People: Mark P. Grajski, Partner

Mark P. Grajski

Partner

Sacramento
Direct: (916) 498-7006
Fax: (916) 558-4839
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Mr. Grajski is a partner in the Wage & Hour and Single Plaintiff Litigation practice groups in the firm’s Sacramento office. Mr. Grajski has represented clients in state and federal courts, including jury and bench trials in individual and class actions, as well as appellate matters, mediations, arbitrations and administrative hearings. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to the defense of collective, class and hybrid actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws in federal and state courts. He also has extensive experience defending single and multi-plaintiff employment discrimination and harassment actions, as well as employment-related contract and tort actions. He regularly advises employers in all areas of employment law.

Mr. Grajski is a partner in the Wage & Hour and Single Plaintiff Litigation practice groups in the firm’s Sacramento office. Mr. Grajski has represented clients in state and federal courts, including jury and bench trials in individual and class actions, as well as appellate matters, mediations, arbitrations and administrative hearings. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to the defense of collective, class and hybrid actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws in federal and state courts. He also has extensive experience defending single and multi-plaintiff employment discrimination and harassment actions, as well as employment-related contract and tort actions. He regularly advises employers in all areas of employment law.

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law (1995)
    Senior Research Editor, UC Davis Law Review
  • B.A., Columbia University (1985)

Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and Ninth Circuits
  • California Supreme Court

Affiliations

  • State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Section)
  • Sacramento County Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)

Representative Engagements

  • Lopez v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2010) (voluntary dismissal of disability discrimination/wrongful termination case on eve of trial after court granted partial summary judgment and key defense motions in limine)
  • Meston v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Sonoma County Superior Court, 2009) (defense verdict in sexual harassment, retaliation and breach of contract case after two week jury trial)
  • Daniels v. The Finish Line (United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2008) (summary judgment in proposed nationwide “off-the-clock” class action)
  • Kelley v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Sacramento County Superior Court, 2007) (defense verdict in age discrimination, harassment and retaliation case)
  • Robbson v. Delta Dental of California (Sacramento County Superior Court, 2007) (defense verdict in four-plaintiff race discrimination/wrongful termination case)
  • Thompson v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Kern County Superior Court, 2006) (defense verdict in racial harassment and loss of consortium case)
  • Alvarez v. Fox Transport, et al. , (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2006) (summary judgment in favor of putative joint employer in independent contractor misclassification class action)
  • Issaian v. FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (Los Angeles County Superior Court, 2004) (lead attorney in two week jury trial on breach of contract claims. Plaintiff recovered a nominal sum on only one count after making multi-million dollar demand)
  • Estrada v. FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2004) (three-month bench trial of independent contractor misclassification class action)
  • Simon v. RTO, Inc. (United States District Court, District of Oregon, 2004) (summary judgment granted on executive exemption defense under FLSA)

Presentations

  • “Navigating the Legal Snares When Disciplining and Terminating Employees,“ Northern California Employment Law & HR Forum, San Francisco, CA (September 2009)
  • “California Wage & Hour Update: Surfing the Next Wave of Wage & Hour Litigation,“ Seyfarth Shaw Breakfast Briefing Series, Sacramento, CA (October 2008)
  • “FMLA Update: Recent Legislation & Case Developments,“ Sacramento Area Human Resources Association Annual Convention, Sacramento, CA (September 2008)
  • “Harassment and Discrimination Law Update,“ Northern California Employment Law Forum, Sacramento, CA (September 2008)
  • “Family Responsibilities Discrimination: Cutting Edge Issues,“ Seyfarth Shaw Breakfast Briefing Series, Sacramento, CA (November 2007)
  • “Too Hot to Handle? Hybrid Class/Collective Wage and Hour Actions,“ American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, New Orleans, LA (March 2007)
  • “Employment Law Practice: 14 th Annual Recent Developments,“ Continuing Education of the Bar, Sacramento, CA (February 2005)
  • “Navigating the New Overtime Regulations,“ Seyfarth Shaw California Labor & Employment Law Symposium, Sacramento, CA (November 2004)
  • “Recent Trends in Employment Class Actions – It’s Certainly Not Just Title VII Anymore,“ Seyfarth Shaw California Labor & Employment Law Symposium, Sacramento, CA (November 2004)
  • “Issues In Employment Law“, interview published in UC Davis Business Law Journal (May 2004)

Publications

  • Chapter Author, "Chapter 26- Deductions from Wages," Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation, ALM Law Journal Press (2012).  Definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation.

Community Involvement

  • Veterans’ Airlift Command (2008-present)
  • Board Member, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sacramento (2006-2009)
  • Leadership Sacramento (Class of 2007)
  • Angel Flight West, Pilot (2002-2003)