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Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is California’s premier labor, education, and employment law firm. We provide training, education, and legal representation to hundreds of public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations across the state of California.
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Michael Youril

Partner
559.256.7813 | myouril@lcwlegal.com

Michael provides representation and legal counsel to Liebert Cassidy Whitmore clients in matters pertaining to employment and labor law.

Michael has extensive experience in retirement law including CalPERS, the ’37 Act, and local retirement systems.  Michael represents agencies in all aspects of the CalPERS audit and determination process and in disability retirement proceedings.  Michael regularly represents agencies before the Office of Administrative Hearings and various retirement Boards.  He also litigates CalPERS determinations and disability retirement cases in superior court.  Michael also assists agencies in complying with retirement and health benefit laws, including post-retirement work restrictions, independent contractor status, disability retirement, PEPRA compliance, PEMHCA (i.e. CalPERS medical), health benefits for elected officials, and determining whether compensation is included or excluded from reporting for the purposes of determining pension benefits.

Michael also litigates employment law actions in state and federal courts through all stages of litigation.  He regularly litigates cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower retaliation, due process, free speech retaliation, Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, FMLA/CFRA, and wage and hour matters.  Michael has also litigated several individual and collective action cases brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Michael provides advice and counsel to employers regarding employee leave rights, engaging in the interactive process with disabled employees, and providing reasonable accommodations to disabled employees. Michael guides public agencies through the entire disability retirement process, including handling administrative hearings and writs of mandate concerning applications for disability retirement.

Michael also represents employers at disciplinary hearings.

Professional Involvement

Michael is a member in good standing of the Fresno County Bar Association, California Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section and a member of the California Young Lawyers Association.

Recognitions

Michael was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2017 and 2020-2022.

Photo team member

Expertise

Education

JD, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

BA, California State University, Sacramento

Did You Know

Michael loves hitting the trails in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks.

Vallejo Police Officers Association v. City of Vallejo (2017) – Prepared an amicus brief on behalf of the League of California cities in support of the City of Vallejo in which the Court of Appeal agreed with the City and our position that employees do not have a vested right to particular retiree medical benefits contributions. This has statewide impact for all public employers who provide contributions towards the cost of retiree medical benefits.

Keylon v. City of Dos Palos (2014) – The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed a trial court decision that awarded approximately one year of back pay to a former Dispatcher.

POA v. City (2024) – Convinced the superior court to dismiss, without leave to amend, a POA lawsuit alleging that the city had a legal obligation to pay out former officers’ vacation and sick leave at their base rate plus incentive pays.

Former Police Officer v. City (2023) – Convinced the Superior Court to dismiss a writ of mandate that a former officer filed because the officer’s request for an appeal hearing was time-barred.

DSA v. County (2023) – Defeated the DSA’s writ to compel a charter county to comply with a voter initiative.  LCW convinced the Superior Court that the initiative unlawfully required the county to set salaries based on the average of three neighboring counties in violation of the California Constitution, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and the county charter.

Yates v. Mammoth Community Water District (2016) – Mono County Superior Court sustained the District’s Demurrer without leave to amend in this matter which alleged violations of Section 1983 retaliation, Unfair Business Practices and Malicious Prosecution.

Graff, et al v. City of Tehachapi (2016) – The U.S District Court, Eastern District granted a motion to dismiss the City from all causes of actions (including Section 1983 First Amendment relation and CA Labor Code section 1102.5).

Police Officer v. County (2022) – Successfully prosecuted the dismissal of a peace officer for intentional dishonesty. A veteran of the department, the Officer failed to ensure a response to a resident’s calls and subsequently lied about it in the watch report.

A Refresher On Less Common Leaves For Employees
10/01/2024
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

You have probably heard a lot about leaves under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CRFA), and other well-established leave laws, but below are some less common types of leave that employers should recognize and cover in their policies.
SCHOOL ACTIVITY
The Family...

