June 6, 2022 – Juan Rodriguez, a beloved principal at Venetia Valley School, has settled a discrimination and retaliation case that he brought against San Rafael City Schools (“SRCS”). SRCS has agreed to pay $725,000 to settle Mr. Rodriguez’s claims. The lawsuit, filed in September 2020, alleged that the Superintendent and Board of San Rafael […]
Wendy Musell interviewed on pay disparities
Law.com interviewed LVBH attorney Wendy Musell about the persistence of pay disparities despite concerted efforts to close them. The article highlights the fact that equal pay for equal work is just one of many actions that can be taken to ensure that women and people of color attain pay equity. Other factors to be considered […]
Hilary Hammell quoted in Aljazeera report on Tesla racism trial in San Francisco
News site Aljazeera turned to LVBH Attorney Hilary Hammell for comment on a trial in San Francisco where an assembly line worker alleges racism was rampant at the Tesla manufacturing plant. The article – Tesla to face racism allegations from Black worker in open court — focuses on the first hurdle many workers must overcome […]
Dr. Margaret Mitchell, founder of Google Ethical AI Team, terminated after reporting equity issues of race and gender and opposing the firing of co-lead of Ethical AI Research Team Dr. Timnit Gebru
February 22, 2020 – Dr. Margaret Mitchell, founder and co-lead of Google’s Ethical AI research team with Dr. Timnit Gebru, has provided additional information regarding events leading up to her termination, which was announced late Friday afternoon. Dr. Mitchell has confirmed that, before and after Google’s termination of Dr. Gebru, she was vocally raising concerns […]
LVBH client featured in Marin newspaper article
The Marin Independent-Journal published an article discussing a lawsuit filed by Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP on behalf of Juan Rodriguez against San Rafael City Schools. In his lawsuit, Mr. Rodriguez alleges claims of discrimination, retaliation, and defamation. Mr. Rodriguez was the principal of Venetia Valley School for 8 years until last March, when he […]
School principal files lawsuit for discrimination, retaliation, and defamation against San Rafael City Schools
Juan Rodriguez, an educator in the school district for over 19 years, filed the lawsuit alleging that the San Rafael City Schools Superintendent and Board discriminated against him based on race and national origin discrimination, and because of his vocal advocacy for the racial equity within the San Rafael City Schools. As a result, the […]
Black workers matter, so end forced arbitration
This post, authored by LVBH’s Jean Hyams and Hilary Hammell, originally appeared as a Guest Opinion in The Washington Post. As employment lawyers who have devoted our careers to fighting discrimination in the workplace, we are heartened to see the world awaken to systemic and structural racism after the egregious killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud […]
What can you do to combat systemic racism at work in California?
Over the last few weeks, a lot of white people have been having some hard and long overdue conversations about systemic racism, police brutality, equal justice and the fact that Black lives matter. Talk needs to turn into action, not just in the streets but also in the workplace. Structural racism embedded in hiring decisions, […]
California Law Protects Workers Regardless of Immigration Status
Undocumented workers whose rights have been violated have long feared that the Courts would not offer them protection. This fear was heightened in 2002, when the United States Supreme Court decided in Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board that undocumented workers should not be awarded damages for unfair employment practices because this […]
$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.
$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.
