Jeffery Owensby, Esq.

Discrimination

• Mediated claim of tech industry leader who asserted that her inclusion in a group layoff was prompted by ageism and sexism.
• Mediated claim by individual alleging harassment due to race and national origin including racial epithets and insults targeted at group of Latino workers whose immigration status was held over their heads to prevent whistleblowing about the racist conduct.
• Mediated case by industrial worker who claimed that she got dirty, dangerous and isolated assignments due to her race while employees of other races got preferential treatment. Case involved complicated procedural issues due to claimant’s membership in a union.
• Two plaintiff harassment and discrimination claim brought against public entity. Plaintiffs were members of a labor union and went through multiple levels of grievance processes. Extensive medical evidence of emotional distress evaluated. Both plaintiffs settled.
• Two workers claim race harassment and discrimination while working for a high-end local employer. One left and claimed constructive discharge. Nemesis was investigated and fired for misconduct by employer.

PAGA

• 3 similar PAGA cases involving a common consultant and separate companies operating fast-food locations.

Pregnancy Discrimination

• Mediated pregnancy discrimination claims against defunct/bankrupt company. EPLI carrier only active real party in interest opposing claim or with assets available for any satisfaction of judgment/settlement.
• Single plaintiff pregnancy discrimination claim. Intervening bankruptcy and interlocutory appeal with an imminent trial date. Coverage dispute in the background of the primary suit. Settled in two sessions.

Prevailing Wage

• Complex employment case involving plaintiffs in a wage-hour and wrongful discharge case. Sub-sets of claims and defenses differentiating the plaintiffs. Multiple defendants with different firms representing them.

Sexual Harassment

• Mediated claim of hospital employee who asserted that her male supervisor sexually assaulted her on company property.
• Mediated case in which female workers alleged that their lead worker kissed, groped and made sexual gestures targeted at women over whom he had scheduling and task assignment authority.
• Mediated claim by woman who after consensual sexual and romantic relationship with her boss ended was forced out of executive position in retaliation for not resuming sexual aspects of relationship.

Wage and Hour

• Mediated action by hotel housekeepers seeking payment for unpaid work time, overtime pay, and variety of penalties associated with improper payment practices of hotel owner.
• Mediated case alleging missed break/missed meals and related penalties by long-term care workers.
• Class action wage and hour dispute involving union workers.

Wage and Hour Class Action

• Wage and hour class action with PAGA. Very complex compensation structures created numerous pay and L.C. violation issues.

Wrongful Termination

• Disability discrimination, wrongful discharge, and whistleblower retaliation case. Parties reached accord with very significant movement by both sides, despite initial reluctance to engage.
• A case involving the dismissal of MD outside medical staff processes and outside statutory scheme for administrative curtailment of medical staff privileges.