Adam Sloustcher represents local, regional and national employers in a broad range of employment disputes. He specializes in defending employers in wage-and-hour class action lawsuits, as well as those brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Adam also has extensive experience litigating equal pay class actions and single-plaintiff discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination lawsuits.

In addition to zealously advocating for his clients in the courtroom, Adam prides himself on being an accessible, responsive resource to help his clients avoid litigation altogether. He acts as a partner to in-house counsel, business owners, and management by providing them with day-to-day preventative advice regarding wage-and-hour compliance, investigations of alleged misconduct in the workplace, hiring, discipline and termination practices, leaves of absences, and the interactive process and reasonable accommodations. Adam also prepares complex compensation plans, arbitration agreements with class action waivers, employee handbooks, and personnel policies for his clients.

Adam’s devotion to his clients is well recognized, as he was named a San Diego Super Lawyers -- Rising Star for 2020 and 2021 for his work in labor and employment law. He is also a frequent speaker on numerous employment-focused panels, and is a regular speaker at the annual International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) International Convention & Trade Show. Adam also teaches classes about FMLA/CFRA and wage-and-hour issues for in-house counsel, human resources professionals, and other management personnel and is a guest lecturer for an employment law course at San Diego State University. He is also active with the California Minority Counsel Program, Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, Athlete’s Touch Orange County Chapter, and Sports Lawyers Association.

Adam’s drive to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients stems from his competitive athletic background. Growing up, he was a member of the Under-17 and Under-18 U.S. Youth National Soccer teams and named a McDonald’s and Parade All-American. Adam went on to accept a full athletic scholarship to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and would later transfer to Loyola Marymount University – where he became team captain of the university’s NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Team. Adam then played professional soccer with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

Experience

• Achieved complete summary judgment on behalf of an amusement park in a lawsuit brought by a former employee alleging claims for race harassment, discrimination, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and wage-hour violations based on a misclassification as an exempt employee;

• Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a national railroad carrier in a wage-hour class action premised on the misclassification of train dispatchers. After several years of litigation, Adam opposed and orally argued against class certification. Following the court’s ruling, Adam was able to drive the case toward a suitable class settlement.

• Secured complete dismissal on behalf of entertainment-industry employer in race discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit in which the plaintiff employee sought a high six-figure settlement. After obtaining damaging admissions during plaintiff’s deposition and then filing a motion for summary judgment, Adam was able to force plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss his lawsuit in exchange for a waiver of costs.

Honors & Awards

• Member of California Minority Counsel Program
• Board of Directors - Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
• San Diego Super Lawyers -- Rising Star, 2020
  
  
  

Professional Activities

• Member of California Minority Counsel Program
• Member of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
• Member of California Restaurant Association, San Diego Chapter
• Member of Sports Lawyers Association

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Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• “Playing Favorites or Playing With Fire? How Favoritism Can Get You Sued,” local hotel group management training
  3.7.19

• "Hot Topics and Recent Decisions" - CLE International Workplace Investigations Conference
  San Francisco
  4.23. 18

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"Client and Practice Management—Pro Tips for Young Lawyers" - American Bar Association

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