Employment & Labor Relations

No preference.

• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Affirmative Action
• Age Discrimination
• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Disability Discrimination
• Discipline/Suspension
• Emotional Distress
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
• Employee Rights
• Employment Contracts
• Equal Pay Act (EPA)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA)
• Government Employees
• Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
• Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
• Race Discrimination
• Racial Harassment
• Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
• Severance Packages
• Sex Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Termination
• Wage & Hour Laws
• Whistleblower
• Wrongful Termination

• Affirmative Action
• Age Discrimination
• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Disability Discrimination
• Discipline/Suspension
• Emotional Distress
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
• Employee Rights
• Employment Contracts
• Equal Pay Act (EPA)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA)
• Government Employees
• Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
• Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
• Race Discrimination
• Racial Harassment
• Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
• Severance Packages
• Sex Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Termination
• Wage & Hour Laws
• Whistleblower
• Wrongful Termination

CA, Jul 1970
Bar Number: 47278

California, 1970
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1981

State Bar of California, San Mateo County Bar Association

I have attended MCLE courses in excess of what is required by the State Bar.

I have not published any papers and/or publications

Employment Litigation

Our office represents clients on employment litigation issues, including matters related to:

* Discrimination or Harassment Suits Based on Race, Sex, or Disability
* Whistle Blower Retaliation
* Wage & Hour Violations
* Wrongful Discharge

Here is a sample of my many successful results in employment litigation:

Sex harassment: My client was a young woman working for a small grocery store who was sexually touched by the proprietor in the employee lunchroom. After filing suit, I went to jury trial, obtaining a verdict awarding both compensatory and punitive damages against the proprietor.

Sex harassment: My client was a waitress whose co-workers continually harassed her with off-color remarks as well as slaps and pinches on her backside. After filing suit, I pursued mediation and obtained a reasonable settlement for her.

Free speech retaliation: I handled a free speech retaliation case in which a fireman spoke out on safety issues that embarrassed the administration, who in retaliation reassigned him to menial tasks and subjected him to groundless discipline. After litigating in federal court and successfully obtaining appellate reversal of an adverse trial court ruling, I obtained a substantial settlement for his client on the eve of trial.

Failure to accommodate disability: I represented a teacher's aide who suffered permanent neck and back injuries while rescuing an autistic child. The school district terminated her job because her injuries prevented her from working any further with autistic children. I filed suit contending that the school district had failed to accommodate my client's disability, by either modifying her job duties or reassigning her to a job in which she could have worked with less challenging children. During trial preparation, I obtained a substantial settlement for his client.

Failure to accommodate disability: I represented two warehouse workers who suffered low back injuries from loading heavy boxes, and took extended medical leaves during which they each largely recovered from their injuries. The warehouse eventually terminated their jobs because they had not fully recovered and therefore could not resume their loading duties. I filed suit contending that the warehouse failed to consider their accommodation requests to be reassigned to less strenuous duties as forklift drivers. After defeating a defense motion for summary judgment, I obtained substantial settlements for both clients.

We always fight for optimal monetary recoveries for our clients. You deserve compensation for your lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

Civil Rights Litigation

At the Law Offices of Michael E. Adams we have substantial experience with civil rights litigation. We are knowledgeable about such civil rights issues as:

* Freedom of Speech
* Due Process
* Equal Protection
* Public Accommodation Access for Disabled Persons
* Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Here is a sample of Michael E. Adams many successful results in civil rights litigation:

Disabled access to public accommodation: My client participated in horse racing tournaments conducted by a statewide organization, but could no longer wear the buckled belt required for contestants due to deterioration in her chronic spinal condition. When the organization refused to exempt his client from the required belt, I prosecuted the organization under the Unruh Civil Rights Act for failing to accommodate my client's disability. During appeal from a trial court ruling, I obtained a settlement granting my client a permanent exemption from the belt requirement when competing in tournaments.

Prisoner civil rights: My client was a prison inmate whose letters to outside newspapers complaining about prison conditions were not allowed because prison officials did not consider them to be "rehabilitative." In prosecuting the prison for violation of my client's federal civil right to free speech, I argued the case before the United States Supreme Court and won a substantial victory.

Cruel and unusual punishment: My client was a prison inmate with special medical needs due to his colonoscopy which prison guards failed to honor, resulting in considerable unnecessary suffering for my client. I filed suit for violation of his client's federal civil rights, and obtained a reasonable settlement for my client early in the litigation.

Student harassment: My client was an elementary school student who was the victim of racial harassment by his fellow students. I was part of an attorney team that prosecuted the school officials for violating our client's federal civil rights by failing to intervene and put a stop to the harassment, and obtained a reasonable settlement for our client on the brink of trial.

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California

The Law Offices of Michael E. Adams in Redwood City, California, serves clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area (Represent clients in San Mateo County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.)

Our office has over 35 years experience providing legal representation and advice in civil litigation matters involving employment, civil rights, and personal injury.

At our office we take on government agencies and corporate interests in order to fight for the rights of individuals. We empathize with our clients and are able to effectively get their point across in court or elsewhere to achieve the best possible results.

When you are searching for a civil litigation attorney, it is important to find one with experience. At our office we have extensive litigation experience, including many jury trials. In civil rights, we have taken and argued cases to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. We are comfortable in any courtroom setting.

Partner, Carr, Yeley & Adams, 1999 - 2001

Associate, Rockhill, Schaiman & Carr, 1988 - 1999

Staff attorney, Casa Legal, 1972 - 1988

Vista attorney, Alaska Legal Services Corporation, 1969 - 1971

Pro Bono Activities:

Moot Court Judge; Stanford Law School, 1995 - Present

Debbie Bowen

(650) 599-9785

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For your convenience, evening and weekend office hours may be arranged.

Yes

Se Habla Espanol (Spanish)

I usually work on contingency, hourly or a hybridization of the two.

$300

Contact me for a free initial telephone consultation.

The range is anywhere from $0 - $5,000, and it is on a case to case basis.