Employee Rights

Deena R. Merlen is a Partner at the firm. She serves clients at both our New York and Stamford offices and heads the Connecticut practice. Her practice areas include intellectual property, employment and labor law, media and entertainment, general business law, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. In her employment practice, Ms. Merlen is a trusted “go to” problem solver and counsel to individuals, established name brand companies and startups alike. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as wage and hour claims and other labor law matters. She also advises on and regularly negotiates employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements and other services-related arrangements. Ms. Merlen also counsels clients on employment and business matters in response to a crisis or other unexpected business impact, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closures, including continuity plans, employee furloughs, reductions in force and other critical measures. In her intellectual property practice, Ms. Merlen helps her clients with the development, acquisition and protection of their valuable brands and other vital intellectual property assets. She manages and grows trademark portfolios in the U.S. and internationally; negotiates licensing, assignment, distribution and branding agreements; prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; enforces intellectual property rights; and provides strategic counsel to safeguard brand platforms and expand the value of her clients’ intellectual property assets. Ms. Merlen’s media practice encompasses the development and protection of creative works in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, design and technology. She ran her own business in the entertainment industry for over a decade and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice. In addition, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents clients in company and transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and a wide range of other corporate matters, including company formation, capitalization and governance, compliance and contracts. Representative clients include technology companies, schools and other academic institutions, personal care and beauty companies, fashion and design companies, media, arts and entertainment companies, wholesalers, retailers and more. Prior to her work with RPJ, Ms. Merlen served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which she joined Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the areas of corporate law and intellectual property. Ms. Merlen is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

Eric L. Siegel has over 30 years of experience dedicating his practice to the litigation and resolution of business, employment, civil rights, disability rights and whistleblower disputes. Eric has tried jury and bench cases in both state and federal courts in numerous jurisdictions, including but not limited to the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, and Mississippi. He formerly served as a trial attorney in the Employment Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division where he enforced Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In addition, he spent the last decade working part-time in the real estate industry as an owner and developer, working on acquisition, financing, zoning, affordable housing, property management and leasing issues. Consequently, he understands first-hand the challenges facing owners, landlords and developers and approaches legal problems of real estate clients from a broader, results-driven and cost-effective perspective. He works closely with his clients to identify and fully understand their goals. Thinking strategically and creatively on behalf of clients, he uses all available tools to pursue a successful outcome for his clients. Mr. Siegel has been a frequent lecturer and author on a wide array of topics, including employee work eligibility under immigration laws; compliance with wage and hour laws; emerging sexual harassment law issues; English-only rules; arbitrability of jurisdictional disputes in tri-lateral arbitration, ADA case analyses and articles on mental disability, health insurance, pre-employment inquiries under the ADA, which was published in Disability Discrimination in the Workplace (Clark Boardman Callaghan), and medical examinations and reasonable accommodation under the ADA, and litigation tactics to avoid summary judgment, publishing in several employment-related treatises.

With over 15 years of experience in employment litigation, Brian Sudano is a distinguished legal professional who is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees against some of the country’s largest corporations. Mr. Sudano has successfully handled a wide range of employment-related cases, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wage disputes. His extensive knowledge of employment laws and regulations allows him to provide strategic guidance and effective representation to clients. Brian Sudano understands the complexities and sensitivities surrounding employment litigation, and approaches each case committed to achieving the best possible outcome. If you are an employee seeking justice for workplace mistreatment, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights under the law.

Peter A. Romero has practiced exclusively in the area of employment law for 16 years. Mr. Romero regularly represents both employers and employees in workplace litigation, including trial and appellate practice, administrative proceedings before the Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and New York State Division of Human Rights. He is highly experienced in complex litigation, including collective and class action lawsuits.

