Michael N. Westheimer

Representative Matters:

• Defended numerous wage/hour class actions, single-plaintiff actions, Berman hearings before the California Labor Commissioner, de novo bench trials, and Department of Labor audits
• Represented financial institutions, insurers, employers, plan administrators and benefit plans in ERISA fiduciary breach, denial of benefits and Section 510 retaliation actions
• Represented  a  Silicon  Valley  technology  company in a disability discrimination and wrongful termination action by a former C-suite executive, won on summary judgment, affirmed on appeal
• Represented a business services company in a fiduciary breach action over services provided to a public employee pension plan, won a defense judgment in superior court, appeal pending
• Represented a Silicon Valley technology company in an action by an overseas service provider alleging breach of contract and business interference torts, won a defense judgment on the claims brought against client and a seven-figure judgment in client’s favor on its cross-claims
• Represented an apparel company in a writ of mandate proceeding against California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
• Represented a commercial airline in hybrid breach of contract/breach of duty of fair representation action by a terminated employee, won on summary judgment
• Represented a medical group in a Section 17200 bench trial alleging unlawful business practices and seeking equitable relief of restitution and disgorgement of profits, equitable relief denied

Published Cases:

• Nasrawi v. Buck Consultants LLC, 713 F.Supp.2d 1080 (E.D. Cal. 2010)
• Chadwick v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 498 F. Supp. 2d 1309 (E.D. Cal. 2007)
• Clidoro v. Kaiser Permanente Employee Benefit Plan, 39 Emp. Ben. Cas. (BNA) 2617 (N.D. Cal. 2006)
• Nashiro v. Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., 65 Fed. Appx. 636 (9th Cir. 2003)
• City of Oakland v. Public Employees’ Retirement System, 95 Cal.App.4th 29 (2002)

Education

• J.D., cum laude, University of San Francisco School of Law, 1995
• B.A., cum laude, Duke University, 1990

Admission to Practice

• California
• U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas

• Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA)
• SHRM
• San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association
• Western Independent Bankers
• Bar Association of San Francisco, Labor and Employment Section
• Duke Law Club

• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Keeping Calm in California: Key Developments From the Golden State” – Washington, D.C. – May 2, 2024
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Being Smart With AI: Workplace Automated Decision-Making Tools and Generative AI in California” – Napa – February 29, 2024
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Surfing Safari: A Wave of Issues and Updates From the Golden State” – San Diego – May 10, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Update on California Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Litigation and Trends” – Napa – March 2, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Not So Fast! Don’t Rush Hiring Employees in California” – Napa – March 3, 2022
• Workplace Strategies Virtual Seminar – “A-I Powered Deepfakes: What Employers Need to Know” – June 25, 2021
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation: Old and Developing Risks for a New Workplace” – March 4, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Bundles of Joy: Parenting, Pregnancy, and the Workplace” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Your (Pay) Check Is Not in the Mail—The Latest on Electronic Wage Payment Laws” – San Diego – May 5, 2017

• February 2016 – HR Magazine – “No Overtime Pay to Firefighters For Picking Up Protective Gear”
• October 15, 2015 – SHRM Online – “No Overtime Pay to Firefighters to Pick Up Protective Gear”