Press Releases

Former Holiday Inn Express, Montana Mike’s workers file labor trafficking class action

OKLAHOMA (Thurs., July 27) — Workers recruited from the Philippines to work in hospitality businesses in Oklahoma under the H-2B guest worker program filed a federal lawsuit today alleging they were induced to pay high recruitment fees and then were paid less than they had been promised, denied the lodging, meals, and transportation they had … Continue reading “Former Holiday Inn Express, Montana Mike’s workers file labor trafficking class action”

Female high school athletes reach tentative settlement with Oregon school district

Lake Oswego School District near Portland, Oregon, has tentatively agreed to upgrade its high school girls’ softball area in line with the boys’ baseball area, add more opportunities for girls to play sports on par with boys’ offerings, and equalize athletic treatment and benefits experienced by female athletes so that Lake Oswego High School’s sports … Continue reading “Female high school athletes reach tentative settlement with Oregon school district”

Ninth Circuit affirms federal protection against retaliation for workers who exercise their rights

SAN FRANCISCO (Thurs., June 22) — The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a landmark ruling today in favor of Jose Arias, a dairy worker who had sued his former employer’s attorney alleging retaliation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Mr. Arias initially sued the employer, Angelo Dairy in Acampo, Calif., San Joaquin … Continue reading “Ninth Circuit affirms federal protection against retaliation for workers who exercise their rights”

Workers sue over workplace discrimination, English-only policy

Workers allege national call center fostered a hostile work environment and retaliated against them for speaking Spanish

NEW JERSEY (Mon., June 12) — Two former employees have filed a lawsuit against two nationwide debt collection companies, accusing these companies of discriminating against Spanish-speaking employees by forcing them to comply with an English-only policy and fostering a hostile work environment in which Latinas were routinely mocked and subjected to racist comments. The workers, … Continue reading “Workers sue over workplace discrimination, English-only policy”

People with disabilities sue BART for discrimination

Legal Aid at Work teams with Disability Rights Advocates in class action seeking changes in policies, conditions

SAN FRANCISCO – A pair of advocacy groups and two people with disabilities filed a lawsuit today against BART alleging that it discriminates against people with mobility disabilities, effectively excluding them from the regional mass transit system. For people with disabilities, problems that may be familiar annoyances to most riders can create absolute barriers to … Continue reading “People with disabilities sue BART for discrimination”

interior of Mission Beach Cafe

Workers at popular Mission Beach Cafe sue seeking basic wage and hour compliance

SAN FRANCISCO — Nine current and former employees of Mission Beach Café, where the line for brunch stretches around the corner most weekends, filed a lawsuit today alleging, among other things, that they are unable to cash their paychecks due to insufficient funds, they are not paid regularly, and they usually don’t receive pay stubs. … Continue reading “Workers at popular Mission Beach Cafe sue seeking basic wage and hour compliance”

(photo of Red Bluff high school)

Athletes file gender discrimination class action over facilities, teams at Northern California high school

Title IX case seeks improvements in programs for girls at Red Bluff HS

SACRAMENTO (Tuesday, March 7) — Female athletes at Red Bluff High School are suing Red Bluff Joint Union High School District claiming that girls at the school do not receive the same athletic facilities, benefits and opportunities as their male counterparts. Their lawsuit, brought under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, says boys … Continue reading “Athletes file gender discrimination class action over facilities, teams at Northern California high school”

New Board Members Join Legal Aid at Work

Formerly Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center

Legal Aid at Work is honored to welcome three prominent lawyers as new members of its Board of Directors and to highlight one returning board member. These four trustees’ varied talents and backgrounds will be enormously helpful as we enter our second century of providing free legal services to low-income people and their families across … Continue reading “New Board Members Join Legal Aid at Work”

Lawyers, social justice community urge rejection of ‘dangerous’ Attorney General nominee

Dozens of social justice lawyers and activists will gather at the San Francisco office of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today to urge her and her colleagues to reject President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to be U.S. Attorney General. The attorneys and staff of Legal Aid at Work invite other … Continue reading “Lawyers, social justice community urge rejection of ‘dangerous’ Attorney General nominee”