Employment litigation presents a serious challenge for California businesses. A single claim can expose a company to significant liability, disrupt operations, and damage a reputation that took years to build, and California’s employment laws are among the most demanding in the country. Employers facing a claim need defense counsel who understand both the law and the practical realities of running a business.
Callahan & Blaine, PC defends employers throughout Orange County and Southern California against employment claims and counsels businesses on how to reduce the risk of those claims arising. The firm has tried complex civil cases since 1984, and it brings that trial capability to the defense of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters. To see how this practice fits within the firm’s broader courtroom work, explore our civil litigation practice areas.
Common Types of Employment Litigation
Employment litigation covers a wide range of disputes in which a current or former employee alleges that an employer violated state or federal law. Defending these matters calls for counsel who know how California courts and agencies apply those laws and who can build a defense around the employer’s legitimate business decisions. The claims our attorneys defend most often include the following.
- Wrongful termination claims alleging that an employee was fired for an unlawful reason such as discrimination or retaliation
- Discrimination and harassment claims based on protected characteristics under California and federal law
- Retaliation and whistleblower claims arising after an employee reports conduct or exercises a legal right
- Wage and hour disputes involving overtime, employee classification, meal and rest breaks, and final pay
- Class actions and Private Attorneys General Act representative claims affecting many employees at once
- Disputes over the enforcement of arbitration agreements, noncompetition provisions, and trade secret obligations
Discrimination and Harassment Defense
Defense of employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation brought under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and federal law, before both the courts and administrative agencies.
Wage and Hour and Class Action Defense
Defense of wage and hour claims and of class and Private Attorneys General Act representative actions involving overtime, classification, and meal and rest break allegations, including challenges to class certification.
Workplace Counseling and Compliance
Advice on handbooks, policies, classification, terminations, and manager training designed to keep employers compliant with California law and to reduce the risk of a claim before one is filed.
Defending Employers Against Employment Claims
When a business faces an employment claim, an effective defense begins with a clear understanding of the facts and the applicable law. Our attorneys defend employers at every stage, from an administrative charge through trial and appeal, and we shape the strategy around the client’s business objectives rather than treating every case the same way. The goal is to resolve the matter efficiently where that serves the client and to litigate firmly where a claim lacks merit or the demand is unreasonable.
Early Case Assessment
The first step in defending an employment claim is a candid evaluation of its merits. Our attorneys investigate the facts, review the documentary record, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of both sides early, which allows the client to make informed decisions about strategy and cost from the outset. We examine employment policies, personnel files, performance records, and the communications surrounding the decision at issue to understand what actually happened and why.
Strategic Defense Planning
Based on that assessment, our attorneys develop a defense tailored to the claim and the client’s goals. That plan may include dispositive motions aimed at ending meritless claims early, targeted discovery, and negotiation or mediation where a reasonable resolution is available. Because the firm’s foundation is trial work, every defense is prepared with trial in mind, which strengthens the client’s position in settlement discussions and leaves the business ready if a claim proceeds to a courtroom.
Preventing Employment Claims Before They Arise
The most cost-effective way to manage employment risk is to reduce the chance that a claim is filed at all. Our attorneys counsel employers on the policies and practices that most often determine whether a workplace dispute becomes litigation. That work includes drafting and reviewing employee handbooks, advising on classification and wage and hour compliance, guiding managers through difficult terminations, and conducting audits of employment practices. California law changes frequently, and businesses that keep their policies current are far better positioned to defend a claim if one arises. Employers can review the state agency that enforces many of these laws through the California Civil Rights Department.
Meet the Callahan & Blaine, PC Team
Defending an employment claim rewards judgment developed over decades of trying difficult cases, and our clients work with attorneys who bring that experience. Edward Susolik serves as CEO, President, and a Senior Trial Attorney of Callahan & Blaine, PC, and leads the firm’s complex commercial and insurance practice. He has represented businesses and their insurers across a wide range of disputes and has been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California for many consecutive years.
