A Great Victory For California Employees Even In Defeat

This week, the California Supreme Court made a decision that should be considered a great victory for California employees.

In Williams v. Chino Valley Independent Fire District, the Court ruled that if a Plaintiff brings an action under the Fair Employment and Housing Act but loses the case, the prevailing defendant (i.e. employer) should not be awarded the fees or costs it incurred in defending the case unless the court finds that the lawsuit by plaintiff “was objectively without foundation when brought, or the plaintiff continued to litigate after it clearly became so.”

This ruling should continue to encourage aggrieved employees to pursue meritorious claims without the fear of owing fees or costs if they lose a meritorious case.