Overview

When employers face challenging workplace discrimination or employee mobility claims, attorney Jim Goodman’s results-oriented approach resolves matters quickly and efficiently. Jim has spent the past several decades litigating disability discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour, and sexual harassment claims in state and federal courts.

He also prosecutes and defends numerous unfair competition and trade secret actions. Having experienced how all types of cases play out in court, he uses that insight to his client’s advantage when working toward their desired outcomes. Though every case is different, he can easily spot the weaknesses and strengths of each case. His best advice is the advice he can provide early.

Jim takes an equally proactive approach to ensuring employment policies and procedures are up to date and consistent across the company. As employers throughout the United States increasingly grapple with complex disability claims, he ensures in-house legal counsel and HR teams understand highly technical reasonable accommodations rules to avoid future litigation. When his clients need to make tough termination decisions, he provides clear advice to guide swift and compliant actions rooted in documented company policy. Clients also frequently call on Jim to help them explore the use of restrictive covenants in their hiring practices while weighing the risks against their future enforceability.

Focus Areas

Experience

  • Served as lead counsel in the defense of a high-exposure meal period class action on behalf of a client in Los Angeles Superior Court. Jim persuaded the court to deny the plaintiffs' motion for class certification, and the court’s ruling was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented a publishing company in a case brought by a sales representative, wherein the California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's grant of a summary judgment motion in a hostile environment sexual harassment case. This decision established a favorable precedent for employers defending hostile environment harassment cases in California.
  • Defended an international financial services firm against a claim for defamation and interference with contract in a 30-day FINRA arbitration, wherein the claimant was awarded no relief.
  • Represented a multinational investment management corporation in a defamation action wherein the court granted defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings, and the judgment was affirmed on appeal.
  • Defended a multinational investment bank in an age discrimination action. Jim won summary judgment on the age discrimination claim, and the dismissal of the age discrimination claim was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented a multinational investment management corporation in a disability discrimination, gender discrimination, and retaliation action that was dismissed on a motion for summary judgment. All the dismissals, except for the retaliation claim, were affirmed on appeal. The retaliation claim was tried to a jury, and Jim secured a defense verdict.
  • Defended an office services company in a disability discrimination arbitration. The arbitrator found in favor of Jim’s client on all claims.

Recognition

Credentials

Education

  • Loyola Law School (J.D., 1979)
  • University of Oregon (B.S., 1975)

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Media

Events

Insights

Insights

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