Kenneth Sulzer

Photo of Kenneth Sulzer
Firm/Organization: Proskauer Rose LLP
Blogs: California Employment Law Update, Law and the Workplace, Proskauer Whistleblower Defense

Latest Articles

The latest legislative session has just ended, and, true to form, the California Legislature has added more than a dozen new laws affecting employers doing business in the nation’s largest state.  These statutes are in addition to the other six new laws that we reported on in September: Signed legislation: Sick Leave: Accrual And Limitations Language Clarified (AB 304) Employers Prohibited From Using E-Verify For Purposes Not Specified Under Federal Law (AB 622) Modifications To…
It is no secret that California is no friend to arbitration agreements. As the United States Supreme Court noted in its 2011 opinion in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, “California’s courts have been more likely to hold contracts to arbitrate unconscionable than other contracts,” despite directives from the High Court that arbitration agreements must be placed “upon the same footing as other contracts.” Not to be outdone by the courts, the California Legislature decided…
San Francisco’s new Fair Chance Ordinance (“FCO”) “bans the box” and otherwise restricts private employers and City contractors from inquiring into or considering certain criminal offenses when making hiring and personnel decisions. One of the requirements of the FCO is for employers and contractors to post and distribute a written notice of rights, which San Francisco’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (“OLSE”) recently made available in English on its website. Read this alert to learn…
San Francisco recently became the ninth jurisdiction to enact a “ban the box” ordinance prohibiting private employers and city contractors and subcontractors from asking job applicants about their criminal histories until after the first interview. The new ordinance further restricts the types of criminal offenses about which employers and contractors may inquire or otherwise may consider when making hiring and personnel decisions, affords expansive anti-retaliation protections to employees who complain of violations, and imposes various…
On January 30, 2014, the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth Appellate District ruled that California State courts have concurrent jurisdiction over retaliation claims under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) in Driscoll v. Superior Court (Spencer). The following addresses the basis for that ruling and its implications. Background Radiologist Scott Driscoll worked for physician Todd Spencer and his medical practice, the Todd Spencer, M.D., Medical Group, Inc. On behalf of himself and the Medical Group,…
On January 30, 2014, the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth Appellate District ruled that California State courts have concurrent jurisdiction over retaliation claims under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) in Driscoll v. Superior Court (Spencer).  The following addresses the basis for that ruling and its implications.…
Horton Hears an Employer Victory Last December, the Fifth Circuit issued its long-awaited decision in D.R. Horton, Inc. v. NLRB, holding that employers may require employees to sign arbitration agreements categorically waiving the right to pursue employment claims in a collective or class action. In doing so, the Fifth Circuit’s rejected the NLRB’s opinion that such agreements violate employees’ right under Section 7 of the NLRA to engage in “concerted activities for the purpose…
On October 10, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown approved S.B. 530 to further limit public and private employers from inquiring into or otherwise considering certain types of criminal convictions. This alert examines the new law, which takes effect January 1, 2014. Read the full text of this alert.  …