Labor and Employment - Answer, Discovery, Mediation, Settlement and/or Dismissal

Labor and Employment - Answer, Discovery, Mediation, Settlement and/or Dismissal

• Asserting age and gender discrimination claims, a disgruntled former employee of gaming manufacturer client attempted to put together a class action lawsuit. Plaintiff’s counsel previously filed and successfully pursued class action lawsuits in federal District Court. Certain “smoking gun” confidential information would have complicated the defense of such claims. Attempts to cull together a class with current and former employees was thwarted by counsel. Following limited discovery, including the plaintiff’s deposition, and a background investigation of the plaintiff, a mandatory settlement conference before a federal Magistrate resulted in a settlement of less than $25,000, inclusive of attorneys’ fees.
• Successful settlement/mediation of cases involving allegations of negligent hiring, training and supervision, along with respondeat superior liability issues for intentional torts.
• Plaintiff initially demanded $450,000 to settle a Title VII race discrimination, harassment and retaliation lawsuit. Mid-way through discovery, after deposing the plaintiff and learning of aliases and criminal conduct, the parties reached a settlement for a fraction of the original demand.
• Successfully defended a major lending institution in a complex lender liability case which settled for a minor “nuisance” amount immediately after deposing plaintiff.
• Settled for de minimis amount a $1 million lawsuit against Fortune 500 employer after limited depositions, persuasive settlement conference memorandum, and strategic participation in federal court settlement conference.