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  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Supreme Court Invalidates Heightened Evidentiary Standard For Majority-Group Plaintiffs
    Ames v. Ohio Dep’t of Youth Servs., 605 U.S. ___, 145 S. Ct. 1540 (2025)
     
    Employee’s Indirect Exposure To Harassing Conduct Supported $4 Million Verdict
    Carranza v. City of Los Angeles, 111 Cal. App. 5th 388 (2025)
     
    Employee Who Refused To Return To Work After COVID Was Not Disabled
    Allos v. Poway Unified Sch. Dist., 2025 WL 1864797 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Unsuccessful Whistleblower Was Not Entitled To Recover Attorney’s Fees
    Lampkin v. County of Los Angeles, 2025 WL 1874669 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Arbitration Agreement Was Unconscionable
    Velarde v. Monroe Operations, LLC, 111 Cal. App. 5th 1009 (2025)
     
    “Headless” PAGA Action May Proceed In Court
    CRST Expedited, Inc. v. Superior Court, 2025 WL 1874891 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Decertification Of Class Action Upheld
    Allison v. Dignity Health, 112 Cal. App. 5th 192 (2025)
     
    Defendant Bore Risk Of Loss Due To Fraud When It Wired Settlement Proceeds To Imposter
    Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Dev. Corp., 111 Cal. App. 5th 439 (2025)

    July 2025

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Supreme Court Saves (But Guts) Anti-Arbitration Statute
    Hohenshelt v. Golden State Foods Corp., 18 Cal. 5th 310 (2025)
     
    Employer Not Liable For Co-Worker’s Off-Duty Conduct, But Should Have Better Protected Employee
    Kruitbosch v. Bakersfield Recovery Servs., Inc., 2025 WL 2600238 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Attorney Sanctioned $10,000 For Citing Nonexistent, AI-Generated Legal Authority
    Noland v. Land of the Free, L.P., 2025 WL 2629868 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Ministerial Exception Barred Employee’sDiscrimination Claims
    McMahon v. World Vision, Inc., 147 F.4th 959 (9th Cir. 2025)
     
    City of Las Vegas Did Not Discriminate Against Employee Based On Her Race/Gender
    Lister v. City of Las Vegas, 148 F.4th 690 (9th Cir. 2025)
     
    Prevailing Employee’s Counsel Was Entitled To Attorney’s Fees of $4.9 Million
    Bronshteyn v. Department of Consumer Affairs, 2025 WL 2658416 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    Supreme Court Clarifies Employer’s Good Faith Defense To Liquidated Damages Claim
    Iloff v. LaPaille, 18 Cal. 5th 551 (2025)
     
    Employer Properly Calculated Sick Leave For Exempt Employee
    Hirdman v. Charter Commc’ns, LLC, 113 Cal. App. 5th 376 (2025)
     
    Union Employee’s Wage/Hour Claims Were Not Preempted By Federal Law
    Renteria-Hinojosa v. Sunsweet Growers, Inc., 2025 WL 2351203 (9th Cir. 2025)

    September 2025

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Employee Was Wrongfully Terminated After Failing Polygraph Test
    McDoniel v. Kavry Mgmt., LLC, 114 Cal. App. 5th 949 (2025)
     
    COVID-19 Religious Discrimination Claim Was Properly Dismissed
    Detwiler v. Mid-Columbia Med. Ctr., 2025 WL 2700000 (9th Cir. 2025)
     
    Employees Can Proceed With Age Discrimination Claims
    Caldrone v. Circle K Stores, Inc., 2025 WL 2811320 (9th Cir. 2025)
     
    Arbitration Agreement Was Unconscionable
    Gurganus v. IGS Solutions LLC, 2025 WL 2944090 (Cal. Ct. App. 2025)
     
    “Headless” PAGA Claim May Proceed
    Galarsa v. Dolgen Cal., LLC, 115 Cal. App. 5th 1 (2025)
     
