Pamela Lopez was one of 150 women in California politics who spoke out about the culture of sexism in the State Capitol back in October of 2017, when the #MeToo movement was gathering steam. But she didn’t know she would be caught in the crosshairs of the #MeToo backlash. Ms. Lopez has been sued by […]
Retaliation
LVBH and Equal Rights Advocates settle with Sacramento Unified School District
Sacramento City Unified School District settled a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit, agreeing to district-wide policy improvements and to pay $400,000 to former student Virginia,* after school official forced Virginia to leave school for the rest of the semester upon discovering she was raped by two schoolmates at an off-campus party in 2016. The lawsuit, filed […]
Vanguard Properties Faces Prosecution by National Labor Relations Board and Civil Lawsuit for Allegedly Firing Employee Over Leading “Mutiny” Against Unpaid Overtime and Sexual Harassment
March 12, 2020 –The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against San Francisco-based Vanguard Properties, a luxury real estate company, for terminating its Social Media Specialist because she discussed working conditions at the company with co-workers. The NLRB complaint also alleges that Vanguard told employees that they were prohibited from talking about terms […]
Former On-Air Reporter Sues KCBS, Alleges Station Terminated Her for Reporting Sexual Harassment
February 25, 2020 – Long-time reporter Sheryl Raines, whose on-air traffic coverage for the station spanned nearly three decades, is suing KCBS Radio, which is owned by Entercom Communications Corp. Raines alleges the San Francisco radio station terminated her in retaliation for repeatedly reporting that a male radio engineer was sexually harassing women working in […]
Mother Jones Magazine Features LVBH’s Brave #MeToo Client
During the era of #MeToo, more women are bravely stepping forward about the sexual harassment they have experienced. The Mother Jones article “She Said, He Sued: MeToo Accusers Face Defamation Suits,” focuses on LVBH client Pamela Lopez and brings needed attention to the increasing tactic of accused perpetrators launching defamation lawsuits to continue to silence […]
Federal Judge Backs Whistleblower, Blasts CA Prisons on Care of Mentally Ill Inmates
For almost thirty years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been under court-ordered supervision of mental health services provided to over 30,000 inmates. According to a secret whistleblower report compiled by Dr. Michael Golding, the state prison system’s chief psychiatrist, the state was providing inaccurate and misleading data to the federal court and […]
LVBH Wins $325,000 Jury Verdict Against Lawrence Berkeley Labs
On May 24, 2019, LVBH won a $325,000 jury verdict in Alameda County Superior Court against the UC Regents and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on behalf of Kathy Eidson, a long-time employee of the Lab. Ms. Eidson began working at the Lab in 2001 as an electrician. In 2006, she fell off a ladder […]
$3 Million Jury Award against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams won a jury trial in Alameda County on behalf of a licensed RN, who had been employed by The Permanent Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals for almost 20 years at the time of her termination. The nurse received excellent performance reviews, including one two months before she announced her need for leave. Her supervisors started writing her up almost immediately after she requested a medical leave, placed her on a performance improvement plan after her return from leave, and ultimately terminated her. The jury trial lasted six weeks and resulted in an jury verdict awarding over $3,000,000 in damages. For more information about this case, Metzner v. The Permanente Medical Group, et al., follow this link to the press release.
$1.2 Million Jury Verdict after BART Failed to Prevent Harassment and Retaliation
A BART employee who had complained about racial harassment by a co-worker and systemic race discrimination brought suit against his employer. Years after the case was originally filed, partners Darci Burrell and Jean Hyams were brought on to take the case to trial. With only a few months to prepare, Darci and Jean worked feverishly to muster the evidence and prepare the legal arguments that would help prove that BART should be held responsible for the retaliation and harassment suffered by its employee. The jury found in his favor on all counts, in a clear vindication of the mechanic’s rights.
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.
