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Cary S. McGehee

Founding Partner

Experience

Cary McGehee is a Founding Partner of Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers. Throughout her distinguished career, Cary has dedicated herself to representing victims of employment discrimination, civil rights violations, and institutional misconduct—holding powerful corporate and governmental entities accountable and securing justice for those most in need.

Cary has led and helped shape some of the most impactful civil rights and class action lawsuits in Michigan and beyond. She was instrumental in the $624 million Flint Water Class Action settlement, which held the state and other government entities accountable for the water crisis that devastated the city of Flint. Furthermore, Cary played a central role in two major class actions against the Michigan Department of Corrections on behalf of women and youth who were sexually assaulted while incarcerated, resulting in $100 million and $80 million settlements. She also achieved a confidential settlement for the religious rights of 16 Bengali Muslim employees in a lawsuit against their workplace that denied adjustments to accommodate for Ramadan.

Currently, Cary is serving as co-lead counsel in a groundbreaking lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of Flint residents. The lawsuit alleges that the EPA’s negligence during the Flint Water Crisis caused significant physical and emotional harm to thousands of people. In a major legal victory in January 2025, a federal judge ruled that the EPA is not entitled to immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act, allowing the case to move forward.

Cary continues to fight for justice in other high-profile matters. She recently filed suit on behalf of a former DTE Energy employee who was sexually harassed by a customer and received no support from her employer. Cary also represents three prisoners in Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility who have filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for allegedly neglecting ventilation systems within the facility that produced mold and negatively affected the inmates' health. Recently Federal Judge Elizabeth Stafford of the Eastern District of Michigan rejected MDOC’s motion to dismiss the case, citing that MDOC’s grievance process unfairly blocks prisoners from filing timely and valid complaints. Cary is also at the forefront of litigation against the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center, exposing a pattern of sexual abuse and inhumane treatment of youth residents.

Cary’s approach to the law is shaped by her background as a collegiate and professional basketball player, giving her the tenacity, strategy, and competitive spirit to challenge even the most formidable opponents.

Cary’s passion for civil rights and social justice is deeply rooted in her upbringing—she is the daughter of Episcopal Bishop H. Coleman McGehee, Jr., a renowned civil rights leader. She honors his legacy through both her legal practice and community advocacy.

Education