Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo Wins Total Defense Victory After Three-Week Trial

06.08.2016

CERRITOS, CALIF. On June 1st, 2016, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (“AALRR”) won a major victory for its client, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (“MWD”). The plaintiff sued MWD after being terminated from his job. He sought economic damages in excess of $1.6 million, plus emotional distress damages. He claimed that his supervisor was biased against him due to his religious beliefs and that MWD retaliated against him after he complained about the alleged bias.

AALRR attorneys Nate Kowalski and Irma Rodriguez Moisa worked tirelessly on behalf of their client during the three-week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. They provided evidence of MWD’s culture of diversity and religious tolerance, the plaintiff’s insubordination and misrepresentations, and MWD’s attempts to counsel, train, and correct the plaintiff’s conduct.

After six hours of deliberations, the civil jury returned a 12-0 verdict in favor of MWD on the plaintiff’s religious discrimination claim and an 11-1 verdict for MWD on the retaliation claim.

Nate Kowalski, the head of AALRR’s Public Entity Labor and Employment Practice Group, said, “We are very pleased that the jury ruled decisively in favor of our client.” 

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About Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

With over 35 years of unwavering commitment to client service, AALRR is one of California’s leading law firms. Our diverse team brings a seasoned perspective to California’s complex legal landscape for public and private entities, with particular strength in the areas of education, labor and employment, construction, complex litigation, corporate, taxation, and white collar law. Our public sector clients include more than 400 K-12 school districts, community college districts and universities, as well as cities, counties and special districts. We also represent diverse business entities, from small, family-run businesses to publicly traded corporations. At 160 lawyers and growing, AALRR has eight offices in Cerritos, Fresno, Irvine, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Riverside, Sacramento and San Diego to serve our clients throughout California. For more information about AALRR, visit our website at www.aalrr.com and sign up for our blogs, www.aalrreducationlaw.com, www.aalrremploymentlaw.com, and www.aalrrlaborrelationslaw.com. 

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