Source: https://www.losangelesemploymentlawyer.com/Published-Decisions/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 16:35:59+00:00

Document:
VALERIE ALBERTS et al. v. AURORA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE et al.
SSHH wins class action appeal on behalf of nursing staff at California psychiatric hospitals​.
In a published decision issued on October 16, 2015, the California Court of Appeal reversed a lower court ruling which had denied a motion for class certification on behalf of nursing staff at two Southern California psychiatric hospitals. The Court of Appeal, in the case of Valerie Alberts, et al. v. Aurora Behavioral Health Care, et al., No. B248748, found that the Plaintiffs had presented numerous issues common to the proposed class of nurses and mental health workers who allege that hospital policies and practices denied them meal and rest breaks and overtime compensation. The Plaintiffs presented evidence that the hospitals failed to provide sufficient staffing and coverage to allow nursing staff to take their legally required breaks and that staff were pressured to work "off the clock" so as not to sacrifice patient safety.
As the Court stated: "The Hospital's policies, as understood through the prism of plaintiffs' theory, effectively and unfairly leverage a reasonable nurse's ethical obligations, making missed break mandatory, not voluntary. A reasonable/ethical nurse under such circumstances would not risk the life or health of his/her patient suffering from a psychiatric disorder in order to take a mandated meal or rest break."
Michael D. Seplow of Schonbrun Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP, lead counsel for the Plaintiffs, argued the case before the Court of Appeal.
Click here for a copy of the Court of Appeal's published and precedent-setting decision.
Charlebois v. Angels Baseball, Case No. SACV 10-0853 DOC(ANx), where the court stated about Schonbrun Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP "Moreover, Class Counsel's firm reputation is prestigious and thus on par with its comparator firms. Class Counsel's firm is a major player in litigating cutting edge international human rights cases, as exemplified by law partner Paul Hoffman's February 2012 argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, Case No.1 0-1491. One of the members of Class Counsel, has been named by the Daily Journal among the Top 50 Employment Lawyers in the State of California, inclusive of lawyers from top international law firms, for three years in a row."
Xue Lu et al. v. United States of America, 621 F.3d 944 (9th Cir. 2010) reversing dismissal of the case against the United States of America while holding an asylum officer was acting in the course and scope of employment when he demanded sexual favors and money in return for approving asylum applications.
Doe I v. Unocal Corp.
On September 18, 2002, the Ninth Circuit ruled for the plaintiffs in the Doe v Unocal case, finding that they produced enough evidence to go to trial on their claims that Unocal aided and abetted the human rights crimes committed against them by the Burmese military in connection with a natural gas pipeline project in Burma. All of the plaintiffs are now living in refugee camps in Thailand. The decision reversed a summary judgment granted by District Judge Lew in September 2000. A trial on the plaintiffs' state law claims is scheduled for February 4, 2003, before Judge Victoria Chaney in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Judge rules human trafficking lawsuit against Walmart shrimp suppliers can go to trial.
Victory! Glendale wins at Ninth Circuit Court.
SSHH along with other lawyers, Files Civil Rights Suit Challenging License Suspensions.
LA sued over seizure of homeless people's belongings.
The DeVillena Wrongful Death Civil Rights case, in which U.S. Marine Corporal Allan "AJ" DeVillena, Jr. was tragically shot and killed by Officers Chad Nordman and Mike Heron, settles for $2.576 Million.
The Supreme Court term begins with a knotty human rights claim against big oil.
Attorney Paul Hoffman argues to United States Supreme Court to hold corporations liable for human rights abuses abroad.
Serving Los Angeles and the LA metro area, Long Beach, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Encino, San Gabriel, Venice, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Altadena, Glendale, El Monte, Hollywood, Culver City, West Hollywood, Inglewood, Lynwood, Florence, Whittier, Hawthorne, Gardena, Paramount, Cypress, Carson, Lakewood, Garden Grove, Seal Beach, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Anaheim, West Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Palmdale, Lancaster, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Pomona, Santa Ana, Ontario, Fontana, Palm Springs, San Fernando Valley and the Inland Empire, Southern California.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.