Affiliations

• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• State Bar of California
• Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, former Co-President
• Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate Commission:  Board of Directors

Representative Engagements

• Miller v. The WellPoint Companies, Central District Cal., Case No. CV09-5666 (2010) (plaintiff dismissed overtime allegations in wage/hour class action).
• Strong v. Blue Cross of California, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC382405 (2011) (secured denial of class certification in race discrimination class action involving promotion decisions and secured summary judgment of plaintiff’s individual claims).
• Elliott v. Spherion Pacific Work LLC, Central District Cal., Case No. CV06-5032 (2008) (secured summary judgment in wage hour class action litigation involving temporary workforce employees) (appeal denied).
• Case v. Farmer Bros. Co., Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC252625 (2002) (secured summary judgment in class action wage hour litigation involving purported class of Route Sales Representatives).
• Joseph Tillotson v. Bank of America, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC320709 (2005) (secured summary judgment, in age discrimination matter brought by former financial advisor), and Cal. Ct. App. 2nd Dist., Case No. B189095 (2006) (appeal denied).
• Parra v. Bank of America Investment Services, JAMS No. 1220034057(2006) (secured complete defense victory in arbitration brought by former operations manager claiming disability discrimination and retaliation based on exercise of leave pursuant to California Family Rights Act).
• Glasco v. Specialty Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC288098 (2003) (secured summary judgment in retaliation matter), and Cal. Ct. App., 2nd Dist., Case No. B172813 (2005) (appeal denied).
• Glasco v. Specialty Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC262175 (2003) (secured summary judgment in race/sexual harassment/discrimination matter), and Cal. Ct. App., 2nd Dist., Case No. B164839 (2003) (appeal denied).
• L. Johnson, Inc. v. America West Airlines, Inc. et al, San Bernardino County Superior Court, Case No. RCV 41666 (2002) (secured summary judgment in matter involving 23 causes of action alleging breach of contract and related claims)  and Cal. Ct. App. 4th Appellate Dist., Case No. E031821 (2003) (Appeal denied).
• Craig v. Brown & Root, Inc., 84 Cal. App. 4th 416 (2000) (upholding employment arbitration program).
• Cutrera v. America West Airlines, Inc., Arizona Superior Court, in and for Maricopa County, Case No. CV99-19668 (2000) (secured summary judgment in wrongful termination [whistleblower] matter).

Other Class Action Representation

• Yousefian v. 21st Century Insurance Company, Central District Cal., Case No. CV10-1077 (current representation involving call center employees).
• Grigorian, et al. v. 21st Century Insurance Company, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC431048 (current representation involving call center employees).
• Jordan-Jones v. Jacob Health Care Center, LLC, San Diego Superior Court, Case No. 37-2007-00081375-CU-OE-CTL (2008) (Settlement of Class Action regarding allegations of Cal. Labor Code Violations).

Presentations

• “The Peculiarities of California Employment Law,” Seyfarth Shaw LLP Webinar (June 28, 2011)
• “Transgender Employees in California:  Best Practices for Eradicating Potential Bias and Ensuring Respect in Your Workplace,” Employer Resource Institute’s Webinar (April 20, 2011)
• “All You Need to Know about Litigating Discrimination and Wage and Hour Class Actions,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Seminar presented by the Labor and Employment Section (April 16, 2011)
• “How to Master Intermittent Leaves and Stop Leave Abuses,” Business and Legal Reports, 2010 National Employment Law Update (October 27-29, 2010)
• “Understanding the Peculiarities of California Labor and Employment Law,” 2010 HRSouthwest Conference (October 10, 2010)
• “California Employment Law:  The Basic Dos and Don’ts for Multi-State Employers,” Business and Legal Reports, Webinar (May 7, 2010)
• “Explaining Why (and How) California Employment Laws Are So Different From Other States,” Business and Legal Reports, Webinar (November 13, 2009)
• “Problem Employees:  Proven Strategies for Coaching and Counseling Poor Performers,” Business and Legal Reports, 2009 Employment Law Update (October 21, 2009)
• “Peculiarities Of California Employment Law,” Seyfarth Shaw New York Breakfast Briefing (June 17, 2009)
• “Regulatory Changes To The FMLA:  What California Employers Need To Know,” Seyfarth Shaw Breakfast Briefing (June 2009)
• “The Most Common Mistakes Your Supervisors Make – And How You Can Get Them To Stop,” Business and Legal Reports, 2008 Employment Law Update (October 15-17, 2008)
• “Hold ‘Em or Fold ‘Em?:  How Not To Lose The Attorney-Client Privilege,” Association of Corporate Counsel of America, Southern California Chapter (July 16, 2008)
• “Family Leave In California:  How To Catch (And Prevent) Abuses of FMLA And CFRA While Treating Your Employees Fairly,” Business and Legal Reports, audio conference (November 14, 2007)
• “Family Obligations In The Workplace:  Cutting Edge Issues,” Seyfarth Shaw Breakfast Briefing (November 2007)
• “Pandemic Preparedness:  Legal And Workplace Implications,” ORC Business Preparedness Leadership Meeting (October 11, 2007)
• “Understanding And Preventing Unlawful Workplace Harassment,” Western Suppliers Association (September 27, 2007)
• “Spotting and Preventing Leave Abuses Without Opening Yourself Up To A Lawsuit,” Employer Resource Institute, 2007 Advanced California Employer Seminar (September 10-11, 2007)
• “Understanding And Preventing Unlawful Workplace Harassment,” Western Suppliers Association (September 5, 2005)
• “Recent Developments In Employment Law,” Los Angeles Paralegal Association Spring Career Conference (March 5, 2005)
• “Nightshift:  Hot Topics In Employment Law,” California Alliance of Paralegal Association (June 21, 2003)
• “Domestic Partners – Employment Issues:  What Attorneys Need To Tell Their Clients,” California State Bar Annual Meeting (October 10, 2002)
• “Clearing Up The Confusion Caused By The FLSA And State Wage And Hour Laws,” Counsel on Education and Management, California Personnel Law Update (June 27, 2002)
• “Bringing The Right People Aboard; presented to Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance,” (November 1999)

Publications

• Co-author, “Harassment Because of Age,” Workplace Harassment Law, BNA Books, Chapter 7
• “Labor and Employment Client Strategies, Inside the Minds,” Apastore Books (2007)
• “Effectively Ending Employment Relationships,” Andrews Litigation Reporter, Vol. 19, Issue 3 (August 31, 2004)
• “In Search of Discovery:  The Split Between The Circuits Surrounding a Threshold Discoverability Requirement to Provide Assistance Under 28 U.S.C. § 1782,” Texas International Law Journal, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Summer 1995)