    Retired Professional Football Player Is Ineligible For California Workers’ Comp Benefits
    Atlanta Falcons v. WCAB, 114 Cal. App. 5th 1268 (2025)

    November 2025

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Court Recognizes “Music As Harassment” While Rejecting “Equal Opportunity Harasser” Defense
    Sharp v. S&S Activewear, LLC, 69 F.4th 974 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    Employee Who Refused To Get Flu Vaccine Was Properly Terminated
    Hodges v. Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr., 91 Cal. App. 5th 894 (2023)
     
    Statute Prohibits Employer Retaliation For Report Of Unlawful Activity Even If It’s Already Known To Employer
    People ex rel. Garcia-Brower v. Kolla’s, Inc., 14 Cal. 5th 719 (2023)
     
    No Implied Waiver Of Disqualification Of Judge For Bias Or Appearance Of Impartiality After One Year
    North Am. Title Co. v. Superior Court, 91 Cal. App. 5th 948 (2023)
     
    No Final Paycheck Due After End Of Temporary Assignment
    Young v. RemX Specialty Staffing, 91 Cal. App. 5th 427 (2023)
     
    Exemption of Financial Professionals From ABC Test And Retroactive Application Are Constitutional
    Quinn v. LPL Fin. LLC, 91 Cal. App. 5th 370 (2023)
     
    Distributors Not Liable For Unpaid Wages Of Agricultural Workers
    Morales-Garcia v. Better Produce, Inc., 70 F.4th 532 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    PAGA Debt Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy
    In re Patacsil, 2023 WL 3964908 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. June 9, 2023)
     
    Enforcement of PAGA Carve Out Suggests Need For New Revisions To Arbitration Agreements
    Duran v. EmployBridge Holding Co., 92 Cal. App. 5th 59 (2023)

    July 2023

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Age/National Origin Case Was Properly Dismissed Despite “Direct Evidence” Of Discriminatory Animus
    Opara v. Yellin, 57 F.4th 709 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    Family Court May Order Employer To Provide Determination Of Arrearages Owed In Spousal Support Case
    Brubaker v. Strum, 2023 WL 179541 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Background Check Agency May Have Violated State Law By Disclosing Conviction
    Kemp v. Superior Court, 86 Cal. App. 5th 981 (2022)
     
    Former Teacher’s Defamation Suit Was Properly Dismissed Under Anti-SLAPP Statute
    Bishop v. The Bishop’s School, 86 Cal. App. 5th 893 (2022)
     
    Judgment Against Employer Was Enforceable Where Appeal Was Invalid
    Patel v. Chavez, 85 Cal. App. 5th 712 (2022)
     
    Real Estate Agents Are Independent Contractors As A Matter Of Law If Requirements Met
    Whitlach v. Premier Valley, Inc., 86 Cal. App. 5th 673 (2022)
     
    Employer Need Not Count Overtime Twice In Bonus Calculation
    Lemm v. Ecolab Inc., 2023 WL 21795 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Outside Salesperson Exemption Does Not Apply To Workers Whose Employer Controls Their Hours And Working Conditions
    Espinoza v. Warehouse Demo Servs., Inc., 86 Cal. App. 5th 1184 (2022)

    January 2023

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Art Teacher’s Age Discrimination Case May Not Be Barred By “Ministerial Exception”
    Atkins v. St. Cecilia Catholic Sch., 2023 WL 3142316 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Users May Have Privacy Interest In Emails Sent Over Company Network Absent Express Policy
    Militello v. VFARM 1509, 89 Cal. App. 5th 602 (2023)
     
    Unions, Legislature Dealt Yet Another Blow in AB 5 Appeal
    Olson v. State of Cal., 62 F.4th 1206 (9th Cir. 2023)

    May 2023

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Ninth Circuit Rejects "Paramour Preference" Liability Arising From Supervisor's Affair With Another Employee
    Maner v. Dignity Health, ___ F.4th ___, 2021 WL 3699780 (9th Cir. 2021)
     
    $3.5 Million Emotional Distress Award Was "Shockingly Disproportionate" To Evidence Of Harm
    Briley v. City of W. Covina, 66 Cal. App. 5th 119 (2021)
     
    Employee Nonsolicitation Clause Does Not Violate Antitrust Law And Is "Pro-Competitive"
    Aya Healthcare Servs. v. AMN Healthcare, Inc., 2021 WL 3671384 (9th Cir. 2021)
     
    Employer Must Prove Employee Knew Or Should Have Known Of Discriminatory Failure To Hire For Statute Of Limitations Bar To Apply
    Pollock v. Tri-Modal Distrib. Servs., Inc., 11 Cal. 5th 918 (2021)
     
    Retired Judges May Proceed With Age Discrimination Lawsuit
    Mahler v. Judicial Council of Cal., 67 Cal. App. 5th 82 (2021)
     
    Dutch Executive "Publicly Presented" Himself As An Executive Of California Company
    Swenberg v. Dmarcian, Inc., 2021 WL 3856599 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)
     
    Hirer Of Independent Contractor Is Not Liable For Injuries To Workers
    Gonzalez v. Mathis, 2021 WL 3671594 (Cal. S. Ct. 2021)
     
    Meal/Rest Break Premiums Must Include All Forms of Remuneration
    Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, 11 Cal. 5th 848 (2021)
     
    Family Member In-Home Supportive Services Worker Is Ineligible For Unemployment Benefits
    Skidgel v. CUIAB, 2021 WL 3671434 (Cal. S. Ct. 2021)
     
    Employee Who Signed Promissory Note To Pay For Losses May Proceed With Class Action Lawsuit
    Gallano v. Burlington Coat Factory of Cal., LLC, 2021 WL 3616152 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)
     
    PAGA Plaintiff's Expert Statistician Should Have Been Permitted To Testify
    Zuniga v. Alexandria Care Ctr., LLC, 2021 WL 3560665 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)
     
    Section 998 Settlement Offer Violated Labor Code
    Wasito v. Kazali, 2021 WL 3878379 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)
     
    Farm Labor Employers Did Not Fail To Pay Minimum Wage To Discharged Employees
    Jaime Zepeda Labor Contracting, Inc. v. Department of Indus. Relations, 2021 WL 3560937 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)

    September 2021

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    No Claim By Employee Who Was Friends With Alleged Harasser
    Atalla v. Rite Aid Corp., 2023 WL 2521909 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Was Properly Dismissed
    Lopez v. La Casa de Las Madres, 2023 WL 2534998 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Employer That Failed To Layoff Employee Before She Became Disabled May Have Discriminated
    Lin v. Kaiser Found. Hosps., 2023 WL 2202544 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Court Compels Individual But Not Representative Claims To Arbitration
    Piplack v. In-N-Out Burgers, 2023 WL 2384502 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Good Faith Is Defense To Labor Code’s “Knowing And Intentional” Standard
    Naranjo v. Spectrum Sec. Servs., Inc., 2023 WL 2261253 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Absent Exemption, Highly Compensated Daily-Rate Workers Are Entitled To Overtime
    Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, 598 U.S. ___, 143 S. Ct. 677 (2023)
     
    Ninth Circuit Strikes Down “Request Arbitration, Go To Jail” Law
    Chamber of Commerce v. Bonta, 2023 WL 2013326 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    Issue Preclusion Barred PAGA Claims After Arbitration Loss
    Rocha v. U-Haul Co. of Cal., 88 Cal. App. 5th 65 (2023)
     
    No Arbitration Waiver Where Employer Answered Complaint And Engaged In Limited Discovery
    Armstrong v. Michaels Stores, Inc., 59 F.4th 1011 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    Labor Commissioner’s Deposition Subpoena Power Ends Once Wage Citation Issued
    Garcia-Brower v. Nor-Cal Venture Grp., Inc., 2023 WL 2421824 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Proposition 22 Is Not Unconstitutional
    Castellanos v. State of Cal., 2023 WL 2473326 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023)
     
