Category: Firm News

When we hear the term “sexual harassment”, many of us tend to think about a situation where someone is exposed to unwanted, harassing conduct. We also tend to think of this conduct as sexually driven, whether it is through inappropriate touching or sexually explicit comments. This limited understanding of sexual harassment prevents us from recognizing…

With the spotlight today on rehabilitation programs in prison, and programs to ease the transition back into society, it is no wonder that the law is evolving to protect those who have been previously in trouble with the law. Those with criminal records already face an uphill battle if they are applying for jobs. Surveys…

In what is one of the largest awards awarded to a plaintiff in a pregnancy discrimination case, a jury has awarded one California woman $185 million in punitive damages after she was fired and demoted for complaining about gender and pregnancy discrimination. In 2005, Rosario Juarez, a manager at an Autozone in National City, California,…

The latest minimum wage increase for hourly employees in California occurred in July 2014, raising the minimum wage from $8 to $9 per hour. Along with the increase in the minimum hourly wage for hourly employees in California came an increase in minimum overtime pay and the minimum salary requirement for certain exempt (salaried) employees…

On Wednesday, May 21, Congress rejected a bill that would have served to curb so called, “patent troll” lawsuits. “Patent troll” suits are usually brought by a company that patents a product with no intention of putting the product on the market. Rather, the company makes its money on the patent by enforcing its patent…

In March 2014, Guadalupe Lopez, a female police officer and deputy with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, filed a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles, alleging that she and other female members of the Sheriff’s Department suffered sexual harassment at the hands of a group of male officers who call themselves the “Banditos.” Lopez…

There are a number of benefits to registering a trademark and these are generally different from those of registering a copyright. They include preventative protection from “copycats” as well as legal rights for the trademark owner that would not exist absent a trademark registration. Since a trademark is a visible symbol of your product or…

In an ethnically diverse state such as California, many workplaces employ individuals who speak a language other than English. While employers in California are clearly prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of the employee’s race or national origin, the law is less clear when it comes to workplace rules regarding language. So, is…

With the growing number of businesses who do not report correct information regarding their employees and revenues, wage theft in California has become rampant. Wage theft is any type of deliberate underpayment to an employee by an employer of wages legally entitled to an employee. This can occur when employees are not paid for the…

Pregnancy is a protected trait under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”). This means that you have pregnant employee rights and an employer may not discriminate against you due to your pregnancy. You cannot be fired because of taking a leave from your job due to pregnancy. In addition, you may be entitled to certain benefits while…