Emphasis
Employment and labor litigation
Class action litigation
Workplace training
Biography
Mr. Hart represents and counsels public and private sector employers in a wide range of employment and labor matters and across diverse industries. He has represented companies in wrongful termination, wage and hour and in employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation matters. He has experience in all facets of the litigation process, from initial investigation and filing through trial and appeal. Mr. Hart has extensive experience representing companies in complex wage and hour class action in both state and federal court. Mr. Hart has defended the interests of companies in audits and administrative proceedings brought by or to such governmental agencies as the U.S. Department of Labor and the California Division of the Labor Standards Enforcement.
He has also assisted in internal human resources investigations of employees, audits of company policies and in other ongoing employee matters, such as workplace violence restraining orders. Mr. Hart conducts trainings on harassment, termination procedures, wage and hour and other issues.
Prior to joining Littler, Mr. Hart practiced criminal law as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General's Office. While at the Attorney General's Office, Mr. Hart prosecuted felonies and misdemeanors and defended criminal convictions on appeal and in habeas corpus proceedings. Mr. Hart also participated in an exchange program with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office while at the Attorney General's Office.
Mr. Hart also has served as an extern to the Honorable Federal District Court Judge Consuelo B. Marshall of the Central District Court of California.
Education
J.D. degree, with honors, from Pepperdine University School of Law, 1997
B.A., Philosophy and Social Ecology, University of California at Irvine, 1993
Publications
"In Hertz v. Friend the Supreme Court Clarifies the Path to the Federal Courts," Littler ASAP
"Helping and Managing a Company's Haitian Workforce," Daily Journal
"Preparing the Workplace for a Pandemic," California Bar Journal (forthcoming)
"The California Supreme Court Narrowly Decides Individuals Are Not Liable For Retaliation In Some Circumstances," Littler ASAP, March 2008
"English Only Rules In The Workplace," Orange County Bar Journal, November 2007
"Insurance Czar's Moves Aim To Avert Crisis," Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 7, 2007
"Numbers Count," The Advisor, 2007
"Changes Made to the Way You Pay Your Employees: Temporary Employees, Overtime and Bonuses," Orange County Bar Journal, March 12, 2007, p. B-75
"What To Do When Law Enforcement Is Investigating A Crime At Your Workplace," Employer Publication, 2007
"Police Knock On Your Door Investigating Identity Theft," Employer Publication, 2007
"Assisted in preparing disability and accommodation sections of the The National Employer™ publication
Co-author, "Will A New Exception To Worker's Compensation Emerge?" California Labor & Employment Law Quarterly,
People v. Washington, 100 Cal. App. 4th 490 (2002)
People v. Sizemore, 99 Cal. App. 4th 546 (2002), rev. granted. 125 Cal. Rptr. 2d 662 (Sept. 18, 2002)
Romero v. Roe, 130 F. Supp. 2d 1148 (C.D. Cal. 2001)
People v. Ramsey, 79 Cal. App. 4th 621 (2000)
People v. Myers, 69 Cal. App. 4th 305 (1999)
Activities
Editor of The Advisor
Member of the Board of Directors for the Employer Advisory Council of Orange County
Orange County Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association