Author Info for CDF Labor Law LLP

Lindsay Ayers

Employer Not Required to Initiate Arbitration Following Court-Ordered Arbitration

The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District recently issued a clarifying decision in Michelle Arzate, et al. v. ACE American Insurance Company, addressing which party is responsible for initiating arbitration… more

Appeals, Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, California, Class Action

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Tashayla "Shay" Billington

New NLRB Salting Guidance: What California Employers Need to Know

July 25, 2025 – Memorandum GC 25-08 - The NLRB’s Acting General Counsel (GC), William Cowen, has issued new marching orders for how the agency will investigate “salting” cases – when union organizers apply for jobs with the… more

California, Hiring & Firing, Job Applicants, Labor Relations, New Guidance

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Jayvon Brown

Collegiate Athletes to Share in Sports Revenue in California?

Earlier this year, we blogged about the NLRB’s aggressive moves to try to make revenue-generating college athletes employees, at least for purposes of the National Labor Relations Act. Earlier this month, the California Assembly… more

California, College Athletes, Compensation & Benefits, Educational Institutions, Intellectual Property Protection

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Corey Cabral

Cal. Court of Appeal Affirms Validity of Prospective Meal Break Waivers

On April 21, 2025, a California Court of Appeal affirmed the validity of prospective, written meal period waivers, so long as they are revocable and not coerced. The case, La Kimba Bradsbery et al. v. Vicar Operating, Inc.,… more

Appeals, California, Employee Rights, Employment Litigation, Employment Policies

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M. Leah Cameron

On The Horizon: California Bill Seeks To Ban Caste-Based Discrimination

California is likely to become the first state to explicitly ban caste-based discrimination in the context of employment, housing, and public schools. SB 403 seeks to amend the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), along with… more

California, Discrimination, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, FEHA

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Allison Chua

[Webinar] Top Seven Non-COVID Related Employment Law Issues for California Employers - March 30th, 10:00 am - 10:45 am PT

Please join our distinguished panelists of CDF employment law attorneys, Carolina Schwalbach, Leah Cameron, and Allison Chua on March 30, 2022, for a complimentary webinar as they explore the top pressing non-COVID-related… more

Arbitration Agreements, Class Action, Continuing Legal Education, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Contract

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Brian Cole II

2024 PAGA Reforms – Has the Landscape Changed?

The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), enacted in 2004, upturned California’s employment law landscape. In theory, PAGA allowed employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees,… more

California, Class Action, Employees, Employment Litigation, Labor Code

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Christopher Dawood

Top Five 2025 California Privacy Alerts for California Employers

Employers must prepare for significant amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018, as amended by the CPRA (CCPA) in 2025. The CCPA grants California residents, including employees, specific rights relating… more

Artificial Intelligence, California, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Consumer Privacy Rights, Data Collection

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Candace DesBaillets

New Minimum Wage for California Health Care Workers Takes Effect October 16, 2024

A minimum wage increase for health care workers in California will kick in on October 16, 2024. The change was originally slated to take effect this past June, after California enacted Senate Bill (“SB”) 525 in the fall of 2023… more

California, Employees, Healthcare Facilities, Healthcare Workers, Minimum Wage

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Renate Fessler

July 1 Minimum Wage Hikes Across California Explained

On July 1, 2025, new increased minimum wage rates will go into effect in many California cities and counties. Local governments have looked to offset the effects of inflation and have decided to use minimum wage ordinances to… more

California, Compensation & Benefits, Employees, Employer Responsibilities, Labor Regulations

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Dan Forman

[Webinar] AI, Algorithms & Employer Protection — What You Need to Know - August 20th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Join CDF's Privacy and AI Practice Group Partners, Dan Forman, Dalia Khatib and Linda Wang, on August 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM (Pacific) for a timely discussion on how emerging AI regulations and privacy laws are reshaping workplace… more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision Systems (ADS), Bias, California

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Timothy Freudenberger

[Webinar] Combatting the Rise in Wage & Hour and PAGA Litigation in the Healthcare Industry - October 7th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PST

Healthcare employers are not immune to the outbreak of wage and hour and PAGA claims that are plaguing California businesses. As healthcare is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the country, it places a… more

Best Practices, Continuing Legal Education, Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Training, Employer Liability Issues

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Robyn Frick

A Win for Staffing Agencies in California

A key issue that staffing agencies often face in litigation is whether the end of a temporary work assignment constitutes a “discharge” of the employee’s employment with the staffing agency. In a favorable ruling for staffing… more

California, Corporate Counsel, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Litigation

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Emily Gifford

Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc.

