Amy L. Lessa

Amy obtained an arbitration victory in a difficult religion and national origin-based harassment and constructive discharge lawsuit involving allegations of daily anti-Semitic and ethnic slurs by a top salesperson. The plaintiff claimed that he was forced to quit after management did nothing in response to his repeated complaints because it allegedly valued its top producer over the plaintiff. After a three-day arbitration the judge found for the employer on all claims. The victory was due in large part to our detailed reconstruction of the plaintiff’s prior and subsequent employment history showing repeated poor sales performance in multiple jobs over the years. In addition, the arbitrator awarded our client its costs and attorneys’ fees.

Amy’s other litigation successes include:

• Secured summary judgment and attorney’s fees on behalf of national health care provider in federal court lawsuit alleging disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, retaliation and wrongful termination. Affirmed on appeal by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• An award of summary judgment in a lawsuit involving claims brought by a current employee for unlawful withholdings and deductions.
• Early dismissal of a race discrimination lawsuit.
• An award of summary adjudication on six of twelve claims brought by a former employee for retaliation, breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and Labor Code violations for wage discrimination. Amy was also successful in eliminating the plaintiff’s ability to recover punitive damages.
• After two years of aggressively defending a breach of contract claim brought by a vengeful and litigious former employee, Amy prevailed in getting the plaintiff to walk away, voluntarily dismiss his lawsuit and to pay her client a nominal amount.