Steven G. Pearl Recognized as a "Super Lawyer"

Steven G. Pearl has been selected as a Super Lawyer for 2011. Super Lawyers recognizes the top five percent of lawyers based on independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers ... who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

The Pearl Law Firm is very pleased to receive this recognition from its colleagues.

Steven G. Pearl to Present Video Podcast on Common Employer Mistakes in Wage and Hour Practice and Litigation

Steven G. Pearl will appear on After Hours, a video podcast series hosted by Arent Fox partner and management-side litigator Harry Johnson. Mr. Pearl and Mr. Johnson will discuss Common Employer Mistakes in Wage and Hour Practice and Litigation:

Although many employers and their attorneys work diligently to ensure compliance with California and Federal wage and hour law, full compliance can be difficult, and certain requirements may be ignored. To make matters worse, many employers and their attorneys take an overly-aggressive approach in litigation, compounding what may be relatively minor violations and opening themselves to far greater exposure than necessary.

After Hours is a video podcast series hosted by Harry Johnson, a management-side litigator in Los Angeles who is a Partner in Arent Fox’s national Labor Employment & OSHA Group. Follow the Program on Twitter @HJ_mgmt_atty and/or email the program at afterhours@arentfox.com.

Steven G. Pearl to Present MCLE for Encino Lawyers Association

On March 9, 2011, Steven G. Pearl will present "Beyond Overtime: Spotting Wage and Hour Issues for Employers and Employees." Mr. Pearl will teach attorneys how to spot issues that lawyers on both sides of the wage and hour table need to know, including:

Misclassification of Salaried Employees
Meal and Rest Periods
Paycheck Requirements
Employer Deductions from Pay
Change Rooms and Resting Facilities
Seating and Temperature Requirements

More information is available from the Encino Lawyers Association. The Encino Lawyers Association promotes Encino as a center of excellence in legal services, provides local and low-cost educational opportunities (MCLE) for the local legal community, and facilitates quality cross-referral opportunities along the Ventura Boulevard corridor in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Pearl serves on its Board of Governors and as Chair of its Education Committee.

Pearl Law Firm Associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz Prevails in Trial

Congratulations to Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz, who recovered more than $155,000 in wages for an individual who worked as a repairman in a jewelry shop and was treated as an independent contractor. Mr. Sansanowicz conducted a two-day bench trial before Hon. Luis Lavin in Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District, Department 13. Mr. Sansanowicz now will move to recover our client's attorney fees.

Mr. Sansanowicz focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition. Mr. Sansanowicz earned his law degree at Loyola Law School, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola Law Review of Los Angeles, was a member of the nationally ranked Byrne Trial Advocacy competition team, and served as a board member of the Jewish Students Law Association, La Raza, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.

CEB Asks Steven G. Pearl to Present "Wage and Hour Compliance for Business Law Practitioners"

Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) has asked Steven G. Pearl to present a seminar on "Wage and Hour Compliance for Business Law Practitioners." The program is geared toward attorneys who represent businesses, but do not have expertise in wage and hour law. Topics include:

• State vs. federal law
• Exempt vs. nonexempt status
• Overtime issues
• Off-the-clock claims
• Meal and rest period compliance
• Minimum wage
• Alternative work schedules
• Final pay issues
• Employees vs. independent contractors

To register or to obtain more information, please go here.

Matthew Bender and NELA Select Steven G. Pearl and Leonard H. Sansanowicz to Write Treatise on Federal Wage Law

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and Matthew Bender have selected Steven G. Pearl and Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz to author a new chapter on the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading & Practice.

Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading & Practice is a three-volume practice guide covering "all aspects of employment law, including statutory and common law claims, as well as a synopsis of the law, practitioners' tips, and forms." The new chapter to be written by Mr. Pearl and Mr. Sansanowicz will include an extensive selection of forms for individual and collective actions under the FLSA.

Encino Lawyers Association Names Steven G. Pearl to Board of Governors

Encino Lawyers Association ("ELA") has named Steven G. Pearl to its founding Board of Governors. Mr. Pearl will serve as ELA's Education Committee Chair. ELA provides local networking opportunities and continuing legal education to the outstanding Encino legal community.

ELA's inaugural MCLE event, "Preparing the Problem Witness" will take place on December 8, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at 16133 Ventura Boulevard, Penthouse Suite A, Encino, California. The program will feature William A. Daniels, Esq., and Molly M. Murphy, MDR. The MCLE will provide one hour of MCLE credit, including .25 hours of ethics credit. Cost is just $10 for ELA members and $25 for non-members.

Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine Publishes Article by Steven G. Pearl

The November, 2010, edition of Los Angeles Lawyer magazine includes an article by Steven G. Pearl entitled "The Limits on Employer Deductions from Pay in California."

The article explores section 8 of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders, which allows employers to deduct from employees' wages for shortage, breakage, or loss "caused by a dishonest or willful act, or by the gross negligence of the employee." Mr. Pearl considers whether this provision is invalid as conflicting with the Labor Code and whether Due Process protects employees from employers' extrajudicial deductions from wages.

Los Angeles Lawyer magazine is published by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) and is available here. Mr. Pearl co-chair's LACBA's Labor and Employment Law Section Dinner Committee and serves on the Planning Committee for LACBA's Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium.

Steven G. Pearl to Speak at Bridgeport Eighth Annual Wage and Hour Litigation Conference

On December 16, 2010, Steven G. Pearl will speak at Bridgeport's Eighth Annual Wage and Hour Litigation Conference. Mr. Pearl will speak on "Damage Modeling in Wage & Hour Class Actions." Mr. Pearl will join Joseph Krock, Ph.D., of The Claro Group, and Daniel Chammas of Venable. The conference takes place on December 15 and 16 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. More information is available here.

Steven G. Pearl to Introduce Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris at LACBA Dinner

On October 6, 2010, the Los Angeles County Bar Association will host the 2010 Benjamin Aaron Dinner, featuring Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. Deputy Secretary Harris will discuss developments at the DOL, including a newly proposed DOL approach to enforcement in which the DOL would issue regulations and then direct implementation toward providing assistance to encourage and enable employers to avoid employment law violations.

As co-chair of the LACBA Labor and Employment Law Section's Dinner Committee, Steven G. Pearl will have the honor of introducing Deputy Secretary Harris.