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Public Employees

Jury Verdict And Fees Award In Excess of $1 Million For Woman Subject to Retaliation

Partners Jean Hyams and Darci Burrell tried a case on behalf of a woman who suffered retaliation after she complained repeatedly about sexual and racial harassment on the graveyard shift at Caltrans’ Oakland Transportation Management Center. Members of the jury wept when they rendered a unanimous verdict finding Caltrans liable for maintaining a sexually and racially hostile work environment and subjecting the plaintiff to retaliation. By obtaining a jury verdict and attorneys’ fee award in excess of $1 million, the trial team vindicated the rights of the Caltrans employee and delivered a clear message to employers about the cost of maintaining a work environment in which sexually and racially inappropriate conduct is permitted to thrive.

$750,000 for Female Neurosurgery Resident Alleging Discrimination by UCSF

Partner Sharon Vinick represented an African American woman who alleged that she had been discriminated and retaliated against due to her race and gender, while she was a neurosurgery resident at UCSF. Following her termination for alleged poor performance, Sharon filed suit on her behalf, alleging claims for discrimination, retaliation, and breach of contract. After extensive litigation, the case settled on non-confidential terms.

$3.6 Million Settlement for City Employee Subjected to Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

Partners Darci Burrell and Leslie Levy represented a 27-year employee of the City of Emeryville after she was terminated from her job following a psychiatrist’s report that she was “unfit for duty.” The employee, who was chief union steward at the time of her termination, had challenged racial discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment by City management throughout her career. Darci and Leslie charted new legal territory in this case by bringing a claim against the psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen Raffle, for “aiding and abetting” the City in retaliating against their client for her years of anti-discrimination advocacy on behalf of herself and others. On the eve of the jury trial, Emeryville agreed to pay an estimated $3.6 million in damages and attorney’s fees to settle the case. The settlement was a vindication for the employee and restored her good name.

Settlement of $600,000 for School Teacher Subject To Disability Discrimination

When the Pleasanton Unified School District refused to provide reasonable accommodations for a veteran school teacher and falsely claimed that the teacher’s disabilities prevented her from performing her job, partner Leslie Levy filed suit. In the end, the school district agreed to a settlement valued at over $600,000 to redress the wrong it inflicted on […]

$475,000 Settlement for Police Officer Terminated After Refusing To File False Police Report

Partner Jean Hyams brought suit for wrongful termination in violation of public policy on behalf of a police officer who was terminated after he complained to his superiors that he had been unlawfully pressured to falsify a police report. By taking depositions of command officers up the chain of command to the level of chief […]

LVBH Files Case on Behalf of Male Firefighter Terminated for Taking Leave to Care for Family

Partner Sharon Vinick, along with co-counsel Jennifer Liu and Rebecca Peterson-Fisher of The Liu Law Firm PC, have filed a case on behalf of Carlo Teruel, a firefighter who worked for the American Canyon Fire Protection District and the City of America Canyon. Mr. Teruel came to work in American Canyon after previously serving as […]

Sexual Harassment Case Against UC Regents

In a landmark case against the UC Regents and former UC Berkeley School of Law Dean, Sujit Choudhry, LVBH Partners Leslie Levy and Sharon Vinick, along with Associate Jennifer Sta.Ana, represented Tyann Sorrell, who worked as the Executive Assistant to the former Dean.  According to the Complaint filed by Ms. Sorrell in Alameda County Superior […]

US Army Pays Woman $820,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment Case

US Army uniform and flag

Wendy Musell, with co-counsel Mark Epstein, represented Luydmila Starkey, a former military police trainee, who alleged that she was terminated after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. According to the lawsuit, Ms. Starkey’s supervisor sent her sexually explicit text messages and nude photos of himself when she was employed at the Presidio of […]

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More Posts

  • CEB Features Jean Hyams Speaking on Implicit Bias and Jury Selection

    CEB Features Jean Hyams Speaking on Implicit Bias and Jury Selection

  • Rebecca Kagin selected for Sonoma Magazine’s Lawyers of Excellence Two Years in a Row

    Rebecca Kagin selected for Sonoma Magazine’s Lawyers of Excellence Two Years in a Row

  • Berkeley Law program features Jean Hyams on settling sexual harassment cases

    Berkeley Law program features Jean Hyams on settling sexual harassment cases

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    Wendy Musell weighs in on gig workers as employees

  • LVBH recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in Northern California

    LVBH recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in Northern California

  • LA Times calls on Wendy Musell to discuss the impact of a sexual misconduct settlement

    LA Times calls on Wendy Musell to discuss the impact of a sexual misconduct settlement

  • LVBH adds two more members to its superhero legal team

    LVBH adds two more members to its superhero legal team

  • Wendy Musell discusses California bill requiring salary ranges on job listings

    Wendy Musell discusses California bill requiring salary ranges on job listings

  • Plaintiff Magazine spotlights Darci Burrell

    Plaintiff Magazine spotlights Darci Burrell

  • LVBH attorneys named once again to the 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list

    LVBH attorneys named once again to the 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list

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Nothing in this website is intended in any way to form an attorney-client relationship or any other contract. It is designed solely to provide general information about the practice at Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP.

Be mindful of any deadlines you have approaching that relate to your legal situation, and make sure that you meet them. Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP does not assume any responsibility for advice given regarding any aspect of your case until you have a signed legal services agreement engaging the firm’s representation.

Though the firm provides free initial consultations, the firm retains complete discretion in every case to decide whether or not to provide a consultation to any person. Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP makes no guarantees, warranties, or predictions about your case, and past success at the firm does not ensure future results will be the same.

Disclaimer

Nothing in this website is intended in any way to form an attorney-client relationship or any other contract. It is designed solely to provide general information about the practice at Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP.

Be mindful of any deadlines you have approaching that relate to your legal situation, and make sure that you meet them. Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP does not assume any responsibility for advice given regarding any aspect of your case until you have a signed legal services agreement engaging the firm’s representation.

Though the firm provides free initial consultations, the firm retains complete discretion in every case to decide whether or not to provide a consultation to any person. Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP makes no guarantees, warranties, or predictions about your case, and past success at the firm does not ensure future results will be the same. The photos on this website do not reflect actual attorney-client interactions.