ZLF Client Victories

ZLF is results oriented with a very high success rate for its employer clients, garnering many victories for our clients over the years. A small sample of our client victories of the years includes:

• Ellis v. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Police Department (2024-2025): ZLF obtained significant victories for our client when an independent judge, the superior court, and the court of appeal all affirmed our client's decision to terminate a police officer for excessive absenteeism, inability to reasonably accommodate, and falsifying time records, against Officer’s claims of retaliation for filing workers compensation claims and medical condition discrimination. (Office of Administrative Hearings Case. No. 2021-09-0550; Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 23STCP00241; CA Ct. App., 2nd Dist. 8th Div. Appeal No. B341736)

• Amini v. County of Ventura (2024): After Plaintiff sought over $4.5 million in damages against our client for alleged disability discrimination, retaliation, assault and battery, our office leveraged Plaintiff's dismissal of the case for mere nuisance value when discovery revealed Plaintiff did not even have her alleged allergy disability, had no evidence of assault or battery by any coworker, and had been dishonest with her doctors. (United States District Court, C.D. CA Case No. 2:22-cv-05420-DSF-ADS)

• Police Officer John Doe / City of Upland (2023) (Confidential Personnel Matter): ZLF secured a disciplinary arbitration victory for our client when an arbitrator affirmed the City/Police Department's decision to terminate a police officer for sexual harassment.

• Police Officer John Doe / City of Oceanside (2022) (Confidential Personnel Matter): ZLF secured a disciplinary arbitration victory for our client when an arbitrator affirmed the City/Police Department's decision to terminate a police officer for cause for dishonesty in reporting the circumstances of a minor on-duty auto accident in his police vehicle.

• Patch v Jackson Tidus Law Firm (2019): ZLF won an Orange County jury verdict in favor of our law firm partner client of over $1.7 million for breach of contract for denying his annual bonus and other compensation owed. After our office filed a post-trial $2.5 million attorney’s fees motion as the prevailing party, the case settled quickly on confidential terms. (OCSC Case No. 30-2014-00715089; CA Ct. App. Dist. 4, Div. 3, Appeal No. G057193)

• William Goldstein v County of Riverside Public Works: (2016): Our office obtain a defense verdict for our client against Plaintiff/heavy equipment landfill operator's alleged retaliatory termination for reporting safety violations and      complaining to his supervisors. After trial, the Court found Plaintiff lacked credibility by faking the severity of his alleged workers compensation injuries (as revealed on surveillance tape), and that the County had legitimate reasons to terminate his employment for his numerous safety violations in an extremely safety conscious workplace where there had been prior serious injuries. (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 10004676)

• Santa Barbara County Civil Attorneys Union v County of Santa Barbara (2015) ZLF won a victory for our client against the union's unfair labor practice charges alleging that the County retaliated against its civil attorneys for engaging in union organization activity by changing County policy which resulted in denying raises to the attorneys. PERB found the County had no duty to meet and confer with the attorney's union, and that it was within its rights to deny raises. (California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) Case No. LA-CE-889-M)

• Dwayne Henderson v County of Riverside (2015): Our client obtained a complete victory for our client when the Court granted our motion for summary judgment dismissing Plaintiff's allegation of race discrimination after he was not permanently hired into his temporary assignment. After trial, the Court found that the County had numerous legitimate non-discriminatory reasons not to re-hire Plaintiff, including tardiness, absences, fighting, appearing at work while he was allegedly disabled on workers compensation leave, and because he was a temporary at will employee (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 130685) 

• O’Gara v Riverside County Sheriff (2013): When Plaintiff filed an attorney's fees motion against our client for $750,000, our office filed an opposition and the Court reduced the requested fees by over $600,000, from $750,000 to $113,000. (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 10010888)

• Mory I v City of Chula Vista: (California Police Officer Beauty Queen Case) (2012): ZLF won a motion for summary judgment in our client's favor and against a former police officer’s FLSA/overtime claim for donning and doffing police uniform before and after work shifts. (United States District Court, Southern District Case No. 07-CV-0462 JLS (WVG))

• Mory IV v City of Chula Vista: (2012): ZLF firm prevailed for our client against police officer’s claims of wrongful termination, retaliation and procedural due process violations, when the court denied the employee’s lawsuit seeking reinstatement. The court ruled the employee was legitimately and justifiably terminated for conduct unbecoming an officer (theft of her former fiancée’s engagement ring), violating peace officer probation rules by participating in public out of state beauty pageants while on probation, and interfering with a personnel investigation. (San Diego Superior Court No., 37-2009-00079219-CU-WT-SC)

