public employees

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 …

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 …

US Postal Service Pays $600,000 to Two Female Letter Carriers Who Were Victims of Serial Sexual Harasser

Wendy Musell, working with Legal Aid at Work, filed a sexual harassment case against the United States Postal Service on behalf of two female letter carries who were sexually harassed by a supervisor who had been harassing female employees for …

Police Officer Receives Settlement in a Gender Discrimination Lawsuit

A female police officer who had worked for more than two decades was denied repeatedly denied promotions within the police department. Previously, the department had faced numerous complaints of gender discrimination, yet failed to take any action to remedy the …

Multi-Million Dollar Verdict for Whistleblower Firefighter

A Solano County jury brought in a $2,357,000 verdict for apprentice firefighter in his lawsuit against the City of Vallejo. The jury found that the Vallejo Fire Department retaliated against Mr. Milan for complaining to OSHA about regulation violations that occurred at a fire, and that the fire department failed to accommodate the post-traumatic stress disorder he developed at the fire. Partners Leslie Levy and Sharon Vinick prosecuted the case through nine weeks of the trial in Milan v. City of Vallejo.

$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.