Practice areas: Consumer Law, Civil Litigation, Employment & Labor; view more
Licensed in Washington DC since: 2020
Education: The George Washington University Law School
Selected to Rising Stars: 2024 - 2025 Call today:
202-221-4003
Berger Montague
1001 G St NWSuite 400 East
Washington, DC 20001 Visit website
James Hannaway is an Associate in Berger Montague’s Washington, DC office and practices in the Consumer Protection practice group. He litigates claims on behalf of classes for violations of state consumer protection laws, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and data privacy laws. He also litigates public nuisance and consumer protection claims on behalf of local governments.
James recently served as co-lead trial counsel for the Mayor & City Council of Baltimore in litigation involving a gun dealer’s sale of ghost gun kits, a case which led to a $62 million jury verdict, the highest verdict ever achieved against the gun industry in U.S. history.
Before joining the firm, James worked at another national, plaintiff-side firm, where he represented whistleblowers, local governments, and employees in individual, class, and MDL litigation. Among other cases, he helped to achieve noteworthy settlements in Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Polymer80 et al. (Md. Cir. Ct.), Blackbird ex rel. San Diego et al. v. Invitation Homes (S.D. Cal.), and Fogg v. Bondi (EEOC). He previously clerked for Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
James graduated with highest honors, Order of the Coif, from The George Washington University Law School. While in law school, James served as an Articles Editor of The George Washington Law Review, Chapter President of the American Constitution Society, Student Attorney for the Public Justice Advocacy Clinic, Organizing Committee Member for GW’s graduate worker union, and Research Assistant for Associate Dean Alan Morrison. Prior to law school, James worked on, and eventually managed, several electoral campaigns and worked as a crisis communications consultant.
Practice areas
Consumer Law, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Employment & Labor: EmployeeFocus areas
Consumer Protection, Whistleblower
- 40% Consumer Law
- 30% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 30% Employment & Labor: Employee
First Admitted: 2020, Washington DC
Professional Webpage: https://www.sanfordheisler.com/team/james-hannaway/
Bar / Professional Activity
- District of Columbia, 2020
- GW’s Graduate Worker Union, Organizing Committee Member
- Public Justice Advocacy Clinic, Student Attorney
- American Constitution Society, Chapter President
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Mr. Hannaway and attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp, along with the Brady Campaign and the Baltimore City Department of the Law, successfully represented the City of Baltimore in its litigation against Polymer80, one of the largest manufacturers of easy-to-assemble, un-serialized "ghost guns." The complaint alleged Polymer80 had created a public nuisance in Baltimore and was in violation of Maryland and federal firearms law. In 2024, a settlement was reached that imposes a permanent injunction prohibiting Polymer80 from selling or advertising its ghost gun kits in Maryland. The company also must pay the City of Baltimore $1.2 million in damages., 2024
- Mr. Hannaway served as co-counsel for the relator, Blackbird Special Project, in a California False Claims Act qui tam lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Invitation Homes, the largest single-family corporate landlord in America. In October 2024, Invitation Homes agreed to a $19.9 million settlement to resolve claims brought by our whistleblower client on behalf of 35 cities across California. Our client received roughly 20 percent of the settlement, or $4.6 million. The Complaint alleged that Invitation Homes conducted extensive renovations on some 12,000 single-family homes without obtaining the required building permits from local cities and municipalities. Invitation Homes failed to obtain the permits to avoid permit fees and property tax increases, which deprived 35 cities of much-needed funds and caused safety risks to tenants., 2024
- Mr. Hannaway is a member of the Sanford Heisler Sharp team representing the class in Hedgepeth v. Garland, a nearly 30-year long racial discrimination complaint alleging the United States Marshals Service ("USMS") discriminated against African Americans in its promotions, recruitment, and hiring policies for Deputy U.S. Marshals positions. In September 2023, the Court granted preliminary approval for a $15 million settlement. The plaintiff class encompasses all past, current, and prospective African American Deputy U.S. Marshals from January 23, 1994, through the present. As part of the settlement, the USMS agreed to institute significant programmatic reforms to its hiring practices. The race discrimination complaint was originally filed in 1994. , 2023
Representative Clients
- Mr. Hannaway is representing the plaintiffs in their lawsuit alleging race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation against Kraft Heinz. The plaintiffs worked at Kraft Heinz's dairy plant in California. The Complaint alleges that all three plaintiffs, who are Black, experienced extreme racial animus and harassment from both co-workers and supervisors, and that Kraft Heinz failed to adequately respond to the hostile work environment. As retaliation for reporting the abuse, according to the Complaint, the Plaintiffs were targeted with disciplinary actions and passed over for promotions in favor of non-Black employees with less experience. Ultimately, instead of addressing the racial abuse, Plaintiffs allege Kraft Heinz illegally terminated their employment. The Complaint seeks damages of at least $30 million for lost pay and the emotional distress plaintiffs experienced over the years. The case is scheduled for trial in 2024., 2024
Pro bono / Community Service
- Washington Lawyers’ Committee Workers’ Rights Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
Honors
- ALM Litigator of the Week, https://www.law.com/litigationdaily/2025/09/05/litigators-of-the-week-62m-verdict-for-the-city-of-baltimore-in-public-nuisance-suit-against-ghost-gun-kit-seller-/, 2025
Educational Background
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, with Highest Honors, Order of the Coif
- B.A., Carleton College, cum laude
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Legal analysis critical of circuit court rulings holding that compensatory damages are not available in discrimination cases brought under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). "This apparent consensus is outdated and without reasoned support. Moreover, it is contrary to the prevailing interpretation of equivalent language in the Fair Labor Standards Act/ADEA's provision setting forth anti-retaliation remedies and the ADEA's protections for federal employees. As a baseless vestige of the law, it can and should unravel soon, given courts' newfound willingness to reconsider old doctrine that contradicts the plain text of civil rights statutes.", Co-author, "Courts Should Revisit Availability Of Age Bias Law Damages", Law360, 2023
- An in-depth analysis considering the implications for employment and anti-bias law as employers increasing use algorithmic hiring tools to screen for "cultural fit." , Co-Author, "How AI 'Cultural Fit' Assessments Can Be Analyzed For Bias", Law360, 2023
Other Outstanding Achievements
- The George Washington Law Review, Articles Editor
Office location for James Hannaway
1001 G St NW
Suite 400 East
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-221-4003
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2024 - 2025
