Intro
Sonia Salinas is an experienced labor and employment attorney and a skilled litigator. Sonia represents clients in a wide range of litigation matters, including wrongful discharge, race, gender, and disability discrimination/harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims (including class actions and FLSA collective actions), and claims involving non-compete agreements. She also provides advice and counsel to clients on employee discipline, leaves of absence, and personnel policies. Sonia has a diverse client base, including public entities, multi-national corporations, hospital systems, health care providers, nonprofit entities, small businesses and individuals and tailors her services and advice to the unique needs of each client.
Areas of Focus
Education
Admissions and Courts
Motion for Summary Judgment. The plaintiff filed a suit against a public entity/health care system alleging age discrimination and retaliation in violation of FEHA. The plaintiff, a per diem nurse, claimed that she was "bumped" from shifts in favor of younger nurses and that she was terminated as retaliation for her complaint about this alleged discriminatory practice. The Court granted the motion for summary judgment finding, in part, that there were non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reasons for plaintiff's termination. The successful motion for summary judgment resolved the lawsuit for the client in its entirety and the client was granted costs.
Motion for Summary Judgment. The plaintiff filed a suit against a public entity/health care system alleging age, race, nation origin, and gender discrimination in violation of FEHA. The plaintiff alleged that she was not hired for various positions she applied to –over 20 positions—because of her age, national origin, race and gender. The Court granted the motion for summary judgment finding, in part, that plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination and that there were non-discriminatory, reasons for the failure to hire plaintiff. The successful motion for summary judgment resolved the lawsuit for the client in its entirety and the client was granted costs.
Anti-SLAPP Motion and Appellate Victory. The plaintiffs alleged that a health care corporation, committed fraud against them, in part, because the health care corporation sued and won a judgment against plaintiffs in a sister state. The anti-SLAPP motion was granted and client was awarded the attorney’s fees it incurred in filing the anti-SLAPP motion. Plaintiffs appealed but the trial court’s order granting the anti-SLAPP motion was affirmed. Additionally, an order granted her client attorney’s fees incurred in defending the appeal to be paid by plaintiffs.
Representative Clients
The Regents of the University of California; Coachella Valley Water District; Cardenas Markets LLC ; Evexia Health Services; Southern California Regional Rail Authority; Los Angeles Unified School District, Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc.; and Memorial-Care.
Latina Lawyers Bar Association, Former Board Member & President
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Mexican American Bar Association
Hispanic National Bar Association
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
"Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys 2023 – Sonia Salinas," Los Angeles Business Journal (October 2023)
Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal (2023)
Hon. Judge Suzanne H. Segal, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court of the Central District of California
“First Generation Professionals: Turning Challenges into Achievements,” CMCP Annual Business Conference (September 2023)