JANE RHEINHEIMER

For over thirty years, Ms. Rheinheimer has represented clients throughout Southern California in the defense of employment, wage and hour and ADA litigation and in the defense of professional liability litigation.

Ms. Rheinheimer defends employers in employment-related litigation including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation/whistle-blower, wage and hour, ADA, class action and PAGA claims. Her clients represent a number of industries including developers, large automobile groups, contractors, retailers, service providers, real estate brokerages and nonprofit organizations. She provides state-mandated training for management personnel and general employees as well as employment counseling, policies and procedures reviews, workplace investigations, and risk management services to large and small employers in a variety of industries.

Ms. Rheinheimer also represents licensed professionals in the defense of professional liability litigation matters, emphasizing the defense of California Realtors®. Other professions represented include escrow officers, design professionals, property inspection companies, accountants and insurance brokers.

Ms. Rheinheimer has been awarded Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible rating, AV Preeminent, continuously since 1997. She has been named to California Super Lawyers in the area of Employment Litigation for the past seven years.

Notable Representations

Employment Litigation/Independent Contractor Classification: Defended international luxury real estate broker against claims that its “in house” sales agents who were required to work certain hours, attend sales meetings, wear designer brand clothing, etc. were improperly classified as independent contractors rather than employees. Negotiated favorable settlement of all claims at mediation and assisted client in revising employment contracts to avoid future claims.

Employment Litigation/PAGA Claim: Defended client in California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) claim brought on behalf of 750 employees who claimed wage and hour violations related to their rest breaks and meal breaks. Negotiated favorable settlement of claims at mediation. Subsequently assisted client in rewriting policies and procedures and in implementing new time tracking protocols to avoid future litigation.

Contract Litigation: Defended real estate developer in contract litigation involving property owner’s water rights at luxury development near La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Obtained defense verdict for client following two-week trial in the San Diego County Superior Court.

Commercial Real Estate Litigation/Fraud: Defended real estate broker in questioned- document litigation involving commercial leases. Obtained defense verdict for client following one-week trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Case currently on appeal.

Residential Real Estate Litigation/Construction Defect: Represented real estate brokerage in litigation involving claims of undisclosed construction defects and sewer diversion. Obtained defense verdict for client following ten-day jury trial in the San Diego County Superior Court.

Residential Real Estate Litigation/Express Indemnity: Defended dual agent real estate brokers in binding arbitration through JAMS, San Diego. Obtained defense award for clients and was successful in recovering attorneys’ fees from codefendant project developer on express indemnity claim brought under listing agreement. Recovered costs from unsuccessful plaintiffs.

Real Estate Litigation/Respondeat Superior: Defended real estate brokerage on respondeat superior defense involving “rogue” agent sued by developer. Defense verdict for broker following seven- day trial in the Ventura County Superior Court. Recovered costs from plaintiff.

Real Estate Litigation/Case Dismissed on Pretrial Motion in Limine: Trial court granted pretrial motion disposing of case in its entirety due to plaintiffs’ failure to designate proper experts. Plaintiffs appealed. Court of Appeal affirmed trial court ruling, case dismissed, judgment for costs in favor of client. Riverside County Superior Court.

Area of Expertise