We invite you to review our newly-posted, July 2026 California Employment Law Notes, a comprehensive review of the latest and most significant developments in California employment law. The highlights include:
Latest from California Employment Law Update - Page 4
After 19 Years of Litigation(!) And a $43 Million Award, Judgment in Escrow Officer Wage Case Is Largely Reversed
Cortina v. North Am. Title Co., 2026 WL 1506576 (Cal. Ct. App. 2026)
In this 137-page opinion, which the Court of Appeal noted involves an even more “rare and beastly case” than Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat’l Ass’n, 59 Cal.
Arbitration Agreement Was Not Substantively Unconscionable
Cocom v. ABM Aviation, Inc., 2026 WL 1793637 (9th Cir. 2026)
In this putative wage and hour class action, the district court denied the employer’s motion to compel arbitration after concluding it was procedurally and substantively unconscionable based on the analysis
Another Day, Another AI Hallucination Case
Quinteros v. Harbor Distrib., LLC, 2026 WL 1693424 (Cal. Ct. App. 2026)
Here we go again. The lawyers representing the plaintiffs in this putative wage and hour class action were responsible for “evident misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in
Former Flight Attendants May Proceed With Religious Discrimination Claims
Brown v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 2026 WL 1813213 (9th Cir. 2026)
Former Alaska Airlines flight attendants Marli Brown and Lacey Smith sued their former employer for religious discrimination under Title VII and state anti-discrimination laws. The airline allegedly terminated their
California Supreme Court Limits Use of CCP § 170.6 Motions to Disqualify Judges
J.O. v. Superior Court, 19 Cal. 5th 753 (2026)
Pursuant Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 170.6, a party or attorney may disqualify a judge from a matter simply by signing an affidavit or orally stating under oath that the judge
“Concrete Injury” Is Not Required To Establish FCRA Violation
Askins v. CRST Expedited, Inc., 120 Cal. App. 5th 1190 (2026)
Terry Askins applied online for a position with CRST, a trucking company. During the application process, CRST provided Askins with a disclosure form and indicated that a background check
Employer May Pursue Contractual Interference Claims Against Competitor for Raiding Employees and Customers
Guild Mortg. Co. v. CrossCountry Mortg. LLC, 120 Cal. App. 5th 885 (2026)
The California Court of Appeal revived a host of tort claims asserted against a company that allegedly executed a plan to recruit a competitor’s employees, divert its
California Federal Court Grants Employer Summary Judgment Despite Protected Whistleblowing
A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granting summary judgment in favor of an employer despite evidence of protected whistleblowing is instructive. Han v. Pfizer (No. 23-cv-039080-AMO).
Background
The plaintiff, a compliance analytics employee, alleged
Employer May Pursue Multiple Claims Against Competitor for Raiding Employees and Customers
The California Court of Appeal has revived a host of tort claims against a company that allegedly executed a plan to recruit a competitor’s employees, divert its customers, and appropriate its pipeline of active loan applications. Guild Mortgage Co. v.