Altshuler Berzon LLP engages in public interest impact litigation promoting economic and social justice before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Our cases frequently involve cutting-edge issues of law with far-reaching ramifications. We fight to enforce and expand the rights of labor unions, workers, voters, and other individuals, and to protect the environment and public health. We are also at the forefront of defending against legal efforts to cut back on those rights.
Representative matters:
- Series of California class actions on behalf of low-wage fast-food workers against McDonaldâs and several of its franchisees, asserting joint-employer and other theories of liability, including one settlement on behalf of 39,000 California crew members at corporate-owned McDonaldâs restaurants for $26 million plus extensive injunctive relief, and another settlement on behalf of crew members at a Bay area franchise against the owners of that franchise and McDonaldâs for injunctive relief plus 100% of the backpay, interest, and liquidated damages that would have been recoverable by the certified class at trial.
- Representation of unions, community groups, and individual employees as amicus curiae in defense of Seattleâs minimum wage ordinance against a constitutional challenge brought by an association of business franchises.
- A federal court constitutional challenge to an Arizona statute requiring the state to enforce federal immigration law.
- A proposed collective action before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia brought against R.J. Reynolds and its two hiring agencies alleging age discrimination against job applicants 40 years of age or older.
- Multiple challenges in the federal courts and before the National Labor Relations Board to mandatory employment arbitration agreements prohibiting class collective actions and representative actions, as a violation of the right to engage in concerted protected activity guaranteed by the National Labor Relations Act.
- Representation of community college students, faculty, and faculty unions in a challenge to practices of the community college accrediting agency, including the threatened disaccreditation of City College of San Francisco, as violating due process rights, the federal Higher Education Act, and the unions’ bargaining rights.
- Two federal court challenges to state âright to workâ laws on grounds that the laws are preempted by the National Labor Relations Act and violate the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A more extensive description of our victories in impact cases can be found on our Firm Resume.