Colleen Van Egmond is an accomplished lawyer that has extensive legal experience in business planning, business litigation, estate planning, estate litigation, probates, employment law, agriculture law, along with accident and injuries. She has worked for such law firms as Thayer Harvey Gregerson Hedberg & Jackson along with Curtis & Arata prior to becoming the managing partner with Arata Swingle Van Egmond & Goodwin. In addition to her legal experience, she is currently active in different associations such as Association of Defense Council, Stanislaus County Bar Association and the Children's Crisis Center. Colleen Van Egmond graduated from the McGeorge School of Law with an honors in taxation and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2005. In addition to her legal degree, Ms. Van Egmond has a B.S. in Managerial Economics and a A.S. in Agriculture Business.

Throughout my 35 plus years of practice, I have represented individuals in all aspects of employment law in order to protect their jobs and families from the arbitrary actions of management who often view their employees as disposable. I have been proud to represent victims of discrimination of all types and effectively prosecuted their claims in either federal or state court. More recently my firm has advocated for an employee who has been harassed on the basis of their sex, age, or race. We have discovered that simply because an employer may have a procedure for reporting such harassment does not mean that the employee is protected or that the claims are fully investigated. The Law Offices of F. Benjamin Riek III has won significant victories for whistleblowers in both administrative and state court actions. We are proud to represent those few individuals who are willing to put aside the fears of retaliation and bring forth the illegal or dangerous actions of their employers -whether it is a pollution violation or misstating financial records. There are strong laws to protect employees in many areas who become aware of illegal activities at work. We are always willing to represent you before the proper agency or in court. In recent years, I have seen a significant increase in the number of cases of retaliation from employers for either reporting discrimination or harassment or cooperating in the company’s investigation of the claim. The employees targeted for retaliation are not just those who were victimized but also the witnesses who saw and heard what happened and told the truth, however inconvenient it might be to management. Don’t let the human resource department or a supervisor intimidate you! It is surprising that even today many companies try to cheat their employees out of the proper earnings through a variety of illegal activities. Some of the more obvious are forcing their workers to work off the clock, either before or after their shift, failing to pay overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, or telling you that you are an independent contractor when you have no control over your work hours. All of these actions violate the Fair Labor Standards Act which has been enforced since the 1930s. If you are classified as an independent contractor, not only does the company avoid withholding taxes, they also don’t pay their portion of social security and unemployment taxes that could affect you as you near retirement. I have a broad and diverse background representing employees and am always willing to meet with you to discuss your situation.

When you speak with Ben for even a few minutes, it’s impossible to ignore his energy. His enthusiasm comes both from his roles as Attorney, Chief Executive Officer, and Owner at CHASENBOSCOLO, and, more importantly, his passion for people. When it comes to his clients, he is a trial lawyer whose sole focus is on fighting for his client’s rights. Ben cannot tolerate a world where working men and women are not treated fairly by the legal system. Ben and the CHASENBOSCOLO team believe in better. They work tirelessly to hold wrongdoers accountable and help their clients overcome troubles. Ben was taught the importance of the right way to earn respect at a young age by his grandfathers - one of whom immigrated from Italy and the other who was a mechanical engineer. Throughout his life, he’s seen firsthand how people in power take advantage of honest, hard working men and women. Ben is thankful the skills his education and experience have helped develop. He believes he is obligated to use these skills to fight for those of us who are stepped on and bullied. This uncompromising integrity and commitment to clients has allowed him to help grow the firm from one lawyer to more than thirty lawyers. Practicing law is more than just verdicts and settlements—Ben fights for true change. He works to make sure that not only his clients’ rights—but just as importantly the rights of others—are protected for years to come. In each cases he handles, Ben demonstrates a commitment to pursuing justice for us all. For example, he once represented an injured truck driver who was denied workers’ compensation benefits on the ground that he was a sub-contractor and not an employee of the company. The truck driver initially lost his case. Ben could not imagine giving up on his client.He and his team faced the challenge by appealing to the highest court in the District of Columbia, where they won. CHASENBOSCOLO's efforts not only got the truck driver the benefits he needed to care for his family, but also expanded the coverage of the workers’ compensation law to protect more of men and women who work in the District of Columbia. As a consequence of fighting for his client Ben protected the rights of men and women who work in the District of Columbia.

