In a win for all public sector employees and retirees in the CalPERS system, the Third District Court of Appeal on Monday rejected Transparent California's effort to reverse the Sacramento Superior Court's ruling that CalPERS could withhold records identifying which of its retirees is disabled. This leaves standing the Superior Court's decision that CalPERS correctly... continue reading

We are proud to report that on December 28, 2020, on behalf of Foster Farms workers represented by the United Farm Workers ("UFW"), MAJ Attorneys Gary Messing, Monique Alonso, and Laurie Burgess secured the first temporary restraining order (“TRO”) in the nation that compels a meat packing plant to institute safety protocols issued by the... continue reading

The biopic Rocketman concludes with Elton John's hit "I'm Still Standing," which was written in 1983, and signaled a sharp turnaround from a darker place in the maestro's career. After Thursday's decision in Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association v. Alameda County Employees' Retirement Association, the California Rule can also sing "I'm Still Standing;" however, its... continue reading

This morning, the California Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association v. Alameda County Employees' Retirement Association. The 90-page opinion maintains the California Rule but found that the changes to PEPRA at issue in this case were constitutional: With respect to the merits of plaintiffs' constitutional claim, however, we hold... continue reading

After significant lobbying from labor advocates, including MAJ, Governor Newsom issued an executive order this week creating a workers' compensation presumption for employees who contract "any COVID-19-related illness." This is a significant development for first responders who, as they serve the public, have been exposing themselves to the novel coronavirus for months without any assurance... continue reading

Here is one observer's view on today's important pension rights oral argument before the California Supreme Court in Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association v. Alameda County Employees' Retirement Association: 1. Gavin is largely reading from Jerry's playbook. The Brown Administration argued aggressively that future public employee pension benefit accruals should not enjoy constitutional protection. In... continue reading

The California Supreme Court hears oral arguments (by videoconference) tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association v. Alameda County Employees' Retirement Association (it will be the second case argued). Pension critics urge the Court to overturn the judicially-created "California Rule," which, going back some five decades, has protected public employee pensions against... continue reading

On behalf of our public employee clients, we are actively monitoring developments relating to the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One of a labor union's primary responsibilities is to protect its members and ensure that they have the best and safest working conditions - especially when a pandemic threatens. Northern California has become an... continue reading

MAJ, working with prominent plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, recently filed a massive lawsuit in federal court against environmental consulting and engineering firm Tetra Tech and several of its subsidiaries. We represent hundreds of current and former San Francisco Police Department employees who worked in, near or around Building 606... continue reading

A consortium of public safety unions (Cal Fire Local 2881, California Correctional Peace Officers' Association, California Professional Firefighters, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen) joined with CalPERS to fight a writ petition filed by Transparent California to force disclosure, under the California Public Records Act, of CalPERS retirees' pension designations as "service," "disability," or "industrial... continue reading