Earlier this week, the California Court of Appeal reached a decision that may ease employers’ worries when presented with a wage and hour lawsuit. California’s plaintiff-friendly laws provide avenues for plaintiffs to fill… more

Appeals, Attorney's Fees, Damages, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Litigation

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John Giovannone

Olympic Wages Approved by Los Angeles City Council

As a present to organized labor, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a draft of the “Olympic Wage Ordinance” that, when finalized, will have a profound impact on the City’s hotel industry--an industry experiencing an… more

California, City of Los Angeles, Employee Benefits, Employees, Labor Reform

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Richard Green

[Webinar] An Employer’s Playbook for ICE Audits & Workplace Raids - June 24th, 10:00 am - 10:45 am PT

As we have all seen in the news, employers everywhere, and especially in California, are experiencing a marked uptick in workplace immigration enforcement activity. ICE audits and unannounced raids can occur without warning,… more

Attorney-Client Privilege, Audits, California, Continuing Legal Education, Employer Liability Issues

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Wanja Guy

California’s Employees Entitled to Reproductive Loss Leave in 2024

On January 1, 2024, most California employers are required to provide up to five days of unpaid leave to an employee who experiences a reproductive loss event. Senate Bill 848 defines a reproductive loss as a failed adoption,… more

California, Employer Liability Issues, Labor Reform, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Disability Leave Law

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Ashley Halberda

FTC Noncompete Ban Upheld: What Employers Need to Know

Yesterday, a Pennsylvania federal judge upheld the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ban on employment noncompete agreements in ATS Tree Services, LLC v. Federal Trade Commission. This decision may have implications for employers… more

Employer Liability Issues, Employment Contract, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Hiring & Firing, Non-Compete Agreements

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Sander van der Heide

CA Supreme Court Offers Relief to Employers For Unintentional Arbitration Fee Delays

Background: The Thirty-Day Arbitration Fee Rule - In 2019, the California legislature amended the California Arbitration Act (CAA) to require the party who drafts an arbitration agreement to pay all required arbitration fees… more

Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, Arbitration Fees, CA Supreme Court, California

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Desiree Ho

[Webinar] Wage & Hour Minefield: Top Compliance Risks and Litigation Trends for 2025 - February 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Wage and hour claims—especially under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and class action lawsuits—continue to rise at an alarming rate. With more PAGA notices filed than ever before and wage and hour class… more

California, Class Action, Compensation Agreements, Continuing Legal Education, Employee Commissions

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Cody Humpherys

Updates on California’s Pro-Employee Legislation

September has been a significant month for pro-employee legislation in Sacramento. In early September, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act, which provides for… more

California, Employer Liability Issues, Fast-Food Industry, Labor Reform, New Legislation

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Dawn Irizarry

CMS Will Enforce Health Care Vaccine Mandate Unless Enjoined By Court

On December 28, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that it will begin enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, as set forth in the Interim Final Rule published on November 5, 2021, in 25… more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employer Liability Issues, Employer Mandates, Essential Workers

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Kimberly Jansen

Cal-OSHA Issues A New Set Of Proposed Revisions To The ETS

Last week, on October 20, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) issued proposed revisions to the Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”). If approved, the revisions would be in place from January… more

Cal-OSHA, Coronavirus/COVID-19, Emergency Management Plans, Employer Liability Issues, Health and Safety

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Sophia Jimenez

PAGA Tactic Denied by Cal. Court of Appeal: Plaintiff Who Voluntarily Dismissed PAGA Claims Could Not Invoke Death Knell Doctrine to Appeal Denial of Class Certification

Last week, in Chavez v. Hi-Grade Materials Co., the California Court of Appeal took up a novel jurisdictional question: Can a putative class action plaintiff unilaterally ring the death knell for the entire class and create… more

Appeals, Appellate Courts, California, Class Action, Employee Rights

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Holly Jones

LWDA Publishes PAGA Frequently Asked Questions

The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”) recently published Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) and the recent amendments that impact PAGA claims after June 19,… more

California, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Employer Responsibilities, Employment Litigation

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John Keeney

Health Care Minimum Wage Increases Delayed Until At Least October 2024

On June 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newson signed Senate Bill (SB) 159, which includes revisions to California’s health care worker minimum wage, delaying the implementation of minimum wage increases to health care workers… more

Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Healthcare Workers, Labor Code, Labor Reform

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Dalia Khatib

[Webinar] AI, Algorithms & Employer Protection — What You Need to Know - August 20th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Join CDF's Privacy and AI Practice Group Partners, Dan Forman, Dalia Khatib and Linda Wang, on August 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM (Pacific) for a timely discussion on how emerging AI regulations and privacy laws are reshaping workplace… more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision Systems (ADS), Bias, California

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Marianne Koepf

[Webinar] Avoiding Litigation - Effective Disability Accommodation Practices for California Employers - August 22nd, 10:00 am PT