Edward Susolik
CEO, President, and Senior Trial Attorney, Callahan & Blaine, PC
Mr. Susolik leads the firm’s complex business and insurance practice and has represented companies and their carriers in litigation throughout his career. He brings a trial lawyer’s perspective to every employment matter the firm defends, preparing each case as though it will be decided by a judge and jury.
Mr. Susolik works alongside a firm of accomplished attorneys whose combined experience spans complex commercial, insurance, real estate, and employment matters. That breadth allows the firm to assemble the right team for an employment defense and to address the related issues, from contract questions to insurance coverage, that these matters frequently involve.
Why Employers Choose Callahan & Blaine, PC
Businesses retain our firm because the defense is built on genuine trial capability. Since 1984, civil trial practice has been the center of what the firm does, and that foundation shapes every employment defense in three ways.
First, our attorneys prepare each matter as a case that could be tried, which strengthens the firm’s position in negotiation and mediation and means the defense is ready if a claim does not resolve. Second, the firm defends the full range of employment claims, from single-plaintiff discrimination and wrongful termination suits to wage and hour class and representative actions, so a business does not need separate counsel as a dispute develops. Third, the firm brings the resources of a full complex business litigation practice to matters that often touch contract, trade secret, and coverage issues at the same time.
With decades of courtroom success across California, our attorneys are prepared to fight for the outcome you deserve.
Contact Callahan & Blaine, PC for Employment Litigation Defense
Employment litigation can affect a company’s operations, finances, and reputation, and the right defense makes a meaningful difference in the outcome. Callahan & Blaine, PC defends employers throughout Orange County and Southern California and counsels businesses on how to reduce their exposure to employment claims. If your business is facing an employment claim or needs guidance on compliance, our attorneys provide the defense and practical judgment your situation requires. To discuss your matter, please use our online contact form and a member of our team will follow up with you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Employment Litigation Defense
Does Callahan & Blaine, PC represent employers or employees?
Callahan & Blaine, PC defends employers in employment litigation. The firm represents businesses of many sizes, from large corporations to mid-market and closely held companies, in claims brought by current and former employees, and it counsels those businesses on compliance and risk reduction. The firm’s focus in this practice area is the defense of employers facing claims, administrative charges, and related regulatory matters.
What should a business do when an employee files a discrimination or harassment claim?
A business that receives a discrimination or harassment claim should act quickly and carefully. Contact experienced employment defense counsel, preserve all documents and communications related to the employee, and avoid any action that could be viewed as retaliation. A prompt and well-documented internal review, guided by counsel, helps the business understand its exposure and respond to the claim on solid footing while protecting the evidence that a defense will later rely on.
Can a business be sued for wage and hour violations even if it believes it pays employees fairly?
Yes. Wage and hour claims frequently arise even when an employer believes its pay practices are fair, because California’s rules are detailed and differ from federal standards. Common allegations involve unpaid overtime, the misclassification of employees as exempt or as independent contractors, and meal and rest break violations, and these claims are often brought as class or representative actions. Careful classification and compliance practices are the strongest defense, and our attorneys help employers put those practices in place and defend the claims that still occur.
How does California employment law differ from federal law?
California employment law is generally more protective of employees than federal law, which creates additional obligations for employers. California requires meal and rest breaks, applies stricter overtime rules, mandates paid sick leave, and provides broad protections against discrimination and harassment, along with distinct rules on final pay, pay statements, and expense reimbursement. Because the differences are significant and change often, employers benefit from counsel who follow California law closely and can build compliance and defense strategies around it.
How can a business reduce the risk of employment litigation?
The most effective way to reduce employment litigation risk is through clear policies and consistent practices. Our attorneys work with employers to develop employee handbooks, train managers on documentation and the proper handling of workplace issues, and audit pay and classification practices against current California law. Sound documentation of legitimate business reasons for employment decisions, combined with up to date policies, gives a business a strong position if a claim is later filed.
