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JD, UC College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)

BA, University of California, San Diego

Did You Know

A former teacher, Meredith is also a former Girl Scout.

Court of Appeal Decision re Faculty Member Termination (2021) – In a case involving a college sociology professor charged with harassing students on the basis of their gender and LGBTQ status and for interfering with an investigation directive by contacting a student witness, the Court of Appeal issued a 2-1 unpublished decision in the District’s favor. The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and ordered that it issue a writ instructing the arbitrator to terminate the faculty member’s employment. The decision emphasized that the unfit faculty member should not be reinstated, and that his lack of remorse further confirmed dismissal as the appropriate remedy. The majority opinion also recognized the harm the faculty member’s conduct had on students. LCW handled the disciplinary appeal arbitration, Petition for Writ of Mandate and the appeal.

Mack and Gossett v. City of Hawthorne (2013) – Plaintiffs were housing department employees who were investigated by the City for taking bribes in return for moving them up on the waiting list low-income housing. The District Attorney filed charges and then dropped the charges before there was a criminal trial. Plaintiffs sued for retaliation, race, gender, and disability discrimination, harassment, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After Plaintiffs presented their evidence to a jury, the judge dismissed the case and entered judgment in favor of the City. An appellate court affirmed the trial court’s rulings.

CDPH Adopts Shortened Isolation/Quarantine Periods with Unclear Application to Workplaces
01/04/2022
LCW Special Bulletin

On December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) shortened its recommended isolation and quarantine periods for people who test positive for, or are exposed to, COVID-19. On December 30, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) followed suit by partially...

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Teaching Unvaccinated Students Separately? This District Will Be the First to Try It
12/09/2021
EducationWeek

In the Dec. 8, 2021 EducationWeek article “Teaching Unvaccinated Students Separately? This District Will Be the First to Try It,” LCW Senior Counsel Meredith Karasch weighed in on the legal challenges that school districts may face if they establish separate schools for unvaccinated students....

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Permissibility of COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Students at Community Colleges
05/18/2021

Community college districts are planning for students to return to campus in the fall.  Of the myriad of considerations that districts need to decide, one is whether to require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  The American College Health Association (“ACHA”) announced its...

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Governor Newsom Enacts SB95, Obligating Community College Districts to Provide COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave to their Employees
03/23/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 19, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law the California Legislature passed Senate Bill (“SB”) 95, codifying at Labor Code section 248.2 new obligations on public agency employers to provide COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave to employees who are unable to work or telework and have...

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President Signs the American Rescue Plan Act, Promising Critical Funding to Institutions of Higher Education and Additional Relief to Public Employees
03/21/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed House Resolution (HR) 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 dollar trillion legislative package intended to address the economic damage caused by COVID-19.
For institutions of higher education, the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act...

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Governor Signs COVID-19 Reporting and Safety Plan Legislation for Schools
03/08/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 5, 2021, Governor Newsom approved Assembly Bill 86 (AB 86), which imposes COVID-19 case reporting, COVID-19 school re-opening status reporting, and COVID-19 Safety Plan requirements largely similar to those imposed by the California Public Health Department (CDPH) COVID-19 and Reopening...

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CDPH Releases COVID-19 Testing Considerations for Schools
01/08/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

As noted in the January 19, 2021, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore bulletin, What Schools Need To Know About The New CDPH Consolidated Guidance For K-12 Schools, the California Department of Public Health issued guidance on January 14, 2021, for public and private K-12 schools titled, Testing...

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California Issues “Safe Schools for All Plan”
01/05/2021
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

On December 30, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a new framework for schools so that school districts can reopen or continue operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Governor’s “Safe Schools for All Plan”, is based on increasing scientific evidence that the correct precautions can stop the...

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CDPH Reduces Quarantine Period Following “Close Contact” Exposures to Align with CDC Guidance, but Public School Districts and Community College Districts Must Follow Stricter Guidance Requiring 14-Day Quarantine
12/08/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On December 7, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued updated guidance concerning the recommended quarantine period for individuals following a “close contact” exposure to someone with COVID-19. The CDPH guidance now aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s...

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Permissibility of Requiring That Employees at Public School and Community College Districts Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination
12/07/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

Given the recent news coverage concerning COVID-19 vaccines and the government’s distribution plan for such vaccines, many of our clients have inquired whether it will be permissible to require school and community college district employees be vaccinated for COVID-19. This question is important...

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Governor Newsom Announces New Blueprint for Safer Economy Plan; California Department of Public Health Issues Guidance Regarding Tier Framework for Reducing COVID-19 and Adjusting Permitted Sector Activities
09/03/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On Friday, August 28, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” plan, effective August 31, 2020, which imposes color-coded, risk-based criteria on tightening and loosening COVID-19 allowable activities and expands the length of time between changes to assess how...

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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Issues New Guidance Authorizing Employers to Test Employees for COVID-19 for Non-Profit Employers
04/30/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On April 23, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued updated guidance concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Rehabilitation Act and how employers may respond to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. The EEOC makes clear that while the laws...

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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Issues New Guidance Authorizing Employers to Test Employees for COVID-19
04/29/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On April 23, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued updated guidance concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Rehabilitation Act and how employers may respond to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. The EEOC makes clear that while the laws...

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Revised Special Bulletin: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Enacted Into Law
03/23/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 18, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to reduce the impact of the virus on American families, the Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act) and President Trump signed the bill into law a few hours later.  We initially reported on this...

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UPDATE, March 18, 2020, 9:09 a.m. House Passes Dramatically Revised Version Of Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Bill Finally Moves To Senate
03/18/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On the evening of Monday, March 16, 2020, the House of Representatives passed a dramatically revised version of H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which the Senate received on March 17.  Among the key changes to the bill is the significant limitation of the purposes for which...

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UPDATE, March 16, 2020, 5:49 p.m. Tax Credits for Private Employers in Families First Coronavirus Response Act
03/16/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 14, 2020, at 12:51 am, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to reduce the impact of the virus on American families, the House of Representative passed H.R. 6201, titled the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act).  The bill will now move to the Senate, where it...

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Update, March 16, 2020, 1:20 p.m. Governor Newsom Issues Guidance That All People Over The Age Of 65 and People With Chronic Conditions Should Self Isolate
03/16/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On March 15, 2020, Governor Newsom held a press conference where he made a further announcement regarding provisions for the public to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. As a consideration, in order to protect the most vulnerable, he stated that he was calling for the home isolation of all...

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Governor Issues Executive Order to Provide Funding for School Districts that close to Address COVID-19
03/16/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

On Friday, March 13, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to provide for continuous funding to California public school districts that close in order to address COVID-19.  In order to receive the funding, districts will need to take certain actions, including using the money to...

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June 13, 2024
Help! Have I Complied with the Brown Act?
Los Angeles | California Community Student Affairs Association (CCCSAA) Professional Development Conference

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