Verdict Report: Snead v. CVUSD

Verdict: $550,000 For Disabled Custodian

We are pleased to report that our firm, Workplace Justice Advocates, PLC, has obtained a $550,000 jury verdict on behalf of our client, Joseph Snead, against his former employer, the Chino Valley Unified School District (“District”). Below, We’ve organized the facts of the case, a breakdown of what happened at trial and a few closing notes regarding the jurors’…

Verdict Report: Snead v. CVUSD

Verdict Report: Mayo v. CDC

Victory! We’re overjoyed to report that our firm, Workplace Justice Advocates, PLC, has obtained a $1.37M verdict on behalf of our client, Huron Mayo, against her former employer, the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (“Commission”). Below, We’ve organized the facts of the case, a breakdown of what happened at trial and a…

Former Employee Gets $5.6M For Standing Up for Ex-Wife

Employee Gets $5.6M After Standing Up for His Ex-Wife

Chivalry isn’t dead, especially when it pays-off like this. A Sacramento, CA jury came back today with a gross verdict of $5,653,604.38 in favor of a former claims adjuster, Robert “Bob” Sallustio, a 28-year employee who was defamed and terminated by Kemper Independence Insurance Co. after he tried to stop Kemper management from harassing his ex-wive, who…

President Signs Order to Ban LGBT Discrimination

President Signs Order to Ban LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace

President Barak Obama signed executive order 13762 today, which operates to prohibit LGBT discrimination against employees of the federal government and federal government contractors. LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals. The president did so by amending two previous executive orders (the Equal Employment Opportunity from 1965 and Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government from 1969)  by adding “sexual orientation” and “sexual identity” to…

Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment: What to Do

Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment: What to Do

There’s been a ton of sexual harassment allegations in the news lately. In a matter of weeks, we’ve seen American Apparel CEO Dov Charney ousted after a steady stream of sexual harassment allegations (along with other mismanagement issues), an ex Tinder VP suing the startup and its co-founder for sexual harassment (and exposing some very interesting text…

Retaliation: Gym Teacher Fired For Refusing Threesome With Boss

Retaliation: Gym Teacher Fired For Refusing Threesome With Boss

New York Daily News reports that a lawsuit, filed by a former Bronx area gym teacher, Carisa Gaylardo, alleges that she was retaliated against and fired after refusing to have a threesome with her boss and her boss’ boyfriend. The allegations in the complaint state that Ms. Gaylardo’s supervisor, Sofia Memos, approached Gaylardo both in…

Obama Seeks Proper Overtime for Millions of Misclassified Workers

Obama Seeks Proper Overtime for Millions of Misclassified Workers

Orange County Employment Attorney: On March 11, the New York Times reported that President Obama will direct the Department of Labor to enact changes that will will seek to force American businesses to pay proper overtime to millions of workers who are purposefully misclassified as “overtime exempt.” This plan is specifically aimed to target those…

Can Employers Discriminate Against Medical Marijuana Users?

Can Employers Discriminate Against Medical Marijuana Users?

Is Medical Marijuana Discrimination Legal in California? As an employment attorney and California resident, my first (knee-jerk) response to that question was “No. There’s just no way an employer can get away with discriminating against a disabled employee who uses medical marijuana at home.” In California, employers can’t discriminate against employees for their medical conditions…

New Laws Protect Undocumented Workers From Retaliation

New Laws Protect Undocumented Workers From Retaliation

Orange County Employment Attorney: One of the many new laws that went into effect on January 1, 2014 will operate to protect the rights of undocumented workers in California by punishing employers who use threats of deportation to retaliate against employees who complain of unsafe working conditions, sexual harassment and other civil rights violations. SB666, drafted…

UPS to Pay $700,000 In Attorney Fees After $27K Verdict

UPS to Pay $700,000 In Attorney Fees After $27k Verdict

Orange County Employment Attorney: Ouch. A December decision by a federal appellate court is sure to intrigue employment attorneys as well as hopeful plaintiffs. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed an award of nearly $700,000 in attorney fees against UPS even though a jury only awarded $27,000 in damages to its…