Ephraim Roy Hess has practicing law for more than 30 years. He has successfully represented both individuals and small to medium sized businesses in matters ranging from sexual harassment and age discrimination to the negotiation of severance issues and the enforcement and defense of non-compete agreements. Some areas of representation include: Employment and Labor Law • Discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, age, race, national origin, religion, disability, or pregnancy • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • Drug Testing • Sexual Harassment • Contract review/negotiations • Whistleblowers and Retaliation • Long Term Disability • EEOC/FCHR Charges • Unemployment • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) Business Law and Litigation • Non-Compete Agreements • Severance Agreements • Confidentiality Agreements • Defense and claims of breaches of contract • Response to Administrative Charges • Defense against discrimination charges • Employee vs. Independent Contractor Classification Issues Civil Trials and Appeals • Contract disputes • Malicious Prosecution • Fraud • Breach of Contract • Public Records Actions • Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices • Breach of Fiduciary Duty Please contact the Hess Law Firm at (954) 585.8599 to discuss your individual matter.

Sam Bomier has spent the vast majority of his 30 plus years of experience focusing on workers’ compensation and employment law claims. Working on behalf of injured workers, Sam has dedicated his practice to helping others navigate the complex and ever-changing legal system when it comes to employment and workers’ compensation claims. Bomier is a fierce advocate for those fighting for their rights in this area. His drive and passion for helping his clients has allowed him to help countless individuals receive the benefits they deserve. He has also assisted small businesses in handling all aspects of workers’ compensation and employment law claims, giving him a unique perspective on all of the potential issues that may arise in these types of claims. Though determined and tough, Sam treats every client with compassion and strives to settle their disputes quickly, efficiently, and with the best results possible. As a local lawyer, he knows the people of the community and understands their needs. Call Sam today at (920) 404-2050. Located in Appleton, Sam Bomier can assist you with your workers’ compensation claim and answer any questions you may have about your legal rights.

A native of New York, NY, Robert Kitson obtained his law degree from the State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law in 1995. He was an Editor on the Buffalo Law Review. Mr. Kitson has tried over forty jury trials in both New York and California. After leaving New York, Mr. Kitson was a founding party of Litt, Estuar & Kitson, LLP, a civil rights firm in downtown Los Angeles, CA. In 2013, Mr. Kitson accepted Mr. Myers’ invitation to join the firm to serve the role as lead trial counsel on various cases and to serve as Chair of Complex Litigation at The Myers Law Group, A.P.C. Since joining the firm in 2013, Mr. Kitson has continued his great success as a trial attorney obtaining multiple plaintiff jury verdicts. Mr. Kitson’s success on behalf of clients at both The Myers Law Group, APC., as well as at his previous firm includes: Obtaining a $3.3 million judgment on behalf of a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Captain who was retaliated against after he reported discrimination and harassment by higher-ups in the fire department (Lewis S. Bressler v. City of Los Angeles) Spending seven months as co-counsel with Barrett S. Litt in McClure v. City of Long Beach, resulting in a $22.5 million verdict Obtaining a $1.1 million dollar judgment on behalf of a family subjected to living in substandard housing conditions (Ramirez v. Estrada) Tennie Pierce v. County of Los Angeles — $1.49 million settlement on behalf of African-American firefighter subjected to discrimination and retaliation Confidential — $1.2 million settlement of a case in which the Plaintiff was raped by an on-duty police officer after a DUI stop Confidential — $950,000 settlement of an unpaid overtime/missed meal and rest breaks class action. In addition to his trial experience, Mr. Kitson has briefed and argued cases before both the California Court of Appeal and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In recognition of Mr. Kitson’s tenacious representation he was named by his peers as a Super Lawyer for the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.