    Short-Term Military Leave May Have To Be Comparable To Non-Military Leave Benefits
    Clarkson v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 59 F.4th 424 (9th Cir. 2023)
     
    Employee’s PAGA Action Was Not Limited By Sick Pay Statute
    Wood v. Kaiser Found. Hosps., 88 Cal. App. 5th 742 (2023)

    March 2023

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Ninth Circuit Resurrects California's Anti-Arbitration Statute
    Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. v. Bonta, 13 F.4th 766 (9th Cir. 2021)
     
    In-House Counsel's Claim For Breach Of Oral Promise Of Contingency Fee Was Barred By Statute
    Missakian v. Amusement Indus., Inc., 69 Cal. App. 5th 630 (2021)
     
    Employee Can Proceed With Age Discrimination Lawsuit Against LMU
    Jorgensen v. Loyola Marymount Univ., 68 Cal. App. 5th 882 (2021)
     
    Order Denying Attorney's Fees Under UTSA Is Not Separately Appealable
    Dr. V. Prods., Inc. v. Rey, 68 Cal. App. 5th 793 (2021)
     
    Company That Retained Independent Contractor Is Not Liable For Injury To Contractor’s Employee
    Sandoval v. Qualcomm Inc., 12 Cal. 5th 256 (2021)
     
    Newspaper Delivery Carriers May Be Employees Under Borello Independent Contractor Test
    Becerra v. The McClatchy Co., 2021 WL 4472625 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)
     
    Class Action/PAGA Release Was Overly Broad, But Not Collusive
    Amaro v. Anaheim Arena Mgmt., LLC, 69 Cal. App. 5th 521 (2021)
     
    Court Has Power To Strike PAGA Claims That Will Be Unmanageable At Trial
    Wesson v. Staples the Office Superstore, LLC, 68 Cal. App. 5th 746 (2021)
     
    Secretary Of Labor Could Be Compelled To Disclose Identities Of Informants
    In re Walsh, 2021 WL 4852133 (9th Cir. 2021)
     
    Gas Station Manager Was An Employee Of Shell Oil
    Medina v. Equilon Enter., LLC, 68 Cal. App. 5th 868 (2021)
     
    Employer That Claimed Employment Records Were Stolen Cannot Challenge Calculation Of Lost Wages
    Morales v. Factor Surfaces LLC, 2021 WL 4818687 (Cal. Ct. App. 2021)

    November 2021

  • Newsletter

    California Employment Law Notes

    Summary Judgment Was Properly Granted To Employer In Whistleblower Case
    Vatalaro v. County of Sacramento, 2022 WL 1775708 (Cal. Ct. App. 2022)
     
    Job Applicants Need Not Be Paid For Time/Expenses Associated With Drug Testing
    Johnson v. WinCo Foods, LLC, 2022 WL 2112792 (9th Cir. 2022)
     
    Employer May Have Willfully Violated FCRA By Not Providing Employees Proper Background Check Notice
    Hebert v. Barnes & Noble, Inc., 78 Cal. App. 5th 791 (2022)
     
    Foreign Companies That Allegedly Trafficked Cambodians Did Not Have Sufficient Contacts With US
    Ratha v. Phatthana Seafood Co., 35 F.4th 1159 (9th Cir. 2022)
     
    Extended Statute Of Limitations Does Not Apply To Employer Of Felon
    Cardenas v. Horizon Senior Living, Inc., 78 Cal. App. 5th 1065 (2022)
     
    After Nine Years Of Service In The Air Force Employee Is Entitled To Promotion He Might Have Received With His Employer
    Belaustegui v. International Longshore & Warehouse Union, 2022 WL 2036385 (9th Cir. 2022)
     
    Meal/Rest Break Premium Pay Is A “Wage” For Purposes Of Wage Statements And Timely Pay Requirements
    Naranjo v. Spectrum Sec. Servs., Inc., 13 Cal. 5th 93 (2022)

    July 2022