Sacramento, CA, October 1, 2021 – Today, the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, ruled that a former member of the California Assembly cannot sue the woman who accused him of sexual assault. In holding that the fair report privilege applies in the case of Dababneh v. Lopez, the court’s ruling protects survivors who […]
LVBH prevails in writ proceeding on behalf of sexual assault victim
Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams and Ehlert Hicks recently secured a rare win in a writ proceeding before the California Court of Appeal. The underlying case — Dr. Meena Zareh v. County of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, et al., is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court. The writ petition challenged a protective order entered […]
LVBH Teams Up With National Women’s Law Center to Fight Sexual Harassment and Assault
Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP, along with the National Women’s Law Center, a renowned women’s rights organization, represents three women workers at a cable industry manufacturing plant in San Diego in their claims for sexual harassment, including one woman who was sexually assaulted. The plaintiffs are women of color who worked as cable assemblers for […]
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 […]
With Funding from TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, Pamela Lopez Challenges Defamation Lawsuit by Accused Former Assemblyman
October 25, 2018, Sacramento, CA – Today, Pamela Lopez filed an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss in Sacramento County. The motion is in response to a defamation lawsuit by former state Assemblyman Matt Dababneh. Lopez is represented by Jean Hyams of the Bay Area workers’ rights law firm, Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP. The motion argues […]
Sexual Assault and Harassment Victims Represented by LVBH Name California Legislator as Perpetrator
DECEMBER 4, 2017, 11:00 AM. SACRAMENTO, CA. Pamela Lopez, a Sacramento lobbyist, filed a report today with the California Assembly Rules Committee formally naming Assembly Member Matt Dababneh as the legislator she reported had masturbated in front of her after he followed her into a bathroom at a Las Vegas party venue where most of […]
Jean Hyams Interviewed on NPR’s Weekend Edition: Legal Recourse for Victims of Sexual Harassment
On Saturday, December 2, 2017, Jean Hyams was interviewed by Scott Simon, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition, regarding “Legal Recourse for Victims of Sexual Harassment.” Responding to questions from Mr. Simon about the difficulties women face in reporting workplace sexual harassment, Jean provided clear advice for women. Jean went on to urge women to come […]
The Rules of Evidence Prevent Victim Blaming in Sexual Harassment Cases
For many years, victims of workplace sexual harassment cases were assaulted twice – one when they were victimized at work, and a second time when they went to court and the harasser used evidence of their unrelated sexual conduct to impugn their character. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, as there are both state […]
Sexual Harassment of Tenant by Residential Property Manager
Partners Sharon Vinick and Leslie Levy represented a tenant who was sexually harassed by the residential property manager, and then retaliated against after complaining of harassment. Sharon and Leslie brought an action against the property owners and the residential manager because they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment and engaged in […]
Confidential Settlement Negotiated for Woman Sexually Assaulted by Manager
Partners Sharon Vinick and Darci Burrell pursued litigation in state court on behalf of a woman earning minimum wage who had been sexually harassed, as well as assaulted, by her manager. The case settled in the mid-six figures, despite the fact that the client was an undocumented immigrant and had modest economic losses.
Sexual Assault and Harassment Case for Two Janitorial Workers Ends in Settlement
Partner Sharon Vinick, working with attorneys from Centro Legal De La Raza, filed a complaint on behalf of two janitorial service workers. The two employees were repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted by their direct supervisor, who secured their silence by threatening to cut their hours and give them difficult assignments. The supervisor went so far […]
Seven Figure Settlement Reached on Behalf of Employee Subject to Sexual Harassment and Assault
Partner Leslie Levy filed a complaint against a large construction company, alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault, on behalf of a female employee whose supervisor sexually harassed and forced to her engage in sexual contact if she wanted to keep her job. Moreover, in order to force the Plaintiff to continue to sexual contact, her […]
