Noori v. Countrywide Payroll & HR Solutions, Inc., 2019 WL 7183403 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019) Mohammed Noori sued his former employer for violation of Cal. Lab. Code § 226(a) (setting forth certain very specific statutory requirements for itemized wage statements) based on the fact that the wage statements identified “CSSG” as the “name of the legal entity that is the employer” even though CSSG is not listed with the California Secretary of State, but is…

Cacho v. Eurostar, Inc., 2019 WL 7180349 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019) David Cacho and Regina Silva asserted class claims against their former employer (Eurostar), alleging Eurostar violated California wage and hour laws by failing to provide employees with required meal and rest breaks and compelling to employees to work off the clock at Eurostar’s Warehouse Shoe Sale retail shoe stores in California. The trial court denied class certification to the claims on the ground that…

Global Protein Prods., Inc. v. Le, 42 Cal. App. 5th 352 (2019) Global Protein Products, Inc. (“GPP”) successfully sued its former employee Kevin K. Le for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract and unfair competition and obtained a stipulated permanent injunction against him and his company from “acquiring, disclosing, using, or attempting or threatening to acquire, disclose, or use, GPP’s trade secrets” or directly or indirectly soliciting any of GPP’s customers using GPP’s trade…

Rall v. Tribune 365, LLC, 2019 WL 6887261 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019) Frederick Theodore Rall III, a political cartoonist and blogger, sued the Los Angeles Times after it published a “note to readers” and (later) a more detailed report questioning the accuracy of a blog post that Rall wrote for the Times. Rall then sued the Times for defamation and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. The Times responded to the complaint by filing…

Glynn v. Superior Court, 42 Cal. App. 5th 47 (2019) John Glynn worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative before he commenced a medical leave of absence for a serious eye condition (myopic macular degeneration). Glynn’s doctor provided a medical certification designating his work status as “no work” because Glynn “can’t safely drive.” Although the employer’s reasonable accommodation policy lists “reassignment to a vacant position” as a potential accommodation for a disability, Glynn applied for but…

Doe v. Department of Corr. & Rehab., 2019 WL 6907515 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019) John Doe, who worked as a psychologist at Ironwood State Prison, alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a disability; Doe also alleged that the employer violated FEHA in that it failed to accommodate his two alleged disabilities (asthma and dyslexia) by failing to relocate him to a “cleaner and quieter office” and provide him with computer equipment he had requested.…

Mathews v. Happy Valley Conference Ctr., 2019 WL 6769659 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019) Jeremiah Mathews worked as a maintenance supervisor and cook for Happy Valley Conference Center, which is a subordinate affiliate of Community of Christ (a church). Mathews alleged his employment was terminated in retaliation for his having reported harassment of a younger male employee by Happy Valley’s female executive director. Following a trial, a jury awarded Mathews $900,000 in damages (including punitive damages)…