Ray has substantial litigation experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts. He has argued matters before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has litigated matters before administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, and has successfully conducted numerous arbitrations. He has extensive labor relations experience.
Ray's practice focuses on employment, labor and benefits litigation with an emphasis on defense of complex employment disputes. His experience includes class actions. He has represented employers in the transportation, life sciences, utility, manufacturing, health care and financial industries, as well as public sector clients. Ray's practice also includes litigating unfair competition, trade secret and environmental cases.
Ray counsels employers on the full range of employment law compliance and litigation prevention. He also conducts management training seminars. With a master's degree in industrial relations and prior experience as a human resources manager, he brings a unique and valuable perspective to his legal practice.
Representative Work
Obtained dismissal of retiree health care case brought by Sonoma County retirees. Sonoma County Association of Retired Employees v. Sonoma County, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10092 (N.D. Cal. 2011)
Obtained dismissal of unfair labor practice charges following administrative trial, affirmed by NLRB Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Int’l Longshore & Warehouse Union v. NLRB, 363 Fed. Appx. 488 (9th Cir. 2010)
Successful defense of class action pension case following bench trial. George Mathews, etc., et al. v. Ventura County Employees' Retirement Association, and County of Ventura, Ventura County Superior Court, CIV 220607
Obtained dismissal of employment discrimination case on summary judgment affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Surrell v. California Water Service Company, 518 F.3d 1097 (9th Cir. 2008)
Successful defense of sexual harassment case against employer and CEO following two week arbitration. The award was confirmed by a superior court.
Publications
"Class Actions after AT&T Mobility," Daily Journal (July 2012)
"Who's The Boss? Defeating Joint Employment Allegations Early In Employment Litigation," co-author, The Transportation Lawyers Association (August 2010)
Employment Law Roundtable, Developing Labor Law, contributing editor, California Employment Law Magazine (Summer 2006)
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Presentations
"Compliance and Avoiding Pitfalls of Wage and Hour Errors," AGC of California Annual Legal Retreat (October 2011)
"Pension Reform: What's on the Horizon," MMANC Winter Forum (February 2011)
"The Nuts and Bolts of Family Responsibilities Discrimination," ExecSense Webinar (2010)
"Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits Against Assisted Living Communities," co-presenter, CALA Webinar (April 2010)
"Family Feud: Managing Employee Relations," American Trucking Association, Litigation Center (July 2009)
"Meal and Rest Break Litigation—Brinker and Beyond," Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2008)
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