Deborah was the federal prosecutor in numerous jury trials of rape and child sexual abuse cases from Cherokee Indian Reservation in western North Carolina. She has also represented plaintiffs in civil rights cases in federal court, and participated in two constitutional claims before the United States Supreme Court.

She has represented organizations across the country in defending personal injury cases, including child sexual abuse. She served as a federal prosecutor, handling crimes against children, and has deep experience in constitutional litigation.

She has worked with parents on the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including Individual Education Plans. She also has advised numerous and varying youth-serving organizations ...

Defended educational products company in lawsuit alleging infringement of copyrights in cards for assistance with speech therapy. The court granted our motion for summary judgment, finding that there was no infringement of any copyright in the selection and arrangement of Plaintiff’s cards as a matter of law. Ristuccia v. Super Duper, Inc.

Defense of day care centers throughout Georgia in licensing and general litigation matters.

Represented Atlanta Public Schools in favorably resolving a class action brought by the ACLU that raised federal and state constitutional and statutory claims with respect to the adequacy of education, procedures for assigning and disciplining students, and search practices at alternative high school.

Represented the defendant, a Seventh Day Adventist school and sanitarium, against claims brought by the plaintiff under Tennessee’s workers’ compensation statutes. The defendant’s defense was based in part under the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Acted as counsel to Dew Learning in a corporate reorganization and recapitalization through which Dew Learning became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dew IT Holdings, LLC ("Holdings"), the former members of Dew Learning exchanged their interests in Dew Learning for membership interests in Holdings, and Holdings was capitalized by the sale of $2.5 million in convertible notes to its majority owners.

Successfully defended a private school against claims by the United States Department of Labor that its vocational program violated child labor laws and obtained an order awarding the school its attorneys’ fees. The favorable opinion from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals established precedent for all similar schools in the four-state circuit.

Advised on legal aspects of standards for youth serving organizations in hiring, screening and supervision. 

Governing board for state agency, serving on committee for department of Family and Children's services.