The San Fernando Valley is home to hundreds of thousands of workers across entertainment and production, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and retail. From Burbank and North Hollywood to Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Woodland Hills, Valley employees face the same unlawful workplace practices we handle across California. We represent employees only.
TL;DR
San Fernando Valley employees are protected by California employment law. We handle wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and leave claims for employees across the Valley. The consultation is free, and most claims are handled on contingency.
Employment claims we handle in the Valley
Valley workers bring us the full range of California employment claims:
- Wrongful termination: fired for an illegal reason, including discrimination, retaliation, or refusing to break the law. See our guide to wrongful termination in California.
- Workplace discrimination: treated differently because of race, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, national origin, or religion under FEHA.
- Sexual harassment and hostile work environment: including harassment claims and hostile environment claims.
- Retaliation and whistleblower claims: punished for reporting illegal conduct or cooperating with an investigation. Labor Code section 1102.5 protects you even if the underlying complaint turns out to be wrong.
- Unpaid wages and overtime: missed meal and rest breaks, unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification, and final paycheck violations. See unpaid wages and overtime.
- Leave disputes: denied, interrupted, or retaliated against for CFRA, FMLA, or pregnancy disability leave.
- Severance review and negotiation: know what your release is worth before you sign it.
We represent employees, not employers
L&F Brown is an employee-side firm. We do not defend employers, and we do not advise companies on how to avoid or defeat employee claims. If you are looking for employer-side defense counsel, we are not the right firm.
Our practice is also limited to California employment law. We do not handle immigration or visa matters, criminal defense, or personal injury.
Common patterns in Valley workplaces
- Entertainment and production: independent contractor labels on workers the company controls, and unpaid overtime on production schedules
- Logistics and warehouse work: meal and rest break violations, off-the-clock work, and piece-rate pay that falls below minimum wage
- Healthcare: rest breaks that are never taken, and retaliation after raising a safety concern
- Performance documentation manufactured after a complaint
- “At-will” treated as permission to fire for an illegal reason
Most employment claims have deadlines measured in months or a few years, not decades. A FEHA claim generally must go to the California Civil Rights Department within three years, and most wage claims carry a three-year window. The sooner you call, the more evidence is still available.
Cities and neighborhoods we serve
Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, North Hollywood, Burbank, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Reseda, Northridge, Chatsworth, Canoga Park, and the surrounding communities.
Local rules that add protections
Much of the Valley sits inside the City of Los Angeles, so LA’s minimum wage ordinance and Fair Work Week Ordinance, which requires predictable scheduling for retail workers, can apply depending on where you work. Other Valley jurisdictions, including Burbank, have their own rules. California’s statewide protections apply everywhere on top of them.
Courts and agencies that handle Valley employment cases
Employment cases from the San Fernando Valley are typically filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse East or the Van Nuys Courthouse West. Cases from the northwest Valley may be heard at the San Fernando Courthouse, and cases from the west Valley at the Chatsworth Courthouse. We are familiar with all of these venues. Wage claims can also be pursued through the California Labor Commissioner, and FEHA claims begin with a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department.
What a Valley employment case can recover
- Lost wages and benefits, including back pay and, in some cases, future earnings
- Emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages where the employer acted with malice, oppression, or fraud
- Statutory penalties, including waiting-time penalties of up to 30 days of pay and one hour of pay for each missed meal or rest break
- Attorney’s fees and costs, which the employer pays when you prevail
Because California shifts attorney’s fees to the employer in most employment cases, pursuing a claim does not require paying a lawyer out of pocket.
Frequently asked questions about San Fernando Valley employment claims
How long do I have to file a claim?
It depends on the claim. FEHA discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims generally must be filed with the California Civil Rights Department within three years. Most wage claims carry a three-year window, and some claims are shorter. Because the clock starts at different points, the deadline is worth evaluating early.
Do you handle immigration or visa issues?
No. Our practice is limited to California employment law for employees. If your matter involves a work visa, an immigration filing, or your immigration status, we are not the right firm and will tell you so on the first call.
Do you represent employers?
No. We represent employees only. Employer defense is a different practice and we do not do it.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Nothing. The consultation is free, and most employment claims are handled on contingency, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
Talk to a San Fernando Valley employment lawyer
If you work in the San Fernando Valley and believe your employer crossed a legal line, call (747) 227-7266 or request a free consultation. A senior attorney will review what happened and tell you honestly whether you have a claim. We represent employees throughout the Valley and California.