• Hamblin, Ullerich and Salmeron v. City of Glendale (2011) (Las Vegas Joy Ride Case): ZLF successfully defended against three officers’ action for injunction to rescind their terminations from employment for alleged POBR due process violations when questioned about their location on a day they were missing for 9 hours because they took a joy ride to Las Vegas in their supervisor’s police vehicle. The Court denied the employees’ motion for a temporary restraining order to stop the termination process and the case was dismissed. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 461668)

• City of Upland v. Davisson (2011): ZLF's client prevailed in the City’s declaratory relief action to resolve the issue of state-wide concern about the permissible scope and procedures for disciplinary appeal hearings in the recently enacted and amended Firefighter Bill of Rights Act. (San Bernardino Superior Court Case No. CIVRS 1100894)

• Robert Chavez v. City of Los Angeles (2010): Mr. Zappia first-chaired the widely-publicized 2010 Los Angeles jury trial and secured a full defense verdict in the City’s favor against former police officer Chavez’s claims of employment retaliation, discrimination, and harassment for filing complaints of alleged harassment against the LAPD. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 311284)

• Mory V v. City of Chula Vista: (2011) The superior court defense judgment in the City’s favor against former police officer’s writ petition seeking reinstatement and back pay, alleging that her termination was unwarranted for participating in beauty pageants during probation, and alleging numerous POBR violations. (San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2009-0007-9219-CU-WT-SC)

• RSA (Cline) v. County of Riverside, et al. (2011) ZLF obtained a defense judgment against Plaintiff/labor union’s allegations that our client unlawfully unilaterally imposed an overly-strict policy for permits to carry loaded and concealed weapons, and sought an order requiring our client to grant retirees’ applications to carry loaded and concealed weapons. The court ruled our client had the right to unilaterally create the policy and apply its discretion in deciding whether or not to grant such requests. (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 1101283.)

• Candle Edmundson McDonald v County of Riverside (Sheriff) (2010): ZLF won our client a defense verdict after trial defended by Ed Zappia against a Deputy Sheriff's claims of retaliation, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, failure to engage and accommodate disability after she took a pregnancy leave and was then denied a disability retirement. (RCSC Case No. RIC 10000816)

• Duffy v City of Desert Hot Springs (2009): In a federal court jury trial defended by Ed Zappia, the jury returned a defense verdict against retaliation claim by police officer and union president who was released from probation for misconduct, fighting, and two incidents of excessive force during his probationary period. (United States District Court, C.D. CA Case No. 5:06-cv-00385-VBF-OP)

• Mory II v City of Chula Vista: (2009): ZLF won a motion for summary judgment against Plaintiff’s claims for retaliation, discrimination, harassment and civil rights violations, alleging she was harassed and intimidated during a union meeting for suing the department. (USDC, Southern District Case No. 07-CV-0462 JLS (WVG))

• Josh Hiraoka v County of Riverside (Sheriff) (2009): Deputy Sheriff involuntarily granted disability retirement after having a seizure while driving police vehicle on duty. Filed a civil action alleging retaliation, disability discrimination, failure to engage and accommodate. Summary judgment granted in the County’s favor finding the County had legitimate non-retaliatory non-discriminatory reasons to terminate his employment via involuntary disability retirement. (RCSC Case No. RIC513890)

• Liesha Fauth v Riverside County District Attorney (2008):  Sworn District Attorney Investigator was terminated after she was found psychologically unfit to carry a weapon. She and her husband then brought bizarre, graphic, and publicized claims of sexual harassment and discrimination against numerous high level county officials. Summary judgment granted in the County’s favor, finding the County had legitimate non-retaliatory non-discriminatory reasons to terminate her employment. (Federal USDC Case No. SACV08-199 (AHS)

• Valentin v. City of South Gate (2008): Federal District Court granted three summary judgment motions against former Police Officer’s claims of retaliatory termination and civil rights violations after he was terminated for tipping off local drug dealers that they were subject of local police and DEA investigations. (USDC, Central District Case No. CV 04-3396 R (SHx))

• Leroy Thomas v City of Irvine (2001): In a jury trial defended by Ed Zappia, the jury returned a defense verdict in favor of Defendants City of Irvine and a Police Commander against claims of race discrimination and retaliation brought by an African American Officer who was released from probation for insubordination and incompetence. (Orange County Superior Court Case No. 00CC02583)