Go to main navigation
1901 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1020, Los Angeles, California 90067
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION (310) 979-7080 (310) 979-7080

Author Archives: Kenneth G. Ruttenberg

Retaliation for Reporting Sexual Harassment

Jessica Ortega, a dental nurse from Stockton, has filed claims for wrongful termination, retaliation and sexual harassment against her supervisor, dentist Howard Chi, after her complaints of sexual harassment to her employer led to the loss of her job. Ms. Ortega claims that Chi would regularly make sexual references towards her at the Pacific Dental… Read More »

Some Facts About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Despite the popular belief, many forms of sexual harassment do not involve any form of physical contact or blatant sexual advances. One way employers may be able to reduce or possibly prevent sexual harassment in the workplace is by offering up-to-date information and training on what does and does not constitute such harassment. The following… Read More »

Proving Your Age Discrimination Case

With an aging American workforce, it’s no surprise that age discrimination lawsuits are becoming more prevalent. Businesses with at least 20 employees must adhere to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or prospective employees age 40 and over on the basis of their age. Are your rights being… Read More »

Should You Deal with Sexual Harassment on Your Own?

Not all instances of sexual harassment involve physical contact. In fact, many forms of sexual harassment are subtle actions or communications that occur consistently over a certain period of time. If you believe you are the victim of any type of sexual harassment, you may be inclined to handle the situation yourself. However, for both… Read More »

Burger King Pays $25,000 to Settle a Religious Discrimination Lawsuit

Last year a Texas Burger King agreed to a $25,000 settlement with Ashanti McShan to avoid a religious discrimination lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). A Pentecostal teenager, McShan only wears skirts because of her belief in the Biblical commandment that a woman should not wear a man’s clothing. When hired, she asked… Read More »

Sexual Harassment Through Social Media Sites and Texting

In the last decade or so, technology and social media sites have made the world a much smaller place. Nowadays, it seems that everyone is connected via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other forms of social media. If you are like most people, when you hear the phrase sexual harassment, your mind doesn’t conjure up images… Read More »

When Police Commit Sexual Harassment

Lori Matula, a community service officer in the Des Plaines, Illinois Police Department, filed a lawsuit against the department claiming sexual harassment, retaliation and gender discrimination. Matula claims police staff sent pornographic emails and naked pictures from their workstations to her computer and a former sergeant allegedly led her into the staff locker room and… Read More »

Religious Freedom in California Workplaces

Employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the religious practices of a job applicant or employee unless the accommodation would place an undue burden on the employer. Discrimination based upon an employee’s religious beliefs or practices is illegal under both state and federal law; however, recent legislation has extended California’s antidiscrimination protections beyond those of… Read More »

Is Your 30-Minute Lunch Break an Obligation or an Option?

The California Supreme Court resolved an important legal issue last year in Brinkley v. Superior Court — whether employers must make sure that employees use their breaks or simply provide opportunities for break time. The court concluded that employers are not obligated to ensure that meal breaks are fully used by employees, but employers must… Read More »

Sexual Desire Is No Longer a Necessary Element of a California Sexual Harassment Claim

In August 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 292, strengthening the rights of sexual harassment victims. Equally important, the law clarifies a legal question that emerged from a 2011 California Court of appeals case — whether sexually harassing conduct under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) needs to be motivated by… Read More »