Our People

Morin I. Jacob

Partner, San Francisco

415.512.3000
mjacob@lcwlegal.com
Bio
Experience Representative Matters Affiliations Awards Publications Presentations

Morin counsels and represents Liebert Cassidy Whitmore clients on all labor and employment law, primarily working with public safety agencies, but also representing Cities, Counties, and Special Districts.

Morin has handled all facets of defense-side employment litigation, from pre-litigation through trial and appeal.  Most recently, Morin first-chaired a five week jury trial for the County of Stanislaus Sheriff's Department and secured a complete defense verdict on all causes of action.  Morin is also lead counsel in the BART Police Department arbitration where BART PD seeks to sustain the termination of a peace officer that was present when Oscar Grant was shot and killed.  In addition to trials and arbitrations, she has represented clients in administrative proceedings, including before the DFEH, EEOC and EDD. 

Morin also has extensive experience in conducting workplace investigations.  She has investigated high-level employees for allegations such as harassment, discrimination, embezzlement, and negligence in carrying out their duties.  Morin has also testified in proceedings, defending her workplace investigations.

Morin also has experience in labor negotiations in the public sector.  She has represented local police, fire, and County agencies in labor negotiations with employee unions.

Morin also conducts management training programs on a variety of employment law issues, including POBR and FBOR, discipline and termination, counseling and evaluation, wage and hour issues, and sexual harassment prevention. 

Morin has served as a member of the League of California Cities Employee Relations Committee.  Additionally Morin has published numerous articles including "Using FACT to avoid Fiction," "Red Flag Rules," "Keeping the Faith," "Civil Wrongs," and "Just Saying No to Drug Tests."  From 2000-2006, Morin was a lecturer at the California State University, Stanislaus.  She taught a pre-law/civil liberties course entitled "Women in American Law."

Morin is also a contributing author to the firm's California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog.

Representative Matters

Amicus Briefs

  • Harris v. City of Santa Monica (2010) -

    Filed an amicus brief on behalf of the League of California Cities and the CA State Association of Counties in support of the City of Santa Monica in Harris v. City of Santa Monica, now pending before the California Supreme Court (Supreme Court Case No. S181004).  In the underlying case, the Court of Appeal reversed a judgment against the City for pregnancy discrimination under FEHA due to the trial court's failure to give a "mixed motive" jury instruction, generally available for Title VII claims.  In granting review, the Supreme Court will now decide whether the "mixed-motive" defense applies to employment discrimination claims under FEHA.  The California Supreme Court case is currently pending and it is unclear at this point when a decision will be handed down.

Litigation

  • Lydia Lopez v. County of Stanislaus, Sheriff's Department, and Bill Pooley (2010) - This was a five week-long superior court jury trial.  The case originally involved seventeen causes of action.  After successfully defending most of the claims prior to trial, four causes of action went to the jury: sexual harassment, failure to engage in the interactive process (disability discrimination), failure to engage in the interactive process (disability discrimination) and retaliation.    A majority of jurors found in favor of the County of Stanislaus on all causes of action.  The first cause of action for sexual harassment was 9-3 in favor of the County and Pooley; the second cause of action for retaliation was 10-2 in favor of the County; the third cause of action for failure to provide reasonable accommodation was 10-2 in favor of the County; and the fourth cause of action for failure to engage in the interactive process was 11-1 in favor of the County.

Publications

Presentations

Education

  • JD, University of San Francisco School of Law
  • BA, California State University, Stanislaus
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