As a full-service litigation firm, FDM is equipped to take clients from the filing of a civil complaint through trial and appeal. The firm’s expansive expertise in these areas comes from years of successfully trying cases to verdict, and defending those results in the event of an appeal. Our lawyers have in-depth and detailed knowledge of the law, enabling the firm to confidently evaluate trial and appellate exposure, as well as providing practical and straightforward assessments of potential outcome.

We represent employers in state and federal courts through trial and appeal, as well as in a wide range of administrative proceedings at the agency level and before the Department of Fair Employment Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Employment Development Division, among others.

We are as comfortable trying a case before a jury as we are in providing day-to-day advice for containment of exposure. At the transactional level, we minimize our clients’ litigation risk by offering insightful, tailored solutions to employment issues, providing training to supervisors, reviewing and drafting employee manuals, and guiding our clients through the intricacies of the interactive process, terminations, and other complicated employment processes.

FDM is equipped to investigate, litigate and try cases arising from serious injury or death. Our attorneys are frequently retained to assist in scene and evidence preservation as well as early investigation. If a lawsuit follows, we have the experience and depth to handle high exposure cases through trial, and beyond. Clients often retain us to handle their most difficult cases and trust us to deliver exceptional outcomes.

Through self-insurance pools, third party administrators, insurers and direct retention, FDM represents public entities in a wide variety of litigation in both state and federal courts. We aggressively represent our clients in cases arising out of employment claims, personal and/or catastrophic injuries, dangerous conditions of public property, claims of abuse or neglect, negligence, premises liability, products liability, ADA claims, and contractual disputes. We also pursue risk shifting opportunities, including looking for express indemnity tenders of defense, additional insured tenders and cross-claims. Representative public agency matters include:

• Catastrophic injury/wrongful death defense.

• Defense of lawsuits alleging police misconduct, excessive use of force, unreasonable search and seizure in violation of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.

• Wrongful termination on the basis of race, gender, age or other protected classification brought under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981 and 1983, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, and the California Constitution.

• Violation of substantial and procedural due process rights in public employment, including administrative review, Skelly hearings, post-termination hearings, and mandamus actions.

FDM represents non-profit organizations, churches and faith-based ministries throughout the State of California. Our experience and expertise in the representation of religious entities and non-profits enables us to serve our clients’ needs in the following areas, among others:

• Claims relating to internal governance disputes, wrongful termination, sexual misconduct, and personal injuries.

• Assisting in the proper application of federal and state wage and hour laws

• Drafting sound employment practices and policies that comply with state and federal laws and curb exposure to liability

• Guide clients through terminations, disciplinary measures, and employee grievances

• Respond promptly and correctly to day-to-day questions on applicable wage and hour laws

• Provide periodic updates to changes in the law that affects churches.