12.20.13
Affirming the broad discretion of federal district court judges to award attorney’s fees, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that an award of $700,000 in fees was justifiable despite a jury’s award of just $27,000 to the plaintiff.
12.06.13
In a decision that should make employers sit up and take notice, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved an award for a Title VII plaintiff of $125,000 in punitive damages—and just $1 in nominal damages.
11.22.13
Employers, take note: harassment in the workplace can be committed not just by supervisors and coworkers, but by third parties such as customers, patients, clients, delivery people, or repair workers.
11.06.13
Employers in California should ring in the New Year by updating their policies and training to reflect the new laws, particularly the major changes under San Francisco's new ordinance.
10.23.13
California employers scored a victory with the Peng decision, with the court making clear that a procedural error in failing to include the relevant rules governing an employment arbitration agreement should not prevent an employer from enforcing the terms of the agreement.
10.22.13
Sonic-Calabasas A, Inc. v. Moreno (“Sonic II”) presents a mixed bag for employers.
10.15.13
Although this decision is unpublished, it provides a lesson on the potentially expensive ramifications of maintaining an illegal vacation policy.
09.27.13
California employers should brace themselves to shell out higher wages with the state set to raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2016.
09.12.13
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), federal agencies are starting to respond with new policies and procedures.
08.28.13
According to a recent California appellate court decision, an employer can be liable for an employee who drank too much at a company party, made it home safely, and then killed a man in a drunk driving accident after he left his house again.