CDF Partners Leigh A. White and Marianne C. Koepf will present an insightful webinar on one of the fastest-growing areas of litigation in California: disability discrimination and reasonable accommodation. With the… more

Best Practices, Business Operations, California, Continuing Legal Education, Disability Discrimination

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Ryan Larocca

Allison v. Dignity Health Provides Roadmap For Employers To Defeat Class Action Claims

The First District Court of Appeal’s recently published decision, Allison v. Dignity Health, is a win for employers holding that broad reliance on time-clock data and expert surveys is insufficient to sustain class-wide… more

Appeals, California, Class Action, Discovery, Employee Rights

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Nicole Legrottaglie

[Webinar] New California Employment Laws and Developments for 2025 - November 20th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Join us for a comprehensive, complimentary webinar on November 20, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Pacific), presented by CDF Partners Mark S. Spring and Nicole Legrottaglie Wohl. This “Year in Review” session will cover the most… more

California, Continuing Legal Education, Driver's Licenses, Employee Handbooks, Employer Liability Issues

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Ashley Lopeztello

[Webinar] Adapting Workplace Investigations to Meet the Challenges of the Moment - April 27th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

As the pandemic crisis and the social landscape continues to evolve, so too must the techniques that employers use to investigate workplace concerns. Employer missteps when conducting internal investigations can create… more

#MeToo, Anti-Harassment Policies, Black Lives Matter, Continuing Legal Education, Coronavirus/COVID-19

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Nancy Lubrano

2024 PAGA Reforms – Has the Landscape Changed?

The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), enacted in 2004, upturned California’s employment law landscape. In theory, PAGA allowed employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees,… more

California, Class Action, Employees, Employment Litigation, Labor Code

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Denisha McKenzie

Federal Agencies Directed to End Enforcement of Disparate Impact Discrimination Claims Under President Trump’s New Executive Order

On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” (“Executive Order”). This Executive Order is one in a series issued by President Trump with the goal of… more

Civil Rights Act, Disparate Impact, Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I), Employment Discrimination, Equal Protection

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Erin Owen

San Diego’s New Fair Chance Ordinance

In keeping with the recent proliferation of fair chance legislation at the state and local levels, effective October 10, 2024, businesses with five or more employees who carry out business in unincorporated areas of San Diego… more

Background Checks, California, Criminal Background Checks, Criminal Records, Employer Liability Issues

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Osaama Saifi

Federal Agencies Directed to End Enforcement of Disparate Impact Discrimination Claims Under President Trump’s New Executive Order

On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” (“Executive Order”). This Executive Order is one in a series issued by President Trump with the goal of… more

Civil Rights Act, Disparate Impact, Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I), Employment Discrimination, Equal Protection

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Mayra Sandoval

Cal/OSHA Implements Third Revision to COVID-19 Emergency Regulations

On May 6, 2022, the latest and greatest (third) revision to the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”) takes effect. Most of the core requirements that employers must develop, implement, and maintain via a written… more

Cal-OSHA, Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employer Liability Issues, Employer Responsibilities, Infectious Diseases

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Carolina Schwalbach

Supreme Court Confirms More Stringent Test Before Granting Section 10(j) Injunctions In Rare Win For Employers

Earlier this week, in Starbucks v. McKinney, 602 U.S. ____ _2024), the Supreme Court resolved a disagreement among federal appeals courts on how requests for injunctive relief under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations… more

Hiring & Firing, Injunctive Relief, NLRB, Preliminary Injunctions, SCOTUS

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Charanjit Singh

When Catastrophe Strikes Volunteers Answer - Tips To Consider

As the wildfires continue in Southern California, local communities quickly mobilized and responded with massive volunteer efforts to help those affected by the wildfires. American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, World Kitchen,… more

California, Employee Benefits, Employee Rights, Employees, Employer Liability Issues

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Ryan Snyder

Governor Newsom Signs Law Expanding Employer Pay Transparency and Pay Data Reporting Requirements

On February 17, 2022, the California legislature introduced Senate Bill (“SB”) 1162 to expand employer requirements regarding pay transparency and pay data reporting. On September 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1162… more

California, DFEH, Employer Liability Issues, Labor Reform, New Legislation

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Holly Soliman

A Reminder to California Employers: Time Off to Vote Notice Requirement Approaching on October 26

With the 2024 election fast approaching in a few short weeks, California employers should refresh themselves on complying with the state’s voting leave and posting requirements for employees… more

California, Employee Rights, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Policies

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Thomas Song

California Poised For Indoor Heat Illness Regulation

Cal/OSHA has long been able to cite employers for violating stringent outdoor heat illness regulations, that apply to all “outdoor places of employment.” As a consequence, indoor work spaces subjected to high heat conditions… more

