Representing employees against employers in claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, assault & battery; whistleblower retaliation. Handle claims of retaliation for taking disability or medical leave, workers' compensation leave or family-medical leave, or denial of such leave. Harassment and discrimination claims are often based on sex, race, national origin, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, medical condition and other protected classifications. Adverse job actions based on discrimination may include excessive and unfair criticism, removal of responsibilities, fewer hours, transfers or assignments with less opportunity or income, assignment to menial or dirty tasks, demotion, denial of promotion, or simply termination. The firm also handles claims for unpaid overtime, denial of lunch and rest breaks. We handle all aspects of litigation including trial, arbitration, mediation and settlement in all state and federal courts in California and before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Also represent independent contractors and managers with discrimination claims against their employers. Attorney Geoffrey Lyon has over 25 years' courtroom experience. He has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal court collectively resulting in well over $15 million in verdicts and settlements. Attorney Lyon has handled dozens of trials, including jury trials, as well as arbitrations, hundreds of court appearances and mediations, and thousands of depositions. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits and the California Court of Appeal. He was a candidate for State Assembly in 2004. Lyon is married with three children. Collectively, the firm's employee-clients have sued dozens of Fortune 500 companies in numerous industries including aerospace, entertainment, defense, broadcasting, real estate, construction, advertising, automotive, sales, service, banking, mortgage, and many other industries. Representative public entities sued by clients of the firm include the City and County of Los Angeles, school districts and numerous city, county and government agencies. Nothing herein is intended to be a prediction, guaranty or estimate regarding the outcome of your case or any particular matter.

Prior to becoming an associate at David Lee Rice, APLC, Russell Ozawa was a law clerk at David Lee Rice, APLC and a summer law clerk at Akay Sull LLP in San Francisco, California. During law school, Mr. Ozawa served on the U.S.F. Law Review and was a brief specialist for U.S.F. National Moot Court Competition team and Roger J. Traynor California Appellate Moot Court Competition team, earning second best brief and national finalist, and third best brief in those competitions, respectively. During law school, Mr. Ozawa earned Best Brief for the 1L Spring Moot Court Competition in 2008, and Best Brief in Appellate Advocacy for Fall 2009. Mr. Ozawa also received the CALI Award for Excellence in Partnership Taxation in 2009. Mr. Ozawaâ's practice areas include general litigation, probate litigation, tax litigation, corporations law, and tax controversy.