A while ago, one of my partners asked me to handle an appeal of an attorney fee award against our client. I'd been kind of a fly on the wall as the case progressed, so I knew that opposing counsel was behaving (to put it mildly) like a jackass. That's not just me believing my partner -- it was apparent from what opposing counsel put in writing, and from some deposition transcripts that I'd seen.
Anyway, at the end of the case, the trial court awarded the jackass more than $280,000 in fees against our client. The appellate argument was Tuesday. The decision came down today.
We have a very happy client. --Bob
Victory
- Bob Juch
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Re: Victory
The plaintiff's legal fees are outrageous! Nevertheless, while I agree with the appeal court's decision based on prior case law, I think it's unfair. The plaintiff was denied rest breaks and meal breaks and worked during that time. She was ultimately paid for that time. In what world does that not constitute wages?
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Bob78164
- Bored Moderator
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- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:02 pm
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Re: Victory
She was paid for her time while she worked. She claimed she was denied meal and rest breaks. We don't believe her, and we got her to drop her wrongful termination case by compelling her to produce documents demonstrating that she had told some whoppers under oath. The best of them was when she claimed at her deposition that she'd been unable to find a job, but her documents showed her turning down not one but two job offers.Bob Juch wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 9:31 amThe plaintiff's legal fees are outrageous! Nevertheless, while I agree with the appeal court's decision based on prior case law, I think it's unfair. The plaintiff was denied rest breaks and meal breaks and worked during that time. She was ultimately paid for that time. In what world does that not constitute wages?
We just decided to pay her around $15,000 (more or less her maximum recovery on those claims) because that was cheaper than going through trial. We did that because we knew that we weren't vulnerable to a fee award.
Bear in mind that she never claimed she wasn't paid for the time she worked. Her claim was that she didn't get the opportunity to take 10-minute rest breaks. Under California law, the remedy for a missed break is an extra hour of pay, but that's a statutory penalty, not compensation for time worked. So it really isn't wages. --Bob
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson
- Bob Juch
- Posts: 26470
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:58 am
- Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
- Contact:
Re: Victory
Oh, if she lied her ass off, that's different. Never mind.Bob78164 wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 11:32 amShe was paid for her time while she worked. She claimed she was denied meal and rest breaks. We don't believe her, and we got her to drop her wrongful termination case by compelling her to produce documents demonstrating that she had told some whoppers under oath. The best of them was when she claimed at her deposition that she'd been unable to find a job, but her documents showed her turning down not one but two job offers.Bob Juch wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 9:31 amThe plaintiff's legal fees are outrageous! Nevertheless, while I agree with the appeal court's decision based on prior case law, I think it's unfair. The plaintiff was denied rest breaks and meal breaks and worked during that time. She was ultimately paid for that time. In what world does that not constitute wages?
We just decided to pay her around $15,000 (more or less her maximum recovery on those claims) because that was cheaper than going through trial. We did that because we knew that we weren't vulnerable to a fee award.
Bear in mind that she never claimed she wasn't paid for the time she worked. Her claim was that she didn't get the opportunity to take 10-minute rest breaks. Under California law, the remedy for a missed break is an extra hour of pay, but that's a statutory penalty, not compensation for time worked. So it really isn't wages. --Bob
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Bob78164
- Bored Moderator
- Posts: 21643
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:02 pm
- Location: By the phone
Re: Victory
My victory has now been certified for publication. I think it's my third published appellate decision. I'm 2-1 in those decisions. --Bob
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson