People: Sara M. Poggi, Associate

Sara M. Poggi

Associate

Los Angeles - Downtown
Direct: (213) 270-9687
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Biography

Ms. Poggi is an associate in the Labor and Employment Department in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  She has represented employers in state and federal courts in defending a broad range of labor and employment claims and complex litigation matters.  Ms. Poggi’s experience includes the defense of major state-wide wage and hour class action claims involving meal break, rest break, overtime, expense reimbursement, off-the-clock, and late payment of final wage allegations.  Ms. Poggi has worked with national employers in various industries, including oil refineries, retail, and restaurants.

She has arbitration experience in employment discrimination matters, as well as mediation experience.  She has worked with employers to review their wage and hour practices, and conducted workplace investigations.  Ms. Poggi has successfully resolved cases involving claims of sexual harassment, race, age, and disability discrimination, as well as retaliation and defamation.

Ms. Poggi received her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2008.

Ms. Poggi is an associate in the Labor and Employment Department in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  She has represented employers in state and federal courts in defending a broad range of labor and employment claims and complex litigation matters.  Ms. Poggi’s experience includes the defense of major state-wide wage and hour class action claims involving meal break, rest break, overtime, expense reimbursement, off-the-clock, and late payment of final wage allegations.  Ms. Poggi has worked with national employers in various industries, including oil refineries, retail, and restaurants.

She has arbitration experience in employment discrimination matters, as well as mediation experience.  She has worked with employers to review their wage and hour practices, and conducted workplace investigations.  Ms. Poggi has successfully resolved cases involving claims of sexual harassment, race, age, and disability discrimination, as well as retaliation and defamation.

Ms. Poggi received her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2008.

Education

  • J.D., University of Colorado, School of Law (2008)
  • B.A., University of Michigan (1998)
    Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of California

Representative Engagements

Representative Wage and Hour Class Actions

  • Aaron’s, Inc. adv. Charles, Court Case No. BC 431468 (represented national furniture retailer in a wage and hour class action in Los Angeles County Superior Court brought by a commissioned sales employee alleging a number of labor code violations, including failure to pay wages and unlawful deductions from wage statements).
  • Red Robin International, Inc. adv. Cifuentes, Case No. 4:11-CV-05635 DMR (defending national restaurant chain in wage and hour class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging failure to timely pay wages upon termination of employment).
  • Red Robin International, Inc. adv. Moreno, Case No. Case 2:10-CV-00842 JVS (RNB) (defending national restaurant chain in wage and hour class action in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging failure to provide meal and rest periods, failure to provide accurate wage statements, and failure to timely pay wages upon termination).
  • IKON Office Solutions, Inc. adv. Zadeh, Case No. BC470371 (represented national office supply and services provider in a wage and hour class action in Los Angeles County Superior Court brought by a former sales employee alleging failure to reimburse sales employees for necessary business expenditures).
  • IKON Office Solutions, Inc. adv. Cluck, et al., Case No. CV11-05027 JSW (represented national office supply and services provider in a wage and hour class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California brought by former sales employees alleging failure to reimburse sales employees for necessary business expenditures).
  • Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company adv. Delagarza, Case No. 3:09-CV-058303-EMC (defending oil refinery in wage and hour class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California brought by employees alleging meal break violations).
  • Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company adv. Burgess, Case No. 2:10-CV-05870 (defending oil refinery in wage and hour class action in Central District of California brought by employees pursuing meal break and unfair competition claims).

Representative Single-Plaintiff Cases

  • McGladrey & Pullen adv. Jonte, Case No. E200910A0583-00-FPV (obtained finding of no discrimination from Department of Fair Employment and Housing in disability discrimination action).
  • The Designory, Inc. adv. Cook, Case No. CV10-05934 JAK (JCG), United States District Court for the Central District of California (defended misclassification claim under the computer professional exemption - favorably resolved prior to engaging in formal discovery).
  • Child Development, Inc. adv. Leyva, Case No. 56-2010-00381565-CU-WT-VTA, Ventura County Superior Court (defended disability discrimination claim - favorably resolved upon completion of Plaintiff’s deposition).
  • Rode adv. Macquarie Holdings (USA), Inc., Case No. CV 12-00093 DMG (CWx) (commenced action in the United States District Court for the Central District of California to compel Plaintiff to proceed in appropriate arbitral forum; obtained Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction).
  • Red Robin International, Inc., et al. adv. Cortes, Case No. CIVVS 1104823, San Bernardino Superior Court (defended national restaurant chain against former employee’s race discrimination and misclassification claims).
  • Harvest Management Sub, LLC, et al. adv. Berber, Case No. 56-2010-00387945-CU-WT-VTA, Ventura County Superior Court (defended national provider of retirement communities against former employee’s disability discrimination claim - favorably resolved prior to Plaintiff’s deposition).
  • Child Development, Inc., et al. adv. De La Rosa, Case No. 56-2012-00412503-CU-OE-VTA, Ventura County Superior Court (defended child learning centers against former employee’s misclassification claim).
  • Child Development, Inc., et al. adv. Kirsch, Case No. 56-2012-00412530-CU-OE-VTA, Ventura County Superior Court (defended child learning centers against former employee’s misclassification claim).

Publications

  • “In Their Own Words: A Defense Lawyer’s Guide to Putting Plaintiff’s Words to Work,” Issue: Bloomberg Law Reports, Vol. 4, No. 16 (2010)
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