Cal-OSHA, California, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Health and Safety

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Mark Spring

NLRB Acting General Counsel Addresses Surreptitious Recording of Collective Bargaining Sessions

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has not previously addressed whether the surreptitious recording of collective bargaining sessions is a standalone violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). However, with the… more

Collective Bargaining, Employee Privacy Rights, Employer Responsibilities, Labor Relations, NLRA

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Kent Sprinkle

[Webinar] Top 10 Employment Issues for California Employers Dealing with Remote Workers - July 29th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

COVID-19 ushered in a new paradigm of remote working. Although some companies had already embraced a remote workforce or some semblance of one, this work model is new for many employers. Most employers are still grappling with a… more

Best Practices, Business Expenses, Continuing Legal Education, Data Privacy, Data Security

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Cody Stroman

Santa Clara County Updates Guidelines for Reopening Employers Effective June 21, 2021

In May 2021, Santa Clara County implemented some unique requirements on employers in the County with respect to gathering information on the vaccination status of employees… more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employer Liability Issues, Employer Responsibilities, Health and Safety, Infectious Diseases

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Rebekah Thomas

COVID-19 Supplemental Leave Likely To Be Extended In California

In just a few days, California Assembly Bill 152, authored by the Assembly Committee on Budget, will face its final hurdle when it hits the Governor’s desk for signature. The California legislature passed the COVID-19-related… more

California, Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employees, Employer Liability Issues, Infectious Diseases

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Alison Tsao

Unconscionable Employment Terms In Onboarding Documents Can Void Arbitration Agreements

On June 13, 2025, a California Court of Appeal struck down an arbitration agreement because of unconscionable terms entered by the parties in a separate employment agreement, governing different dispute resolution fora and… more

Appeals, Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, California, Class Action

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Joel Van Parys

Tips on Tips

Tips are a trending topic in the news. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, signed into law on July 4, 2025, created a new federal income deduction for tip earnings which raised awareness around tips. Now, California has passed a… more

California, Employer Responsibilities, Labor Code, New Legislation, State Labor Laws

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Adelyn Vigran

Ensuring Employee Handbook Compliance During a Business Transaction or Restructuring

As the economy changes, corporate restructures, mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. There is a plethora of employment-related issues that should be heavily vetted in advance of a corporate transaction as the target… more

Acquisitions, Buyers, Corporate Restructuring, Corporate Sales Transactions, Employee Handbooks

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Linda Wang

[Webinar] AI, Algorithms & Employer Protection — What You Need to Know - August 20th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Join CDF's Privacy and AI Practice Group Partners, Dan Forman, Dalia Khatib and Linda Wang, on August 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM (Pacific) for a timely discussion on how emerging AI regulations and privacy laws are reshaping workplace… more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision Systems (ADS), Bias, California

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Taylor Wendland

Reminder: Get Ready for Los Angeles County’s Fair Work Week Ordinance Effective Date: July 1, 2025

As we previously blogged, effective July 1, 2025, Los Angeles County’s new Fair Work Week Ordinance requires qualifying retailers and grocers (300+ employees nationwide in unincorporated LA County) to give workers predictable… more

California, Deadlines, Employee Rights, Employer Responsibilities, Labor Regulations

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Alessandra Whipple

Cal/OSHA Proposes Revisions to Workplace Violence Prevention Regulation

On May 13, 2025, Cal/OSHA issued a new draft of its proposed Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry regulation, which updates its previously issued July 15, 2024 version. This May 2025 version incorporates advisory… more

Cal-OSHA, California, Employee Rights, Employer Responsibilities, New Regulations

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Leigh White

Whistleblower Loses Fee Award Despite Jury Finding: Court Clarifies “Successful Action” Standard Under Labor Code Section 1102.5

Retaliation Verdict Reversed Where Plaintiff Obtained No Relief - Can an employee prove retaliation at trial yet still recover nothing – not even attorney’s fees? According to a recent decision from the California Court of… more

Appeals, Attorney's Fees, California, Damages, Employer Liability Issues

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Amy Williams

[Webinar] Wage & Hour Minefield: Top Compliance Risks and Litigation Trends for 2025 - February 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Wage and hour claims—especially under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and class action lawsuits—continue to rise at an alarming rate. With more PAGA notices filed than ever before and wage and hour class… more

California, Class Action, Compensation Agreements, Continuing Legal Education, Employee Commissions

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Todd Wulffson

[Webinar] Workplace Investigation Essentials for Employers - Navigating Legal Minefields - May 21st, 10:00 am - 11:15 am PT

Internal investigations are among the most legally sensitive and operationally disruptive processes for employers—especially when allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation arise. The inherent complexity… more

California, Continuing Legal Education, Documentation, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Discrimination

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