Our People

download vcard

print as pdf

Adrianna Guzman

Of Counsel, Los Angeles

310.981.2000
aguzman@lcwlegal.com

Bio

Experience Representative Matters Affiliations Awards Publications Presentations

Adrianna represents clients in employment litigation, administrative proceedings, arbitrations and negotiations.

She regularly advises and represents clients in all aspects of employment and labor issues, including disciplinary and grievance hearings, unfair practice charges, layoffs, and discrimination and harassment litigation. She has extensive experience in representing agencies before the Public Employment Relations Board on such issues as unfair practice charges, representation issues, requests for injunctive relief, and impasse procedures. She has drafted more than 55 responses to unfair practice charges, and has been very successful in having charges dismissed or withdrawn before a complaint is issued.

Adrianna also represents agencies at the bargaining table. She handles all aspects of negotiations, including bargaining for a successor agreement, to impact bargaining associated with a layoff of personnel. Prior to joining Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Adrianna represented public entities in employment litigation and disciplinary actions.

Representative Matters

Appellate

Mendoza v. Julian (2007) - In an unpublished opinion, the California Court of Appeal, Fifth District, affirmed a peace officer's termination for insubordination.
Franzosi v. Santa Monica Community College District (2004) - The Court of Appeal, Second District affirmed a trial court's ruling that the 39 months to request reinstatement from disability retirement under Education Code section 87789 ran from the effective date of the disability retirement, rather than the eligibility date.
Echaverria v. City of Upland (2004) - In an unpublished decision, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, affirmed that the trial court's decision that the nonpayment of sick leave was not punitive action under POBR that would entitle the officer to an administrative appeal because the peace officer had no right to sick leave when he was not sick.

Disciplinary Appeals

Employee v. City of Santa Monica, Big Blue Bus (2012) - Personnel Board adopted hearing officer's recommendation to uphold termination of bus driver for physically assaulting a drunk and belligerent passenger who had made numerous racial epithets at driver and spit on him.
Employee v. City of Santa Monica, Big Blue Bus (2012) - Personnel Board upheld termination of motor coach supervisor for violating City's harassment and email usage policy by sending inappropriate and offensive emails to coworkers and subordinate employees.
Employee v. City of Santa Monica, Big Blue Bus (2012) - Personnel Board adopted hearing officer's recommendation to uphold termination of bus driver for physically assaulting a juvenile passenger who had made racial epithets at driver.
Classified Employee v. Mt. San Antonio Community College District (2011) - Hearing officer affirmed reduction in pay equivalent to 30 days suspension against classified employee for excessive absences.

Litigation

Glendale City Employees Association v. Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) (City of Glendale, Real Party in Interest) (2012) - Court sustained demurrer to first amended petition filed by employee organization challenging PERB's refusal to issue a complaint. Court agreed with City that it did not have jurisdiction because GCEA had not alleged facts showing that PERB's refusal was based on erroneous statutory construction.
Highley v. City of Richmond (2009) - Court sustained demurrer as to all named defendants in race/sex harassment, discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by former employee, sustained demurrer to six causes of action on third amended complaint, and granted summary judgment as to sole remaining retaliation cause of action.
Highley v. City of Richmond (2009) - Plaintiff stipulated to dismissal for waiver of costs in FLSA lawsuit after motion to dismiss filed.
Hernandez v. City of Richmond (2008) - Court sustained City's demurrer to first amended complaint filed by former employee who claimed wrongful termination and emotional distress.

Negotiations

City of Redlands - Miscellaneous units.
City of Glendale - Impact bargaining over layoffs involving miscellaneous unit (IBEW Local 18).
Mt. San Antonio Community College District - Classified Unit (CSEA 651).

