Appellate Division’s Decision to Deny Wage and Hour Claim by Immigrant Worker Because of His Immigration Status Opens the Door to Rampant Exploitation and Hurts Workers Across the State Elizabeth, NJ — September 4, 2024: Yesterday, leading immigrant rights, labor and legal aid organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking to appear as Amici Curiae and… Continue reading Immigrant, Labor and Legal Aid Organizations: NJ Supreme Court Must Overturn Dangerous Anti-Immigrant Decision that Undermines Decades of Established Employment Law
Category: Press Release
President Joan Graff Announces Retirement after 43 Years of Service; Board Commences Search for Next Leader
San Francisco, CA (Aug. 29, 2024) — Joan Graff, who has served as President of Legal Aid at Work for the past 43 years, announced that she will be stepping down from that position upon identification of her replacement. The Board has commenced a search for her successor. “Leading Legal Aid at Work has been… Continue reading President Joan Graff Announces Retirement after 43 Years of Service; Board Commences Search for Next Leader
Lawsuit Challenges Unfair Background Check System in the Oil Refinery Industry that Denies Second Chance Employment Opportunities and Perpetuates Structural Racism
Los Angeles, CA (August 12, 2024) – Several prominent oil refinery businesses are violating California’s Fair Chance Act by categorically excluding people with certain convictions from employment, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by the nonprofit organizations Legal Aid at Work and Root & Rebound. The lawsuit alleges that these companies… Continue reading Lawsuit Challenges Unfair Background Check System in the Oil Refinery Industry that Denies Second Chance Employment Opportunities and Perpetuates Structural Racism
CA Supreme Court Rules for the First Time that a Single Utterance of the “N Word” by a Coworker Can Give Rise to Workplace Harassment Claims
In a historic ruling, the California Supreme Court held today that a single use of the “N-word” or other unambiguous racial epithets by a coworker can constitute a hostile work environment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
Statement on the Federal Court’s Rejection of Motion to Dismiss the “Justice for LGBTQ Veterans” Case
On June 20, 2024, a federal judge in San Francisco rejected the Department of Defense’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging ongoing discrimination against LGBTQ+ veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and similar earlier policies. Below is a statement from the Impact Fund, Legal Aid at Work, and King & Spalding LLP regarding this… Continue reading Statement on the Federal Court’s Rejection of Motion to Dismiss the “Justice for LGBTQ Veterans” Case
Legal Aid at Work Applauds CA Supreme Court Ruling Removing Taxpayer Deception Act from November Ballot
Today, the California Supreme Court ordered the Secretary of State to refrain from taking any steps that would place the so-called “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” (also known as the Taxpayer Deception Act) on the November ballot. The Court ruled that the measure would have imposed such sweeping changes to our system of government that it could only be enacted… Continue reading Legal Aid at Work Applauds CA Supreme Court Ruling Removing Taxpayer Deception Act from November Ballot
Settlement Agreement with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Improves Accessibility for Riders with Mobility Disabilities
For Immediate Release Press Contacts Jinny Kim, Disability Rights Advocates: jkim@dralegal.org, 510-529-3432 Laura Alvarenga Scalia, Legal Aid at Work: lalvarenga@legalaidatwork.org; 415-593-0059 April 18, 2024—San Francisco, CA—Today, a federal judge approved a class settlement that provides significant changes that will improve the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)’s accessibility for riders with mobility disabilities. The settlement… Continue reading Settlement Agreement with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Improves Accessibility for Riders with Mobility Disabilities
College Park High School Students File Title IX Lawsuit Against School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 MEDIA CONTACTS: Julianna Gesiotto, California Women’s Law Center, julianna.gesiotto@cwlc.org, 323-951-9847 Elizabeth Kristen, Legal Aid at Work, ekristen@legalaidatwork.org. 510-501-4692 Marcella Tortorici, Winston & Strawn, LLP, MTortorici@winston.com, 305-910-0583 Elizabeth Gropman, Kaufmann & Gropman LLP, egropman@kgworklaw.com, 510-817-4380 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Last week, three students at College Park High School filed a… Continue reading College Park High School Students File Title IX Lawsuit Against School District
Legal Aid at Work Supports Intersectionality Bill to Recognize Amplified Harm in Anti-Discrimination Laws
For Media Release Feb. 14, 2024 MEDIA CONTACTS CA Sen. Smallwood-Cuevas Introduces Intersectionality Bill to Recognize Amplified Harm of Overlapping Forms of Discrimination in CA Law The bill is supported by CA Employment Lawyers Association, Equal Rights Advocates, Legal Aid at Work, and Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw SACRAMENTO — California Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introduced a bill… Continue reading Legal Aid at Work Supports Intersectionality Bill to Recognize Amplified Harm in Anti-Discrimination Laws