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CalPERS Issues New Circular Letter Regarding Holiday Pay
08/14/2024
LCW Special Bulletin

On August 8, 2024, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) issued Circular Letter No. 200-037-24 (“Circular Letter”), setting forth guidance concerning reporting Holiday Pay for CalPERS classic members and new members.  The Circular Letter, which departs from and supersedes...

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Reporting Allegations of Peace Officer Misconduct: Checking in on the Implementation of Senate Bill 2
04/16/2024
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), enacted in 2021, transformed and expanded the role of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Most of the mandates in SB 2 took effect on January 1, 2023. As many readers are likely aware, one of the most significant changes brought on by SB 2 is the...

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Claims Filed with the California Civil Rights Department Regarding Calculation of CalPERS Disability Retirement Benefits
07/17/2023
LCW Special Bulletin

On or about June 8, 2023, a law firm filed a complaint of discrimination with the Civil Rights Department (“CRD” ) and requested a right to sue notice on behalf of a former employee of Lake County who received a disability retirement through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System...

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CalPERS Requires Agencies Provide More Information to Support Decisions on Local Safety Members’ Disability Retirements
04/19/2023
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 15, 2023, CalPERS issued Circular Letter 200-014-23, setting forth new requirements that contracting agencies must follow when determining whether local safety members are substantially incapacitated from performance of their usual duties for the purposes of a disability retirement. ...

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Tips from the Table: SB 278
05/19/2022
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful...

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Gov. Newsom Signs Senate Bill 278, Which Greatly Increases Public Employer Exposure to Damages for CalPERS Compensation Reporting Errors
09/28/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

Background
On September 27, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 278, which adds Government Code section 20164.5 and will go into effect on January 1, 2022. SB 278 greatly increases the potential costs to CalPERS agencies for reporting errors, by creating new and in some cases retroactive...

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California Supreme Court Leaves The California Rule Largely Intact in Highly Anticipated Opinion Concerning Public Employee Pension Rights
07/30/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On July 30, 2020, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Assn. v. Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Assn. (Alameda).  It was anticipated that the Court would address the continuing viability of the “California Rule.”  Under the California...

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CalPERS Issues Circular Letter Explaining How Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Should be Tracked and Reported
04/20/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) has answered several outstanding questions concerning how paid leave hours taken under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) should be tracked and reported.  On April 16, 2020, CalPERS issued Circular Letter No....

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Update: CalPERS Suspends Retired Annuitant Work Hour Limitation During COVID-19 Emergency
03/19/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20.  The executive order, among other things, suspended certain restrictions applicable to retired annuitants.  On March 18, 2020, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) issued Circular Letter 200-015-20,...

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High Court Guidance on Unemployment Benefits Public School Employees
02/03/2020
The Daily Journal

This article discusses a recent decision by the California Supreme Court that establishes a framework for determining when public school employees are eligible for unemployment benefits during “non-traditional” academic terms and during the summer.
To read the full article, please view...

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AB 1660: Discrimination and Driver’s License Status
01/27/2015
The Daily Journal

California law (AB 60) currently requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a driver’s license to a person who is unable to submit satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law so long as the individual meets all other...

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November 14, 2024
What Is CalPERS Up To Now? Legal Trends, New Interpretations, And Areas To Watch In CalPERS Compliance
Monterey | California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) 2024 Annual Training Conference
November 15, 2024
How To Hire Retirees the Right Way
Monterey | California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) 2024 Annual Training Conference
December 12, 2024
What is CalPERS Up to Now? Discussing Legal Trends, New Interpretations, and Areas to Watch in CalPERS Compliance
Napa | League of California Cities: Municipal Finance Institute
March 11, 2025
How to Hire Retirees the Right Way
Monterey | California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) 2024 Annual Training Conference
October 10, 2024
Addressing FLSA & CalPERS Compliance in a Single MOU/Payroll Audit
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