Understanding Workplace Discrimination: A Call for Equality and Justice

In the modern workplace, the unfortunate reality persists: workplace discrimination. This issue rears its ugly head when employees find themselves subjected to unjust treatment based on factors such as race, gender, age, or disability. It is a pervasive problem that tarnishes the professional environment and undermines the principles of fairness and equality. Workplace discrimination is […]

Understanding the Role of an Independent Contractor

In the modern workforce, the term “independent contractor” has gained significant prominence. An independent contractor is an individual or entity hired to perform a specific task or project for a company, but they are not considered employees. Instead, they operate as separate entities responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and other business-related expenses. One key […]

Consumer Protection 101: Aiman-Smith and Marcy’s Guide to Protecting Your Rights

In today’s dynamic market, consumers face many challenges regarding safeguarding their rights. From false advertising to defective products, the need for consumer protection has never been more critical. Aiman-Smith & Marcy, a leading consumer rights advocate, offers a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complexities of the market and protect your interests. Know your […]

The Importance of Employee Handbooks: An Essential Guide for Employers and Employees

Employee handbooks are crucial in effective human resource management in today’s business world. These documents serve as a reference for employees and establish clear guidelines that benefit both the company and its workforce. Below, we explore the importance of employee handbooks and provide a checklist of essential items for employers and employees to stay on […]

Creating a Safe and Inclusive Workplace: Tips for Employers

In today’s diverse and dynamic workforce, employers must foster a safe and inclusive work environment. Such an environment not only enhances productivity but also attracts and retains top talent. To achieve this, employers should prioritize implementing anti-discrimination and harassment policies. Here are some key tips to create a safe and inclusive workplace:

The Gig Economy and Misclassification: A Growing Concern

The gig economy, characterized by short-term freelance work, on-demand services, and flexible labor arrangements, has rapidly transformed the employment landscape. While it offers benefits like flexibility and autonomy to workers, it has also given rise to a concerning issue: misclassification. Misclassification occurs when workers, who may technically be employees, are categorized as independent contractors. This […]

The Mediation Process in Workers’ Compensation Cases

The mediation process in workers’ compensation cases is a valuable avenue for resolving disputes between employers and employees. Disagreements often arise over issues such as the severity of an injury, the appropriate amount of compensation, or coverage of certain medical expenses. Rather than resorting to protracted litigation in court, parties may opt for mediation as […]

Protecting Consumers’ Rights: FDCPA Explained

In the complex landscape of debt collection in the United States, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) stands as a vital legal framework that protects consumers from abusive and unfair practices by debt collectors. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FDCPA sets strict guidelines for how third-party debt collectors can communicate with […]

Discover How to Calculate Overtime Correctly in the United States

Calculating overtime correctly is essential for both employers and employees in the United States. Overtime pay is regulated by federal and state labor laws to ensure that employees are adequately compensated for their additional hours of work. Understanding the rules for calculating overtime is essential to avoid legal problems and ensure that employees receive their […]

Do you know the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?

The fundamental distinction between an employee and an independent contractor lies in the nature of their employment relationship and how it affects their employment rights and responsibilities, as well as the employer’s or client’s obligations. Here are some key differences: -An employee generally has a continuous and subordinate employment relationship with his or her employer. […]

Lisseth Bayona

Attorney

Education and Background

I am a Los Angeles native and daughter of Salvadorian immigrants. From an early age, my parents instilled the value of hard work and education in me and my two siblings. Their perseverance enabled each of us to graduate from college and earn professional degrees.

My interest and commitment to workers’ rights have roots in my parents’ experiences as undocumented workers in Los Angeles. Witnessing the challenges they faced inspired me to pursue a career where I can help individuals confronted with similar struggles. To help someone in those moments is very satisfying. I love connecting with people and learning about their stories. I believe that dignity in the workplace is a right of all workers, not a convenience or privilege reserved for employees of a certain race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Legal Experience

I received my J.D. from the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law. While there, I served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Patrick J. Walsh of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, where I drafted a criminal judicial opinion. Also, while at Gould, I served as an extern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. As a Criminal Division Extern, I had the opportunity to work closely with a trial team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys on a money laundering case which further sparked my interest in litigation.

Personal Interests

In my free time, I enjoy urban vegetable gardening, traveling, and spending time with my nephew and niece. I also love to spend time at San Onofre Beach learning to surf, although admittedly, I am not very good.

