Lagarias & Boulter, L.L.P.

Overtime Pay
Deductions from Pay
Reporting Time Pay
Rest Periods
Vacation Pay
Meal Periods
Independent Contractors
Class Action Lawsuits

The firm litigates cases involving a variety of employment matters. These include violations of state and federal employment statutes involving minimum and overtime wages, discrimination, disabilities, wrongful termination, and other working conditions. The firm represents clients in state and federal court, and before state and federal administrative agencies.

The firm also prosecutes appeals when necessary to protect its clients’ rights and advance the rights of employees.

In Ramsdell v. Lenscrafters, Inc., 135 Fed. Appx. 130 (9th Cir. 2005) the firm successfully argued before the Ninth Circuit court of Appeals that a prohibition of class action lawsuits in employment arbitration agreements was unconscionable.

In Reynolds v. Bement, 36 Cal. 4th 1075 (Cal. 2005) the firm litigated an important employee rights issue before the California Supreme Court. Specifically, the case addressed whether officers, directors, and shareholders of corporate employers could be liable for unpaid minimum and overtime wages. Although the court rejected such liability on the state of the law, Justice Moreno urged the legislature to extend such liability:

“The abuse of the corporate form to avoid paying overtime wages is well documented….The exploitation of such vulnerable workers by unscrupulous individuals hiding behind the corporate form takes place against a backdrop of diminished public resources for the enforcement of the state's labor laws….. the federal equivalent of section 1194 contained in the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has long given workers this right under a definition of "employer" that includes [corporate officers]… Taking a leaf from federal law, the Legislature could similarly authorize section 1194 actions against such individuals. I urge the Legislature to do so.”

In addition, the firm assists its business clients in connection with the implementation of employment policies, personnel matters, employee benefits and independent contracting arrangements.