March 29, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Former Deputy City Attorney Named A California Lawyer Of The Year:

Former Santa Monica Deputy City Attorney Barbara C. Greenstein has been named one of this year’s California Lawyer of the Year award recipients (“CLAY Award”) for her work in successfully arguing Harris v. City of Santa Monica before the California Supreme Court in 2013. 

Also receiving recognition for their contributions to the Harris outcome were Chief Deputy City Attorney Jeanette Schachtner, Deputy City Attorneys Carol Rohr, Anthony Serritella, Meishya Yang and Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence, who accepted the CLAY Award on behalf of Greenstein and the office as Greenstein was unavailable due to travel out of the country. 

The CLAY Awards are given annually by the California Lawyer magazine.  The award recognizes the past year’s most significant legal accomplishments. 

The 2014 CLAY Award ceremony occurred March 11, 2014 at the Civic Club of San Francisco. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakuaye presided over the ceremony.

The Harris decision has been described as the most significant California Supreme Court opinion in years dealing with employment discrimination. 

In its opinion, the Supreme Court unanimously concluded that for employment discrimination to occur, the claimed act of discrimination must be the substantial reason why someone was fired or disciplined. 

The Court also determined how so-called “mixed-motive” situations should be analyzed – these occur when there may be both legitimate and prohibited reasons for an employment action. 

The Court decided that, if an employer can prove that it would have made the same employment decision anyway and despite any claim of discrimination, the employer should prevail even assuming there was some act or inference of prohibited discrimination.

Harris involved a probationary City bus driver who had both work performance and attendance issues. 

While her supervisors were making their final decisions about whether she should be retained past probation, she disclosed that she was pregnant.  Soon afterwards she was fired. 

The factual and legal debate became whether she was fired because she was pregnant or was she fired because of poor attendance and poor work performance, and what legal rules help to sort that out.

The City lost at trial but prevailed at the Court of Appeal and before the Supreme Court with the City claiming before each court that improper jury instructions were given at trial. 

Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court agreed with the City that the jury instructions were wrong and that they failed to properly describe the requirements of California employment discrimination law.

This marks the second time in the past few years that the City Attorney’s Office has received an award for its work.

In August 2010 the City Attorney’s Office received the American Bar Association’s State and Local Government award as the most outstanding public law office for its accomplishments, especially in dealing with water contamination.

in News
Related Posts

(Video) Series A Coffee Now Open in Beverly Hills at 8328 Wilshire Blvd

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Located in the space that formerly housed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Try the Black Pearl Iced Coffee. @smmirrornews...

Los Angeles County Braces for Heavy Rain, Snow, and Possible Thunderstorms Over Weekend

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

National Weather Service Issues Alerts for Flooding and Possible Tornado  According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service...

Hotel Workers to Speak Out on Harassment Endured at Santa Monica Hampton Inn

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

The Hotel Is One of Five Hotels in the Charter City That Are Still in a Labor Dispute By Zach...

Santa Monica Rotary Club Raises Over $21,000 for SMC Guardian Scholars Program

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

This Grant Will Provide Essential Support to Current and Former Foster Youth Enrolled at the College The Rotary Club of...

 (Video) Philz Coffee Set to Close Westside Location Next Month

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Franchise Recently Made Headlines for Changing Headquarters @smmirrornews Philz is closing its Santa Monica shop #coffeeaddict #coffee #coffeeshop #losangeles...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

Famous Literary Critic and Palisadian Passes Away at 92

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

A Memoriam Post Stated She Overturned Views on T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Other Canonized Artists By Zach Armstrong...

Mixed-Use Development Set for Sloping Property along Chautauqua Boulevard

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

“Canyon Place” Is Set to Include Two Apartment Units and 1,415 Sq. Ft. of Office Space By Zach Armstrong A...

Over Five Miles of Venice Blvd. to Temporarily Close, Become Public Park in April

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Initiative, Which Started in 2010, Aims to Connect Communities and Promote Sustainable Transportation Options On Sunday, April 21 from...

(Video) Workers Strike at Luxury Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Meanwhile, Unite Here Local 11 Recently Announced a Contract Was Ratified at 34 Hotels @smmirrornews Workers are striking at Proper...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....

Teen Kung Fu Coming to Pali Rec Center

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

This 8-week session, priced at $160, commences in April 2024 Palisades Recreation Center introduces Teen Kung Fu classes, fostering a...

After Securing $200K Grant, City Embarks on Action Plan for Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Caregivers

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

The City Will Engage Experts, Nonprofit Partners, Commissioners, and Stakeholders to Spearhead the Planning Process The city of Santa Monica...