Il Fornaio, a California-based Italian restaurant chain, will pay $3,000,000 to settle a federal lawsuit. The EEOC alleged that supervisors and employees sexually harassed female workers, many of them teenagers. It also alleged that the company retaliated against women who complained. California law prohibits sexual harassment at work, including...
The EEOC recently alleged that an American Airlines reservations representative in Fort Worth, who developed cortical blindness, was denied the essential tools she needed to perform her job. She requested screen reader software—a standard, inexpensive technology that converts text to speech—and, alternatively, a transfer to a vacant position. According...
Cortina v. North American Title Co. (2026) — Cal.App.5th —, F085389 Key Takeaway: A California appeals court erased a $75 million judgment won by roughly 400 escrow workers who proved they were misclassified as exempt and denied overtime pay. The reversal turned on procedural errors and a flawed trial...
Doss v. Tesla, Inc. (2026) — Cal.App.5th —, A173210 Key Takeaway: The First District Court of Appeal held that Tesla’s yard hostlers — workers who move 53-foot trailers containing auto parts around Tesla’s Fremont factory grounds — are transportation workers engaged in interstate commerce under Section 1 of the...
Key Takeaway The First District Court of Appeal ruled that a furniture delivery driver who carried goods from a distribution center to retail customers counts as a transportation worker, which means his contract is exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act under Section 1. That held true even though his...
Taduran v. James R. Glidewell, Dental Ceramics, Inc. (2026) — Cal.App.5th —, G064718 Key Takeaway: The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court’s award of $516,965 in PAGA civil penalties and $733,440 in attorney fees in a case involving overtime, rest period, and wage statement violations. The...
A nursing program director sexually harassed a student in his clinical program, retaliated when she rejected him, and forced her out of the program. Then the school argued in court that she had no right to sue because she was a student, not an employee. A California appellate court...
How to Prove Pretext in California Employment Law If you’ve been wrongfully terminated or retaliated against at work, your employer likely gave a “legitimate reason” for firing you, such as poor performance, layoffs, or restructuring. But what if the reason isn’t true? In California employment law, that’s called pretext:...
After carefully reviewing all scholarship applications using a holistic evaluation process, we are pleased to announce that Kyli Nault has been selected as the recipient of the King & Siegel Law School Scholarship. Kyli’s application stood out. Her essay showcased compelling and heartfelt storytelling, articulating a powerful vision for using her...
If you have been wrongfully terminated, you may be concerned about the cost of suing your employer and how much money you can get for wrongful termination. It is important to evaluate the costs and fees before making a significant decision like whether to pursue litigation. What happens when...