal research and writing at both the trial and appellate levels for virtually all cases defended by the office.  She has briefed and argued numerous cases in both the federal and state courts and has far in excess of 50 reported decisions in the Rhode Island Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and has successfully defended Petitions for Writ of Certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Primary practice areas include all aspects of employment law, including contract disputes as well as workplace age, sex, race and other discrimination claims; general state tort claims; and land use litigation involving claims of trespass, nuisance, adverse possession and prescriptive easement as well as claims of constitutional violations stemming from the land use. 

She has defended municipalities and their elected and appointed officials and employees from all forms of constitutional claims including First Amendment, due process, equal protection, Fourth Amendment search and seizure, disability discrimination and police excessive force. In addition to being involved in the defense of large-scale cases such as the Station Nightclub fire litigation and challenges to municipal pension reform, Kathleen also has experience defending municipalities in RICO and HUD disputes.

Kathleen graduated cum laude from Providence College in 1989, earning her B.A. in Political Science, with a certification in Public Administration. She was awarded her J.D. from the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in May, 1992.  While at law school, Kathleen served on Catholic University’s Law Review, The Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy, and was awarded the AM JUR Book Award for Appellate Advocacy as well as becoming a Miller Cup Finalist for Appellate Advocacy.

Education

  • JD, The Catholic University, Columbus School of Law (1992)
  • While at law school, Kathleen served on Catholic University’s Law Review, The Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy, and was awarded the AM JUR Book Award for Appellate Advocacy as well as becoming a Miller Cup Finalist for Appellate Advocacy.
  • BA, Providence College (1989), cum laude

Court/Bar Admissions

  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  • United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • Former member of St. Paul School Board

Publications and Speaking

  • Practical Guide to Evidence in Rhode Island, MCLE New England (2011-2019), Chapter 3 “Evidentiary Exclusions and Limitations” and Chapter 7 “Reputation Evidence”
  • Presentation to Municipal officials on recent impact of Law (2002)