JOSEPH R. BECERRA

Partner

Mr. Becerra is a partner in the Labor and Employment practice group of Jones Bell. Mr. Becerra's practice focuses on representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including age, race, gender, national origin and disability discrimination and harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, wrongful termination, privacy rights, independent contractor agreements, and various wage and hour claims, including class actions. Mr. Becerra also routinely counsels clients on employment policies and procedures, workplace investigations, employment contracts, severance agreements, equal employment opportunity compliance, employee terminations, reductions-in-force planning and wage and hour compliance.

Mr. Becerra has significant experience in defending employers in class action litigation. Mr. Becerra has defended large, complex class actions for alleged wage and hour violations, age discrimination, and disability discrimination under both state and federal law for a wide variety of clients, including companies in the retail, hospitality, restaurant, oil and gas and telecommunication industries.

Mr. Becerra graduated from the University of Southern California, where he earned a B.S. in Finance. Mr. Becerra earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School. Prior to earning his J.D., Mr. Becerra worked as a corporate banker for Citicorp in Los Angeles.

Recent Cases:

Brittain v. Profit Recovery Partners, LLP:
Represented defendant in case brought by Plaintiff asserting claims for wrongful termination, sexual orientation discrimination, and unpaid commissions. Obtained complete defense verdict and six-figure attorneys' fees award.

Pacheco v. Lexicon Marketing USA, Inc.:
Drafted and argued successful motion defeating class certification in commission class action lawsuit.

Holland v. Wachovia Securities, LLC, et al.:
Successfully arbitrated multi-party age discrimination action. Obtained complete defense verdict and attorneys' fees and cost award for client in the amount of $372,094.00.

Wiegand v. Wachovia Securities, LLC:
Successfully obtained vacateur of a $2.1 million arbitration award in a breach of contract and wrongful termination action.

Long v. Arrow Electronics, Inc. et al.:
Caused Plaintiff to dismiss case in its entirety after numerous successful demurrers in a wrongful termination action.

Published Cases:

West Fresno Elementary School Dist. v. Fresno County Board of Education, 2002 WL 31421289

Johnson v. County of Fresno, 111 Cal. App. 4th 1087 (2003)

U.S. ex rel. KIRA, Inc. v. Actus Lend Lease, LLC, 2007 WL 2462161 (E.D. Cal 2007)

Publications:

"Email: A Discussion of Client Confidentiality and Employee Privacy Concerns", Hazardous Materials/Solid Waste Study Section of the County Counsel's Association of California - March 2002

"Employers Beware: 2004 Changes of California Labor Laws", MBSWC Newsletter, February 2004

Lindemann & Kadue, "Employment Discrimination Law", ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law (2011) - contributing author

Presentations:

Numerous sexual harassment training seminars