Labor & Employment
Lawyers at CPW have successfully represented employees and employers in cases involving nearly every conceivable employment issue. Over the years, we have litigated cases involving claims of race, sex, age, national origin, disability, and religious discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VII. We have handled numerous wrongful termination and whistleblower suits. In addition, we have litigated cases involving wage and hour issues, workplace privacy issues, drug-free workplace and safety matters, Labor Code violations, workplace violence, and fraud and libel claims. Although we take pride in resolving employment disputes at the earliest possible opportunity, we recognize that pretrial resolution is not always possible and have tried a significant number of employment cases.
Lawyers at CPW also represent public entities in labor matters, including resolving workplace grievances through arbitration and judicial review of arbitral decisions, defending unfair labor practice claims, and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
CPW attorneys represent employees in negotiating severance packages and in prosecuting post-termination claims and lawsuits. Our broad experience on both sides of employment disputes enables us to be more effective in representing our clients.
Representative Cases
- Won a $1.1 million verdict for an employee in an action for defamation and retaliation under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Obtained a consent decree and substantial settlement in federal court on behalf of a Moroccan-born restaurant manager who had been forced to leave his job after he ejected a customer who had used racial epithets to insult and denigrate the restaurant staff.
- Defended a public transportation agency from claims of retaliation brought by an employee who claimed that he was a workplace advocate for the rights of women and minorities.
- Defended a major insurance company in a complex case involving employment discrimination and workplace violence brought by a former agent.
- Resolved disability discrimination claims on behalf of an employee who was terminated while on leave for treatment of cancer.
- Defended a school district from claims of disability discrimination and retaliation brought by a gardener who alleged he had dyslexia.
- Negotiated a substantial severance package for a marketing executive who was discharged while on pregnancy leave.
ATTORNEYS
John G. Heller
Andrea M. Kendrick
Raquel A. Lacayo-Valle
J. Michael Matthews
David Nied
Mark A. White
©2010 Chapman, Popik & White LLP | 650 California Street, 19th Floor, San Francisco, California 94108 | Tel: (415) 352-3000
