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Education

J.D., with great distinction, Order of the Coif, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1999

B.A., summa cum laude, California State University, Sacramento, 1994

Bar Admissions

California

Washington

Court Admissions

All state courts and all federal district courts in California

All state courts in Washington

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal

Affiliations

State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Sections

Sacramento County Bar Association, Appellate and Labor and Employment Law Sections

Sacramento Employers Advisory Council (SEAC), Board Chairperson

Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO), Membership Retention Committee

Sacramento County Bar's Judiciary Committee

State Bar of Washington, Labor and Employment Law Section

Northern California SuperLawyers, 2009, 2010, and 2012

California Association of Workplace Investigators (CAOWI), Sustaining Charter Member and member of the Certification Committee



Lizbeth ("Beth") V. West

Contact information:
Shareholder
lwest@weintraub.com
T: 916.558.6082
F: 916.446.1611
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Practice Areas

Beth is a Shareholder in the firm’s Labor and Employment, Appeals and Writs, and Litigation groups. She is admitted to practice law in the states of California and Washington.

Beth assists employers in all aspects of their employment relationship with their employees and defends employers in employment disputes. Her practice focuses on counseling and training employers and management staff on matters such as hiring, performance problems, disciplinary actions, privacy, terminations, lay-offs, employment policies and contracts, protection of trade secrets, wage and hour laws, leave laws, prevention of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and compliance with other state and federal employment laws. Beth also conducts workplace investigations for both public and private employers.

In addition to her counseling practice, Beth has extensive experience defending employers in various forms of employment-related litigation in state and federal court, and in administrative actions before a number of state and federal agencies. She has defended and successfully settled a multi-million dollar wage and hour class action, and has also successfully defended complex whistleblowing and retaliation claims. Beth also defends business owners and operators in ADA public accommodation and disability access litigation.

Beth was selected for inclusion in Northern California SuperLawyers for 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Beth is a regular speaker for various commercial and continuing education programs on employment issues facing employers in California, and has also been an adjunct professor of law at McGeorge School of Law. Additionally, she previously taught “Law and Society/Business Law” at MTI College of Business and Technology. Additionally, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Employers Advisory Council (SEAC) since January 2011.

Beth is involved in the community and belongs to the Sacramento Advocates for Girl Empowerment (SAGE), an outreach organization to underprivileged children, and is a sponsor for the SPCA in Sacramento and Yolo Counties. She has also led Weintraub's "Champions for Adoption" Team with Sierra Adoption Services, to raise money to place foster children in loving adoptive homes.

While a student at McGeorge, Beth was a writer for the McGeorge Law Review. She was awarded Top Oral Advocate in the 1997 International Appellate Advocacy Competition at McGeorge, and was the recipient of the Emil Gumpert Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy in 1999 and the Outstanding Graduate Award. Beth studied in Salzburg, Austria in the summer of 1997 where she attended classes with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and received a Certificate in International Legal Studies.

Prior to beginning law school, Beth was a paralegal for nine years, working in the areas of estate planning, probate, corporate and commercial law.

In her free time, Beth enjoys cycling, wine tasting, running and spending time with her family.

Representative Cases:

Beth has successfully represented employers in a variety of employment-related cases, and has also represented a number of business owners and operators in disability access litigation. Below are just a few of her representative cases:

• Bristow v. Dome Printing (Sacramento County Superior Court and Third District Court of Appeals)

Summary Judgment and Successful Defense on Appeal. Obtained summary judgment for the employer and successfully defeated subsequent appeal in employment case involving claims of age discrimination and violations of FMLA and CFRA. Successfully argued on appeal that an employee’s refusal to work overtime due to the health condition of his wife, did not constitute a request for intermittent or reduced-schedule leave under FMLA or CFRA.

• Wilson v. Nimbus Winery (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District)

Defense Verdict at Trial: Obtained a full defense verdict in an ADA and California state disability access trial by proving that Plaintiff’s claim of access barriers was without merit and that the proposed plan for barrier removal offered by Plaintiff’s expert was not "readily achievable."

• Vincent v. Grassland Water District (Merced County Superior Court)

Summary Judgment. Obtained summary judgment for the employer in a whistle-blowing, retaliation, and wrongful termination case involving allegations of misuse of district funds and resources.

• Spinks v. E. J.’s Pizza (Sacramento County Superior Court)

Defense of Wage & Hour Class Action. Defended and ultimately settled a class action wage and hour lawsuit involving claims of unpaid overtime and missed meal and rest periods.

• Reynolds v. Covell Commons HOA (Yolo County Superior Court)

Summary Judgment. Obtained summary judgment for employer in case involving claims of hostile work environment, retaliation, and constructive discharge.

Industry Experience:

Beth has provided extensive employment advice, counseling, training and litigation defense in the areas of wage and hour, harassment and discrimination workplace safety, leaves, and accommodations to employers in a wide-range of industries. Her industry experience includes:

• Agricultural and Post-Harvest Production

• Manufacturing

• Car Dealerships

• Restaurants

• Property Owner Associations

• Property Management Companies

• Medical Practices

• Professional Services Companies

• High Tech and Solar Companies

• Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations

• Trucking Companies