William O. Stein

Successfully defended a car dealership in arbitration on claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and failure to accommodate. The Claimant contended that he was terminated because he went on medical leave for cancer. The arbitrator found that Bill's cross-examination proved that the Claimant did not have cancer, that he was untruthful to his employer, that he provided false testimony during his direct examination, and our client had a legitimate reason to terminate his employment. 

Successfully defended a car dealership in arbitration on claims for failure to provide meal breaks and penalties under the Labor Code. The arbitrator found that our client did not prevent the Claimant from taking his meal breaks, provided him every opportunity to take his breaks, and the Claimant did, in fact, take his meal breaks.   

Secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of a public utility company in a 2 month jury trial in New Jersey state court. The plaintiff claimed that he was terminated because of his religion and because he was a whistleblower. Bill and a team from Fisher Phillips’ New Jersey office were able to convince the jury that the plaintiff’s employment was terminated because he violated company policies and compromised public safety. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in less than an hour. 

Secured a complete defense verdict at trial for a financial institution client on claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and failure to engage in the interactive process. Bill substituted into the case a few months before trial and was able to convince the jury that the plaintiff was not disabled, and his refusal to come back from stress leave was job abandonment.

Obtained a defense verdict for a retail home furnishing company on whistleblower and disability discrimination claims, in a rare in-person civil jury trial in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenged to argue his case in an employee-friendly county, Bill convinced the jury to find for his client by proving that the plaintiffs, human resources representatives, were terminated because they did not promote the company’s employee-friendly culture.

Secured a defense verdict for a nonprofit that provides gang-prevention, drug counseling, and care for the elderly in impoverished areas of Los Angeles. Facing accusations of racial discrimination, harassment, and inaccurate record keeping that threatened the organization’s funding from the city, the organization turned to Bill, who fiercely argued before a jury to achieve a full victory.

Secured a trial victory for the Administrator General of the State of Israel to recover a charitable gift from a decedent’s estate. When the donor’s adult sons tried to claim the gift should be deemed part of their inheritance, Bill shielded the administrator from attempts to force a release of the funds to an unidentified bank account. He sued the account, located its identity, and took the case to trial to prove the gift was intended for charitable causes in Israel.

Obtained a trial victory for a transportation company sued by airport shuttle van drivers seeking to be classified as employees instead of independent contractors. Bill secured plaintiff testimony demonstrating that the drivers fit the definition of an independent contractor and argued that any other model would put all shuttle van companies out of business. Bill’s successful verdict allowed his client to keep its business model.

Secured a trial victory for major commercial real estate owner in a dispute over a leasing representative’s commissions. After proving the plaintiff misinterpreted her offer letter and commission agreement and that she was paid fairly, Bill recovered more than $400,000 attorneys' fees for his client.

Achieved a trial verdict for a staffing agency, and one of its clients, in a disability discrimination case. Bill showed that the plaintiff could not perform his essential functions of his job while handling heavy machinery because he was on pain medication, which could have made him drowsy and caused harm to others. Though Bill’s clients had been sued multiple times by the plaintiff's law firm, Bill’s trial success in this matter ceased all future lawsuits by that firm.

Secured a defense verdict for a health care organization at arbitration on claims of disability discrimination and harassment, retaliation, and slander. After a prolonged arbitration, Bill was able to convince the arbitrator that the case was brought in bad faith and obtained an award of costs of more than $125,000.