People: Jason T. Cooksey, Partner

Jason T. Cooksey

Partner

Sacramento
Direct: (916) 448-0159
Fax: (916) 558-4839

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Biography

Mr. Cooksey is a partner in the Labor & Employment Department in the Sacramento office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. He is a member of the firm's Single-Plaintiff Litigation, Wage & Hour, and Complex Discrimination practice groups.

Mr. Cooksey has extensive experience representing clients in single, multi-plaintiff and class actions in federal and state courts, and before various state and federal agencies. As part of his experience, he has successfully represented clients in jury trials, appeals, arbitrations and before various administrative agencies. His practice concentrates on harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and wage and hour claims under state and federal law. Mr. Cooksey also advises management on various issues, including, but not limited to, hiring, workplace investigations, discipline, terminations, leave of absence issues, human resource policies and procedures, wage and hour issues, traditional labor issues, and other various state and federal laws.

Mr. Cooksey speaks regularly to management groups on various employment related issues and provides training on anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws to employers throughout the United States. He is also a guest lecturer on employment issues at California State University, Sacramento, College of Business Administration and the University of the Pacific, Stockton.

Mr. Cooksey is a member of Seyfarth Shaw’s National Diversity Action Team, Chair of the Sacramento Diversity Action Team, and is active in various groups and associations committed to diversity and retention in the practice of law. Mr. Cooksey is also a member of the firm’s Pro-Bono and Charitable Committees.

Education

J.D., University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law (2000)
B.A., University of California, San Diego (1997)

Admissions

California

Courts

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Affiliations

National Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
The State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Section)
Sacramento County Bar Association (Co-Chair, Diversity Hiring & Retention Committee; Labor and Employment Section)
Sacramento Area Human Resources Association (SAHRA) (Former Chair of the Legal & Legislative Committee)
Big Brothers and Big Sisters (Former Member, Board of Directors)

Representative Engagements

Represented international service provider against multiple plaintiffs. Obtained arbitration award dismissing each plaintiff’s claim for wrongful termination (2012)
Represented national grocery chain against a single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s wrongful termination, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract claims (2012)
Represented national mortgage company against single plaintiff. Obtained victory before the California Court of Appeal regarding plaintiff’s age discrimination and wrongful termination claims (2010)
Represented national mortgage company against single plaintiff. Court of Appeal affirmed summary judgment of plaintiff's age discrimination and wrongful termination claims (2010)
Represented national grocery chain against a single plaintiff. Obtained arbitration award dismissing plaintiff’s racial discrimination and wrongful termination claims (2009)
Represented national grocery chain against a single plaintiff. Obtained arbitration award dismissing plaintiff’s wrongful termination claim (2009)
Represented national water company against single plaintiff. Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s wrongful termination and breach of contract claims (2009)
Represented national retailer against single plaintiff. Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s disability discrimination, CFRA, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims (2009)
Represented national retailer against single plaintiff. Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s ethnic discrimination, Labor Code violation 432.7, wrongful termination and violation of privacy claims (2009)
Represented national mortgage company against single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s age discrimination and wrongful termination claim (2008)
Represented national retailer against single plaintiff. Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s pregnancy discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims (2007)
Represented national retailer against multiple plaintiffs. Obtained 12-0 defense verdict in state court jury trial against plaintiffs’ claims of racial harassment, failure to prevent harassment and denial of civil rights under Government Code section 12948. Also obtained summary adjudication of plaintiffs’ claim for racial discrimination and retaliation (2006)

Represented restaurant franchisee against single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s racial discrimination and defamation claims (2006)

Represented national retailer against single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims (2005)

Represented national delivery company against single plaintiff. Obtained arbitration award dismissing plaintiff’s breach of contract claims (2005)

Represented national transportation company against single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s wrongful termination and breach of contract claims (2004)

Represented national delivery company against single plaintiff. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff’s discrimination and breach of contract claims (2004)

Represented national delivery company against single plaintiff. Obtained arbitration award dismissing plaintiff’s breach of contract claims (2004)

. (2004)

Presentations

“Employment Law Update,” California State University, presentation for the College of Business Administration, Sacramento, CA (Winter 2010)
“Wage & Hour Class Action Litigation Update,” National Bar Association, presentation for the Labor and Employment Law Update (Spring 2009)
“How To Preserve The Attorney Client Privilege,” Association of Corporate Counsel (Spring 2008)
“Employment Practice: 16th Annual Recent Developments,” CEB Seminar (Spring 2007)
“Employment Law Update,” California State University, presentation for the College of Business Administration, Sacramento, CA (Fall 2007)
“Employment Law Update,” California State University, presentation for the College of Business Administration, Sacramento, CA (Spring 2007)
“HR Survivor,” 17th Annual Employment Seminar, Placer County, CA (Spring 2006)
“Wage And Hour Developments,” SAHRA Annual Conference (2006)
“Harassment and Discrimination Developments,” HR Fundamental Series (Spring 2006)
“Senior HR Workplace Investigations,” HR In-Depth Series (Fall 2006)
“How To Manage Leave Laws,” SAHRA Winter Luncheon (2006)
“Harassment Investigations,” SAHRA Annual Conference (2005)
“Harassment Developments,” SAHRA Spring Luncheon (2005)
“Employment Law Update,” California State University, presentation for the College of Business Administration, Sacramento, CA (Winter 2005)

Publications

“How To Preserve The Attorney Client Privilege,” Association of Corporate Counsel (2008)
“The Supreme Court’s Retaliation Decision Indicates Trouble For Employers,” SAHRA Newsletter (2006)
“How To Conduct Workplace Investigations,” SAHRA Newsletter (2004)

Community Involvement

Mr. Cooksey regularly speaks to local schools regarding the importance of education. He currently is on the Commitee and served as the Co-Chair of the Diversity Hiring & Retention Committee, Sacramento County Bar Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.