Brown v. Various Retailers

Class action for penalties and injunctive relief for violations arising out of the practice of various retailers for including in their employment applications unlawful questions regarding certain types of misdemeanor convictions. Settlement requires various retailers to change the language in their employment applications to comply with California law. Various retailers paid in excess of $1,000,000.00

Gateway State Bank v. Scapinito

Defendants fraudulently conveyed real property which was secured by a first deed of trust held by plaintiff bank. Obtained a judgment in excess of $2,500,000.

California Province of the Society of Jesus. v. Doe Movie Director/Developer

The firm defended a documentary film developer/director in a suit over rights and title to creative research materials prepared to obtain grant funding for a documentary film on the life of a Father Junipero Serra. A favorable settlement was obtained that included terms allowing our client to continue with the development and production of his documentary film.

Banayan v. Shenassa

Investors brought claims against developer for fraud and breach of contract with respect to a single family development. Obtained a verdict in excess of $650,000.

Manavi v. Sabet

Investors brought claims against developer for fraud and breach of contract with respect to a real estate development. Obtained a verdict in excess of $900,000.

Wahl v. Doe Employer

Plaintiff, a male employee, brought an action premised on the Fair Employment & Housing Act (“FEHA”) alleging same-sex sexual harassment and retaliation. Plaintiff was improperly demoted after bringing certain improper acts of conduct of various corporate representatives to the attention of his superiors. Significant confidential settlement.

Vanhorenbeek v. Rite Aid

Arias, Ozzello & Gignasc was one of several law firms who filed Class Actions on behalf of all residents of California who were employed as managers and assistant managers of Rite Aid who were classified as exempt in order to require them to work exorbitant work hours without being paid overtime. Class Settlement totaling in excess of $25,000,000.00 and injunctive relief was obtained.

Sassone v. Commonwealth Energy Corporation

Class Action against Commonwealth Energy Corp. who attempted to induce persons to accept employment by offering new employees 250 stock options for each month of employment. When the company realized the arrangement did not make good business sense, they stopped making the offers and refused to provide the stock options to those employees to whom the representation were made to. Eventually, a settlement was reached for all eligible employees equal to the value of the stock options in the amount of $190,000.00.

Rodenhuis v. California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO)

Plaintiff sought damages for wrongful termination and discrimination on the basis of physical disability after being terminated the day before she was scheduled to return from a medical leave for treatment of a back injury. Case settled for $130,00.00.

Miller v. Ruth's Chris Steak House

The “front-of-the-house” employees of this upscale steak house chain were being forced to work straight through their shifts without rest breaks and to pay for their own work uniforms, in violation of California law.

A settlement was reached with Ruth’s Chris for $1,625,000 for missed meal breaks.