Category: Employment Litigation

The Implications of an Anti-Fraternization Policies As Applied to Non-Supervising Coworkers Since the decision of the California Court of Appeals in Barbee v. Household Automotive Finance Corp., 113 Cal. App. 4th 525 (2003), employers have been assured that anti-fraternization policies which prohibit sexual and/or romantic relationships amongst supervisors and subordinates are enforceable. What has been…

SLAPP Motions Are Effective Ways to Dispose of A Frivolous Case Without Having to Go Through Trial The term SLAPP is an acronym for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. A SLAPP motion refers to a “special motion to strike” under the anti-SLAPP statute that seeks to dismiss a civil lawsuit at an early stage in…

Signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in October and taking effect on January 1, 2014, SB400 makes it unlawful for an employer to terminate or otherwise discriminate against an employee based on his or her known status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.  The law also entitles victims to reasonable safety accommodations…

In what is being viewed as a push toward gender equality in the workplace, President Obama signed two executive orders on April 8, 2014, relating to fair pay for women.  The actions, which were signed on what Obama commemorated as “National Equal Pay Day,” were enacted in an attempt to bridge the national wage gap…

With Limited Exceptions, Non-Compete Clauses Are Not Enforceable in California California Has a Strong Policy in Favor of Open Competition “California has a settled public policy in favor of open competition.” Kelton v. Stravinski, 138 Cal. App. 4th 941, 946 (2006). The general rule, as embodied in section 16600 of the California Business and Professions…