Fierberg National Law Group (TFNL Group)

TFNL Group typically files lawsuits on behalf of the victims or the victims’ families against educational institutions and fraternities, claiming that these organizations are ultimately responsible for any events that occur. ² TFNL frequently partners with left-of-center advocacy groups on Title IX cases, including Know Your IX, Public Justice, and National Women’s Law Center. ³

Background

Fierberg National Law Group (TFNL Group) was founded in 1993 ⁴ by attorney Douglas Fierberg. ⁵ Fierberg began his career in Washington, D.C. He started specializing in school violence while representing a Washington, D.C. high school student who survived sexual assaults and a college student who was hospitalized as a result of a fraternity hazing in Maryland. ⁶

The law firm has offices in Traverse City, Michigan; the District of Columbia; and Colorado ⁷ and represents victims and families in cases of fraternity hazing, sexual misconduct, school violence, Title IX violations, injury, and wrongful death in educational settings. ⁸ TFNL Group lawsuits on behalf of victims typically target educational institutions and fraternities for negligence and misconduct, indicating that these organizations are ultimately liable. ²

Notable Cases

Fierberg National Law Group cases have been featured on major television networks including CNN, NBC, and ABC and in major publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today. ⁵

Hazing

TFNL Group sues educational institutions and holds fraternities liable for injuries and death caused by fraternity hazing practices. ²

TFNL Group prosecuted Louisiana State University on behalf of the parents of student Maxwell Gruver, who allegedly died from a 2017 on-campus hazing incident. ⁹

In 2020, TFNL Group filed a wrongful death case against Alpha Tau Omega and Washington State University on behalf of the parents of Sam Martinez, who died while pledging to join the fraternity. Fierberg was interviewed for a “60 Minutes” episode regarding this case. ¹⁰

In 2022, TFNL Group filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Adam Oakes against Delta Chi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Chi Educational Foundation, and the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) chapter of Delta Chi. ¹¹ The suit claimed that the fraternity and its members are liable for Oakes’ death due to negligence and misconduct. ¹²

Title IX

TFNL Group prosecutes educational institutions and organizations for failure to protect individuals against sexual misconduct and for Title IX violations. ³

In 2022, the Biden Administration proposed a Title IX amendment that protects transgender students against sexual violence in schools. ¹³ TFNL Group and other civil rights advocates joined the National Women’s Law Center in sending a letter to the administration in support of the proposal, which undoes what the letter called the “Trump administration’s weakening of civil rights protections for student survivors and ensuring the protection of LGBTQI+ students.” ¹⁴ Other left-leaning national organizations that co-signed this letter include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Equality Federation, GenderCool Project, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Transgender Equality,  National Education Association (NEA), National Women’s Political Caucus, Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), and URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. ¹⁵

TFNL Group frequently partners with left-of-center advocacy groups on Title IX cases, including Know Your IX, Public Justice, and National Women’s Law Center, ³ and recommends several support resources, including Futures Without Violence, Legal Momentum, and No More. ³

Leadership

Douglas Fierberg is an attorney and the founder of Fierberg National Law Group. He earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the National Law Center at George Washington University. ⁵

His parents were liberals active in the civil rights movement. Fierberg continues to support liberalism. ¹⁶ In addition to several lawyers’ associations, he is a member of American Association for Justice and the pro-abortion Reproductive Justice Lawyers Network. ⁵ In June 2023, Fierberg contributed to the Fight Like Hell PAC, ¹⁷ a political action committee launched by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) to raise money for Democratic candidates for the 2024 election. ¹⁸ He also contributed to the Democratic Victory PAC, Warnock for Georgia, and ActBlue (PAC). ¹⁷

Monica Beck is managing legal counsel. ¹⁹  She earned her law degree at University of Michigan Law School. Prior to joining TFNL Group in 2015, Beck was an associate with Skadden law firm and deputy general counsel for Phoenix House. ²⁰

Olympias Iliana Konidaris is managing legal counsel for the TFNL Group New York City office. She focuses on representing victims in Title IX cases as well as gender-based violence. ²¹

She earned her law degree at Washington University School of Law. ²² Previously she was a staff attorney with left-of-center gender advocacy organization Legal Momentum, ²³ then had her own civil rights litigation practice, Konidaris Law, a New York City law firm focused on gender discrimination. ²²

Cari S. Simon is managing legal counsel for the TFNL Group Boulder, Colorado office. She focuses on representing victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and dating violence in educational settings. ²⁴ She earned her law degree at Harvard University Law School. Simon was a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) and a senior legislative assistant for former U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY). ²⁵