Consumer/Employee Rights, Immigration, Personal Injury, Business/Nonprofit | View on the web
News from Minami Tamaki LLP | October 2016 | MinamiTamaki.com | 415-788-9000
Partner Dale Minami introduced George Takei at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center's 100th Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 22. Takei was honored with the organization's 2016 Mathew O. Tobriner Public Service Award. Video of Dale's remarks.
Minami Tamaki awarded $5.3 million in attorneys’ fees for successful verdict in retaliation case against Sacramento Sheriff’s Department
CONSUMER & EMPLOYEE RIGHTS - On September 14, 2016, a Sacramento judge awarded Minami Tamaki LLP and their co-counsel, the Law Offices of Jerry Chong and Alice Wong, $5.3 million in attorneys’ fees for their successful trial verdict on behalf of four female law enforcement officers of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
On May 17, 2016, after five weeks of trial and three days of deliberations, a jury found that our clients had suffered retaliation for speaking out about discrimination and sexual favoritism in the Department. The jury collectively awarded our clients – Annica Hagadorn, Dawn Douglas, Tracie Keillor, and Jodi Mendonca – over $3.5 million in economic and non-economic damages.
Our clients had complained to the Sheriff’s Department about gender and race discrimination in advancement opportunities and preferential treatment given to a female deputy who was romantically involved with a male captain. After their complaints, the careers of all four women were stalled and derailed. (read more)
Client awarded $2.8 million after being struck by delivery van
PERSONAL INJURY - Dale Minami obtained $2.8 million through a settlement for client “Bill” who was struck by a delivery van that ran through a red light. In March 2014, Bill was riding his motorcycle through a green light when a delivery driver ran a red light and hit him. Bill suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was partially disabled, but thankfully has made significant improvement. Dale argued that the accident was nothing short of life changing for Bill. We stressed the significant injuries and permanent disabilities this accident caused and the compromise to Bill’s lifestyle. Defendants requested mediation with mediator Michael Ney. The case settled for $2.8 million to be paid by Progistics Distribution, Inc., and $5,000 to be paid by Airport Van Rental which owned the delivery van. (read more)
Olivia Serene Lee to Chair AILA NorCal Chapter for 2016-2017
IMMIGRATION - Olivia Serene Lee, an associate in our Immigration Practice Group, was selected as the 2016-2017 Chair for the Northern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA NorCal). Olivia began serving as Chair on July 1. She has served on the AILA NorCal Executive Board for the past three years.
She has been actively involved in AILA NorCal since 2009, leading and organizing more than 30 Continuing Legal Education programs in all aspects of immigration law, including prosecutorial discretion, export control, PERM, waivers, asylum, and events with immigration judges, USCIS, CBP, DOL and asylum officers. She also served as faculty on local and national AILA CLE panels on topics such as O-1s and H-1Bs. (read more)
Partner Mark Fong in the News: SFMTA Settles Muni crash that killed Cheng Jin Lai - The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has agreed to a $3.25 million settlement involving a Muni bus colliding with and killing Cheng Jin Lai, 78, in 2013. “Our hope is the settlement of $3.25 million to Mr. Lai’s family will help bring them comfort for the husband and father they lost.” (read more)
Minami Tamaki LLP Invited to Participate in White House Call on Proposed International Entrepreneurship Rule
IMMIGRATION - White House officials invited Partner Minette Kwok from the Minami Tamaki immigration practice group to participate in an August 26 conference call announcing President Obama’s proposed International Entrepreneurship rule that would allow foreign national entrepreneurs to build their startups in the U.S.
Under this proposed rule, DHS may parole, on a case-by-case basis, eligible entrepreneurs of startups who hold a significant ownership interest and have an active and central role to its operations. The startup must have been formed in the United States within the past three years, and the enterprise must have substantial and demonstrated potential for rapid business growth and job creation.
“This proposed rule is a breath of fresh air in this difficult political environment right now,” said Kwok. “It promises to give talented foreign national entrepreneurs the chance to carry out their vision, improve the economy; encourages the injection of innovative new ideas that will keep the U.S. market competitive, and promotes job creation.” (read more)
U.S. Department of Labor Sues Palantir for Discrimination Against Asian Job Applicants
CONSUMER & EMPLOYEE RIGHTS - Minami Tamaki LLP helps employees in the technology industry navigate workplace issues and ensure that their legal rights are protected. We work to address issues of gender, race, and age discrimination in the tech industry, including inequities in the hiring process, pay discrimination, the “glass ceiling,” pregnancy and child-care discrimination, and sexual harassment.
A recent lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) has raised further questions of how the technology industry in Silicon Valley and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area is addressing diversity issues and ensuring fair treatment for their workers.
On September 26, 2016, DOL filed a Complaint against Palantir Technologies, a Palo Alto technology company, alleging systemic discrimination against Asian job applicants. DOL alleges that Palantir violated Executive Order 11246 by using a hiring process and selection procedures that routinely eliminated Asian applicants for software engineering positions on the basis of their race. DOL alleges that Asian applicants were eliminated in the resume screen and telephone interview phases, and that Palantir hired a majority of applicants through a discriminatory employee referral program.
