Baumann v. Chase Inv. Servs., 2014 WL 983587 (9th Cir. 2014)
Joseph Baumann sued his employer, Chase Investment Services Corporation, under the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”), alleging claims for unpaid overtime, meal breaks and rest periods and timely expense reimbursements. Baumann further alleged his potential share of any recovery and attorney’s fees would be less than $75,000. Chase removed the action under the
deSaulles v. Community Hosp. of the Monterey Peninsula, 2014 WL 1724043 (Cal. Ct. App. 2014)
Maureen deSaulles agreed to dismiss with prejudice two of her seven causes of action in exchange for a settlement payment from her former employer in the amount of $23,000. The trial court subsequently exercised its discretion and awarded $12,731.92 in costs to the employer. deSaulles appealed, claiming that the
$150,000 Sexual Harassment Verdict And $680,000 Fee Award Affirmed
Taylor v. Nabors Drilling USA, LP, 222 Cal. App. 4th 1228 (2014)
Max Taylor worked as a floorhand on an oil rig where he alleged he was harassed by his supervisors who called him “queer,” “fagot [sic],” “homo,” and “gay porn star” and was subjected to other humiliating and harassing conduct, including simulated masturbation
Charles Schwab announced last week that it is planning to move “a significant number of San Francisco-based jobs” out of state over the next three to five years. According to a recent article in Forbes, “Observers close to the situation blame the city’s extreme payroll tax and high cost of doing business in California as the reasons for the company’s exodus.” The article notes that
Are your employee handbooks and policies collecting dust? In the highly regulated workplace, human resource professionals, compliance officers, IT, and their counsel must work together to ensure that employee handbooks and policies reflect current best practices in light of expanding employment laws and regulations. In this interactive webinar, you will learn:
• Best practices for employee handbooks and policies
• How to avoid liability when
On December 16, we obtained summary judgment on behalf of our client, Paramount Pictures Corporation, in a case brought by a former paralegal in the studio’s Business Affairs Administration department. The plaintiff claimed discrimination, constructive discharge and wrongful termination on the basis of her race. (The plaintiff was represented by Tom Girardi, who had previously represented Erin Brockovich.) Yarbrough v. Paramount Pictures Corp., Los
TV Station’s Failure To Hire Weather News Anchor Was Protected By Free Speech Rights
Hunter v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc., 221 Cal. App. 4th 1510 (2013)
Kyle Hunter sued CBS Broadcasting for age and gender discrimination after it refused to hire him as a weather news anchor. Hunter alleged that CBS “repeatedly shunned him for numerous on-air broadcasting positions due to his gender and age”
A bill that would have allowed California employers to offer employees a flexible workweek schedule has failed to pass the California Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment in a 5-2 party-line vote. The Committee rejected Assembly Bill 907 on the ground that the proposed law would “lead to employee intimidation and a breakdown of the eight-hour work day.” The bill, which was opposed by Democrats
Employer Was Entitled To “Substantial Motivating Factor” Jury Instruction
Alamo v. Practice Mgmt. Info. Corp., 219 Cal. App. 4th 466 (2013)
In one of the first appellate opinions to consider the new jury instructions required for employment discrimination cases as set forth by the California Supreme Court in Harris v. City of Santa Monica, 56 Cal. 4th 203 (2013), the Court of Appeal
Minimum Wage Increased to $10.00 Per Hour By 2016
The minimum wage will increase in California from $8.00 to $9.00 per hour on July 1, 2014 and to $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2016 (AB 10).
Employer Recovery of Attorney’s Fees Is Further Restricted
California has amended Cal. Lab. Code § 218.5 to limit the circumstances under which an employer may recover