Education

 

Hallie L. Von Rock

Attorney (SBN 233152)

Education and Background

I moved to the Bay Area from Washington after graduating high school. I had been accepted to UC Berkeley through a program where I could defer for two years while getting my California residency and attending community college, which was significant since I was paying for college on my own. I began working for Randall Aiman-Smith and Reed Marcy in 1996 as an office manager while taking night classes. My first foray into the legal world was soon after starting at the firm when I was ready to transfer to UC Berkeley. Rather than accepting my resident status, the Board of Regents took the position that California residency required a student to be in California “two calendar years.” Randall and Reed took up my case with the same verve as they helped their actual clients and I got the chance to comb through the UC Berkeley library to read their codes and regulations to support my position. In that experience, I learned what is was like to feel helpless against a big organization and then to have dedicated attorneys in my corner to take up my cause.

After a break to pursue my major in art history, I went to UC Hastings College of Law and continued working with Randall and Reed. Having worked together now for over 25 years, we have a unique ability to work collaboratively and finish each other’s sentences. I have strived throughout my career to make a difference in the lives of our clients. At the end of the day, if I am helping someone to get compensation for losses they suffered, then I know that all the work put into a case has been worth it.

Legal Experience

I have extensive experience in civil litigation and class action cases, including conducting discovery and depositions, calculating damages analysis, preparing motions for certification, writing appellate documents, and overseeing claims administration. We have handled several class actions against retailers where plaintiffs claimed they were forced to purchase clothing to wear to work and were not compensated for these purchases, including against Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss, Armani Exchange, Uniqlo, Dollar Tree, and Ross. Recently, I was trial counsel in a defamation claim against Bank of America on behalf of a former employee who claimed the Bank blacklisted her with future employers. The jury found Bank of America liable, including for punitive damages.

Personal Interests

Aiman-Smith & Marcy has sponsored me in the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon. When I race, I often wear a “Rockstar Ronan” shirt to support research for childhood cancer through The Ronan Thompson Foundation.

Education

University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1999

Hastings College of the Law, University of California, J.D., 2004

Randall Aiman-Smith

Abogado (SBN 124599)

Aiman-Smith & Marcy. Oakland consumer fraud attorneys.

Educación y antecedentes

Fui afortunado. A pesar de no haber terminado la escuela secundaria o la universidad, pude -aunque con mucho trabajo- ser admitido y sobresalir en una de las mejores escuelas de derecho del país: La Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Berkeley. Mientras estuve allí, tuve el privilegio de ser editor de la California Law Review y miembro del Moot Court Board, asesorando en la redacción de escritos y en la defensa de apelaciones a otros estudiantes. Después de salir de la escuela de derecho, en mis primeros años de práctica, enseñé la escritura legal y la defensa de apelación en la Universidad de California, Hastings College of the Law. También, a lo largo de los años, he sido presentador en eventos de educación legal continua.

Experiencia legal

He sido abogado durante 35 años. He dedicado mi práctica exclusivamente a representar a empleados, consumidores e inversores en los tribunales estatales y federales de primera instancia y en los tribunales de apelación. Me gusta ir a los tribunales por mis clientes y he llevado muchos casos con jurado en los tribunales estatales y federales.

¿Ejemplos? En 2010, fui la abogada principal, junto con los otros abogados del bufete, en el caso Williams v. Union Pacific Railroad donde, después de cuatro años de preparación, el bufete obtuvo un veredicto del jurado de 1.670.000 dólares para una empleada afroamericana. En Rivero v. Surdyka, fui el abogado principal en el juicio y la apelación de un caso de derechos civiles que duró 15 años, incluyendo un juicio completo y tres apelaciones al Noveno Circuito, concluyendo finalmente con una sentencia para los demandantes de más de 2.300.000 dólares. Estos casos ilustran el lema del bufete: compromiso – resultados. Hay que comprometerse con un caso, a veces durante mucho tiempo, para obtener el resultado que el cliente merece.

No siempre ganamos en el juicio. Cuando eso ocurre, el compromiso significa llevar el caso al siguiente nivel y recurrirlo. En el caso Rivero, antes mencionado, eso fue lo que ocurrió: el tribunal desestimó el caso -habíamos perdido- pero apelamos y conseguimos una victoria para nuestros clientes que mantuvimos a través de dos apelaciones más. Desde entonces, el bufete ha conseguido muchas victorias en apelación que reivindican los derechos de los empleados y los consumidores.

A lo largo de los años he sido abogado de los demandantes en numerosos casos individuales y acciones colectivas. Puede sonar cursi, o difícil de creer, pero después de todo este tiempo, y después de todas las grandes experiencias que he tenido, mi parte favorita de ser abogado es cuando consigo dar un cheque a mi cliente.

 

Educación

Facultad de Derecho, Universidad de California, Berkeley, J.D., 1986