PERB

San Bernardino Public Employees Association v. City of Hesperia (2012) - PERB Regional Attorney dismissed unfair practice charge filed by SBPEA challenging the City's severance of certain classifications from the bargaining unit represented by SBPEA.
Glendale City Employees Assn. v. Public Employment Relations Board (City of Glendale) (2012) - (PERB Dec. 2251-M) PERB adopted regional attorney's dismissal of unfair practice charge filed by employee organization alleging bad faith bargaining. PERB also found that employee organization had failed to demonstrate just cause for asserting new cause of action on appeal.
Kern County Faculty Association v. County of Kern (2012) - Faculty Association withdrew unfair practice charge after County filed response arguing PERB lacked jurisdiction over management employees.
Jeff Barker et al v. City of Glendale (2011) - PERB Regional Attorney dismissed unfair practice charge filed by employee alleging bad faith bargaining due to lack of standing.
Pasadena City College Faculty Association v. Pasadena Area Community College (2011) - (PERB Dec. No 2218-E) PERB adopted ALJ's dismissal of unfair practice charge on District's motion to dismiss.
Glendora Municipal Employees Association v. City of Glendora (2011) - PERB Regional Attorney dismissed unfair practice charge filed by employee organization alleging bad faith bargaining for failure to state sufficient facts to demonstrate an unfair labor practice.
Pasadena Management Association v. City of Pasadena (2011) - Management Association withdrew unfair practice charge after City filed response arguing that PERB lacked jurisdiction over management employees.
Probation Officers Association v. County of Kern (2010) - PERB denied POA's request for injunctive relief. POA had sought to prevent the County from proceeding to mediation and possible implementation of the County's last, best and final offer on the ground that the County engaged in bad faith bargaining.
SCEA v. AFSCME, Council 57 and County of Siskiyou (2009) - PERB denied SCEA's request for injunctive relief. SCEA had claimed it had disaffiliated from AFSCME and accused County of interfering with union by not forwarding SCEA the membership dues. SCEA sought order that the County pay it the membership dues collected from its members of the bargaining unit represented by AFSCME.
City of Palo Alto v. SEIU Local 521 (2009) - PERB granted City's request that PERB seek injunctive relief to prevent employees performing essential services from striking.
SCEA/AFSCME v. County of Siskiyou (2008) - PERB denied union's request for injunctive relief. Union had claimed that County was violating its members due process rights by not providing it with documents it claimed it needed to represent employee in disciplinary hearing. Union sought order precluding County from holding disciplinary hearing until documents turned over and ordering County to provide employee due process. Union withdraw UPC.
SCEA/AFSCME v. County of Siskiyou (2007) - (PERB Dec. No. 1894-M) PERB upheld ALJ's dismissal of UPC filed by Union. Union alleged that County unilaterally changed layoff provisions by laying off two permanent employees before laying off extra-help, temporary, and probationary employees in different classification. According to PERB, County's interpretation of layoff provisions as being by classification were reasonable and consistent with County Code, Personnel Rules, and MOU.
SCEA v. County of Siskiyou (2006) - ALJ dismissed UPC in which union alleged that the County had unilaterally transferred bargaining unit work.

Publications

Governing Body Access to Employee Information, March 2004

Presentations

March 22, 2013 | Plugging the Holes: Identifying and Negotiating Cost Containment Measures in Lean Economic Times | Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Annual Conference | Newport Beach
March 21, 2013 | PERB Update | Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Annual Conference | Newport Beach

Legal Expertise

Education

JD, University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
BA, California State University, Northridge

Los Angeles
6033 W. Century Blvd., 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310.981.2000
Fax: 310.337.0837
San Francisco
153 Townsend Street, Suite 520
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: 415.512.3000
Fax: 415.856.0306
Fresno
5250 N. Palm Avenue, Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93704
Phone: 559.256.7800
Fax: 559.449.4535
San Diego
550 West C Street, Suite 620
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619.481.5900
Fax: 619.446.0015

To Contact Liebert Cassidy Whitmore:
Los Angeles 310.981.2000 | Fresno 559.256.7800 | San Francisco 415.512.3000 | San Diego 619.481.5900 info@lcwlegal.com
© 2013 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore