California Employment Law Update

Tag Archives: Statute of Limitations

COVID-19 Emergency Order Extending Statute Of Limitations For Civil Cases Upheld

LaCour v. Marshalls of Cal., LLC, 2023 WL 5543622 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023) Plaintiff Robert LaCour, a former “loss prevention specialist” for Marshalls, appealed from a judgment in favor of his former employer and certain affiliated entities.  Marshalls filed a demurrer arguing that because LaCour’s employment with Marshalls ended in May 2019, he had only … Continue Reading

September 2023 California Employment Law Notes

We invite you to review our newly-posted September 2023 California Employment Law Notes, a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law. The highlights include: Employers Owe No Duty Of Care To Prevent The Spread Of COVID To Employees’ Household Members School District Employer Did Not Violate The Law By Requiring … Continue Reading

October 2022 California Employment Law Notes

We invite you to review our newly-posted October 2022 California Employment Law Notes, a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law. The highlights include: Hollywood Producer Is Not Liable For Drowning Death Of Executive Assistant Employer May Not Inquire Into Former Employee’s Immigration Status Workers’ Comp Determination Does Not Govern … Continue Reading

Workers’ Comp Determination Does Not Govern Outcome Of Discrimination Case

Kaur v. Foster Poultry Farms LLC, 2022 WL 4243090 (Cal. Ct. App. 2022) Gurdip Kaur sued her former employer, Foster Farms, for discrimination based on disability and race/national origin, retaliation and violation of the whistleblower statute (Cal. Lab. Code § 1102.5).  Prior to filing this lawsuit, Kaur filed a petition against Foster Farms with the … Continue Reading

July 2022 California Employment Law Notes

We invite you to review our newly-posted July 2022 California Employment Law Notes, a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law. The highlights include: Summary Judgment Was Properly Granted To Employer In Whistleblower Case Job Applicants Need Not Be Paid For Time/Expenses Associated With Drug Testing Employer May Have … Continue Reading

Extended Statute Of Limitations Does Not Apply To Employer Of Felon

Cardenas v. Horizon Senior Living, Inc., 78 Cal. App. 5th 1065 (2022) The victim of a felony has an extended statute of limitations in which to bring an action for personal injury or wrongful death against the person convicted of that felony pursuant to Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.3 (“Section 340.3”). Mauricio Cardenas (who … Continue Reading

Successive Class Action Was Not Barred By Statute Of Limitations

Fierro v. Landry’s Rest. Inc., 23 Cal. App. 5th 325 (2018) Jorge Fierro filed this class action, claiming that he and the other members of the putative class were misclassified as exempt employees and that, in fact, they were non-exempt, non-managerial employees who are owed unpaid overtime wages and penalties. Landry’s responded by filing a … Continue Reading

Statute Of Limitations For Filing DFEH Complaint Runs From The Last Day Of Employment

Aviles-Rodriguez v. Los Angeles Cmty. Coll. Dist., 2017 WL 3712199 (Cal. Ct. App. 2017) Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez was employed as a professor for the Los Angeles Community College District (“LACCD”). Although Aviles-Rodriguez was notified on March 5, 2014 that his tenure had been denied by the Board of Trustees of the LACCD, his employment did not end … Continue Reading

Trade Secret Misappropriation Claims Should Not Have Been Dismissed

Richtek USA, Inc. v. uPI Semiconductor Corp., 242 Cal. App. 4th 651 (2015) Richtek sued three of its former employees (all residents of Taiwan) and the company they formed (uPI Semiconductor) for misappropriation of Richtek’s trade secrets. The trial court sustained the former employees’ demurrer to the complaint on the ground that the lawsuit was … Continue Reading

Employee’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Was Not Barred By Shortened Statute Of Limitations

Ellis v. U.S. Sec. Assocs., 224 Cal. App. 4th 1213 (2014) When Ashley Ellis applied to work as a security guard for U.S. Security Associates, she signed an employment application that purported to limit the statute of limitations to six months for any employment-related claims. Later, Ellis claimed to have been sexually harassed by her … Continue Reading

Former Lockheed Engineer May Proceed With False Claims Act Lawsuit

Hooper v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 2012 WL 3124970 (9th Cir. 2012) Nyle J. Hooper brought suit against Lockheed Martin under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act (the “FCA”). Hooper filed suit in the District Court for the District of Maryland, which transferred the suit at Lockheed’s request to the Central District of … Continue Reading

September 2011 California Employment Law Notes

We invite you to review our newly posted September 2011 California Employment Law Notes — a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law.  The highlights include: Employee Who Provided False SSN and Other Information Was Barred from Suing for Disability Discrimination Employer Did Not Violate CFRA by Transferring Employee upon Her … Continue Reading

Section 1981 Claim Is Subject to Four-Year Statute of Limitations

Johnson v. Lucent Techs. Inc., 653 F.3d 1000 (2011) In 2008, Russell H. Johnson, III, an African-American, sued Lucent and the administrator of his disability insurance benefits for retaliation in violation of Title VII, violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and intentional infliction of emotional distress in retaliation for his filing suit against Lucent in … Continue Reading

ADA “Impliedly Amended” The National Bank Act’s Termination-at-Pleasure Clause

Quinn v. U.S. Bank, N.A., 196 Cal. App. 4th 168 (2011) Robert Quinn, a former senior vice president of U.S. Bank, alleged he was denied accommodation, harassed and terminated because of a physical disability in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. U.S. Bank obtained summary judgment from the trial court on the ground … Continue Reading

Sexual Harassment Claim Was Barred By Statute Of Limitations

Trovato v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., 192 Cal. App. 4th 319 (2011) Irene Trovato, who was employed as a sales representative for Beckman Coulter, submitted a letter of resignation on May 14, 2007, with an effective date of May 25, 2007. On May 8, 2008, Trovato filed an administrative complaint against Beckman and her former supervisor, … Continue Reading

Supreme Court Clarifies Liability on Waiting Time Penalties

On November 18, the California Supreme Court in Pineda v. Bank of America, No. S170758 (Cal. Nov. 18, 2010) (pdf) clarified two issues regarding so-called “waiting time penalties” (i.e., penalties under California Labor Code Section 203 associated with the late payment of final wages upon termination of employment). First, the Court ruled that a three-year statute … Continue Reading

Investor Permitted To Proceed With Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claim Against NY Life

Oravecz v. New York Life Ins. Co., 95 Cal. Rptr. 3d 1 (Cal. Ct. App. 2009) Paul Oravecz sued Steve Roth and New York Life (which was allegedly Roth’s employer) after losing money in an investment in an offshore foreign currency trading fund, which Oravecz alleged was a “Ponzi scheme.” Among the claims Oravecz alleged … Continue Reading

Investor Permitted To Proceed With Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claim Against NY Life

Oravecz v. New York Life Ins. Co., 95 Cal. Rptr 3d 1 (Cal. Ct. App. 2009) Paul Oravecz sued Steve Roth and New York Life (which was allegedly Roth’s employer) after losing money in an investment in an offshore foreign currency trading fund, which Oravecz alleged was a “Ponzi scheme.” Among the claims Oravecz alleged … Continue Reading

Statute Of Limitations Was Equitably Tolled While Employee Was Pursuing Administrative Remedy

McDonald v. Antelope Valley Cmty. Coll. Dist., 45 Cal. 4th 88 (2008) Plaintiffs in this case alleged racial harassment, discrimination and retaliation against the District. The trial court granted summary judgment to the employer with regard to Sylvia Brown’s claims on the ground they were barred by the statute of limitations applicable to claims asserted … Continue Reading

Statute Of Limitations For Trade Secrets Claim Dates From Time Of Owner’s Knowledge

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. v. Superior Court, 163 Cal. App. 4th 575 (2008) The trade secret owner in this case, Silvaco Data Systems, develops and licenses electronic design automation software. In late 1998, a former Silvaco employee, working for Circuit Systems, Inc. (“CSI”), incorporated Silvaco’s “SmartSpice” trade secrets into CSI’s product, “DynaSpice.” Silvaco sued the employee … Continue Reading

Physician’s Discrimination Claims Were Properly Dismissed

Johnson v. Riverside Healthcare Sys., 516 F.3d 759 (9th Cir. 2008) Christopher Lynn Johnson alleged he was discriminated against on the basis of his race and sexual orientation and asserted claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Unruh Civil Rights Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The district court granted defendants’ motion … Continue Reading

Pay Discrimination Claim Was Subject To 180-Day Statute Of Limitations

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618, 127 S. Ct. 2162 (2007) Lilly Ledbetter was employed by Goodyear for approximately 19 years at the company’s Gadsden, Alabama plant. After taking early retirement, Ledbetter commenced this action against Goodyear in which she alleged pay discrimination on the basis of gender in violation of … Continue Reading

Claim For Unpaid Meal Periods Is Subject To Three-Year Statute Of Limitations

Murphy v. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc., 2007 WL 1111233 (Cal. S. Ct. 2007) Former store manager John Paul Murphy sued Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. (KCP), a small, upscale retail clothing store, for violations of the wage and hour law, asserting that he was improperly classified as an exempt employee. After resigning his employment, Murphy filed … Continue Reading

Claims Arising From Employer’s Failure To Carry Workers’ Comp Were Subject To 3-Year Statute Of Limitations

Valdez v. Himmelfarb, 144 Cal. App. 4th 1261 (2006) Elias Valdez alleged that he was injured in the course of his employment as a cook, janitor, dishwasher, and gardener at defendants’ Malibu restaurant. Valdez sued for personal injury, unfair competition, and declaratory relief based on defendants’ failure to carry workers’ compensation insurance as required by … Continue Reading
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