Rick Bergstrom is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has been praised by clients for his creative and strategic thinking, focus on client service, and business-minded approach to problem-solving and litigation.
For more than 30 years, Rick has successfully defended clients in class actions, California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) actions, whistleblower actions, and individual lawsuits involving claims for overtime, misclassification, pay equity, failure to provide meal and rest periods, misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of privacy laws, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
After defeating two motions for class certification, Rick prevailed on an evidentiary motion to strike the remaining PAGA claims on manageability and judicial estoppel grounds. The ruling was affirmed on appeal and was the first PAGA motion to strike affirmed by a California court of appeal in this context. Rick has and is currently litigating numerous putative class actions and PAGA only actions involving a variety of claims under the California Labor Code.
Rick also testified before Congress concerning whistleblower protection laws and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos. He lectures to management groups and conducts workshops for corporate counsel regarding compliance with federal and laws. He also develops, reviews, and implements personnel policies for employers.
Rick has been recognized by corporate counsel across the United States among an elite group of standout attorneys as a BTI Client Service All-Star. This award is based solely on recognition by corporate counsel for delivery of excellent client service.
担当案件
The payroll company was sued in 2014 by its client. The client was earlier sued in a wage and hour class action filed on behalf of its current and former employees for failure to pay all wages due caused by a quarter hour rounding practice. The client settled the class action and pursued the payroll company for the cost of the settlement and attorneys' fees based on breach of contract, negligence and indemnity theories. Jones Day filed a motion for summary judgment, and after 2.5 hours of oral argument, the judge granted our motion and dismissed the claims with prejudice. The client appealed and the California Court of Appeal affirmed dismissal of all claims on summary judgment in favor of the payroll company.
出版物情報
- June 2019
Proposed Algorithmic Accountability Act Targets Bias in Artificial Intelligence
- November 2, 2022
Strategies for Complying With Emerging Pay Equity and Pay Transparency Laws, 2022 Annual New York Labor & Employment Law Discussion Group - October 22, 2022
American Employment Law Council: Increased Investor, Shareholder Activism, and ESG - January 25, 2022
Vaccination Mandate Mania and Return to-Work Issues - December 14, 2021
American Employment Law Council: The Great Resignation and Labor Supply Shortage - October 14, 2021
American Employment Law Council: Legal Challenges Relating to Returning Workers - January 27, 2021
Important Legislative Changes to California Labor and Employment Law for 2021 - October 20, 2020
American Employment Law Council: LBGTQIAP+ Inclusion in the Workplace — Bostock and the U.S. Supreme Court - January 21, 2020
Labor and Employment Update: Foresight A Look Ahead - October 3, 2019
Independent Contractor Status: The Impact of AB 5 - January 2019
Labor and Employment Update: A Look Ahead for California Employers - October 11, 2018
The American Employment Law Council: Trade Secrets and Non-compete Agreements - September 27, 2018
Independent Contractor Status: The Impact of Dynamex - January 29, 2018
Fair Pay and Equity - Janaurt 16, 2018
Labor and Employment Update: A Look Ahead for California Employers - October 21, 2017
The American Employment Law Council: How the Trump Administration is Treating the Gig Economy - January 19, 2017
Labor & Employment Update 2017: A Look Ahead for California Employers - June 7, 2016
"Fair Pay" in California: Pushing the Pay Equity Envelope - January 14, 2016
Labor & Employment Update 2016: A Look Ahead for California Employers - January 21, 2015
Labor & Employment Update 2015: A Look Ahead for California Employers - January 22, 2014
2014 - A Look Ahead For California Employers - December 5, 2012
Obligations and Challenges For California Employers - November 18, 2012
Key Employment Law Developments - September 25, 2012
Workplace Investigations - May 23, 2012
Jones Day Silicon Valley Office Labor & Employment Program - February 23, 2012
Employment Law Trends and Developments - January 21, 2011
Critical Wage and Hour Issues, San Diego Society for Human Resources - October 14, 2010
2010 California Labor & Employment Law Briefing - March 16, 2010
Practical, Legal and Policy Issues Raised by Social Media and The Interactive Internet in The Workplace, University of California San Diego Human Resources Alumni Program - March 9, 2010
Employment Law Update, 2010 Healthcare Labor & Employment Symposium - January 28, 2010
Employee Mobility and Theft of Trade Secrets: Guarding the Crown Jewels in California, Jones Day 2010 MCLE University - January 20, 2010
Wage and Hour Update: Key Liability Issues and Litigation Strategies for 2010, San Diego Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)'s Law Day - January 21, 2009
Wage & Hour Update & Audit Issues, San Diego Society for Human Resource Management’s 2009 Law Day Conference - January 25, 2008
The 21st Century Workplace: Electronic Communications Devices and the 'New Media', San Diego ACC Chapter’s Fifth Annual General Counsel Roundtable and All Day MCLE - January 16, 2008
The 21st Century Workplace: Electronic Communications Devices and the 'New Media', San Diego Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)’s Law Day - March, June, October 2007
Art of the Term Sheet, SD Connect - July 2007
Executive Employment Agreement and Compensation, SD Connect - January 2007
Elimination of Bias, Fourth Annual General Counsel Roundtable and All Day MCLE, ACC SD Chapter
- Pepperdine University (J.D. 1993); California Polytechnic State University (B.S. 1989)
- California
Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
BTI Client Service All-Star
Consistently recommended by Chambers USA, Legal 500, PLC Which lawyer?, Lawdragon, and Best Lawyers
Clients say he "understands the needs of a business" and "has a wealth of knowledge" (Chambers) and is "simply the best" (Legal 500)