Catholic Church Clergy Abuse
WB&S filed a civil lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for its ongoing failure to address and resolve the clergy abuse crisis. John Winer told The Mercury News “This is one of the most flagrant cases of abuse that I’ve ever seen,” Winer said. “To be invaded in your home, as well as your place of worship, I mean where is safe? There’s nowhere safe for Mr. Doe, or kids like him.”
Valley Public Radio
John Winer, who has been handling clergy abuse cases for 40 years, offered Valley Public Radio insight on the issue, claiming there is “no question” the compensation program seems to be designed to prevent lawsuits, maintain confidentiality, secrecy, and not reveal the full extent of clergy abuse.
Sexual Abuse
Business Talk Radio
John Winer spoke to BusinessTalkRadio.com about his career fighting for victims of sexual abuse.
the Daily Californian
The Boy Scouts of America have been tangled in accusations regarding sexual abuse within the organization recently, with more accusations expected to come in. John Winer, who has litigated Boy Scout abuse cases, spoke with The Daily Californian on the recent release of a list of suspects’ names in sexual abuse cases involving the Boy Scouts of America which led to an influx of cases against the organization.
John Winer talked to The Daily Californian on the sexual harassment lawsuit he filed on behalf of a UC Berkeley student against a former Tang Center employee and the UC Board of Regents.
John Winer talked to The Daily Californian about how a new class-action lawsuit against the UC Regents could discourage people from coming forward to report incidents of sexual misconduct.
John Winer spoke to The Daily Californian on the reports which revealed that 19 UC Berkeley employees were found to have violated university sexual misconduct policy since 2011. “The fact that all of these findings of sexual harassment were hidden sends a terrible message to potential perpetrators — that you can get away with sexual harassment and any discipline against you will be swept under the carpet.”
NBC San Diego
NBC 7 San Diego did an in-depth piece on a lawsuit alleging unbelievable behavior by a Kaiser dermatologist. Kelli Burritt of Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP was interviewed regarding the suit, claiming her client was particularly vulnerable to the continued assaults because she has a “…history of being abandoned and sexually abused… and is reticent to question or challenge authority figures like doctors, which makes her an easy mark, [and] susceptible to further abuse.”
Sexual Harassment
Sacramento Bee
John Winer talked to the Sacramento Bee about our firm’s workplace sexual harassment lawsuit involving a female prison employee who is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for workplace sexual harassment, retaliation, and gender discrimination.
Bloomberg Law
Erika Scott talked to Bloomberg Law about a new lawsuit the firm filed on behalf of an attorney who is suing her former supervisor, a prominent labor and employment lawyer who she claims engaged in degrading, “creepy” and inappropriate behavior.
Law 360
Erika Scott spoke to Law 360 on the lawsuit the firm filed on behalf of an attorney who is suing her former supervisor, a prominent labor and employment lawyer who she claims engaged in inappropriate behavior. “None of us wants to file an action against another law firm,” Scott said. “But when a colleague is being mistreated like she was, we really think that it’s important that we stand up and that we hold our own industry accountable for this kind of behavior just the way that we would hold every other industry accountable.”
The New York Times
John Winer spoke to the New York Times regarding the lawsuit he filed on behalf of an assistant who claims she was harassed by the dean of the law school of the University of California, Berkeley for several months.
LA Times
John Winer spoke to the LA Times regarding the lawsuit a UC Irvine employee filed against the Board of Regents and a volunteer at the university’s medical center who she said sexually harassed and assaulted her for at least a year.
NPR
John Winer spoke to NPR in regards to the news that a former engineer for the ride-hailing app Uber claims she faced sexual harassment from her manager while working at the company. “If I was in her position and the evidence is as strong as she presents it, I definitely think that she should bring a case. It is the only way Uber’s going to learn their lesson.”
Law.com
WBS Kelli Burritt talked to Law.com about a new workplace sexual harassment lawsuit filed against LA-based State Appeals Court Justice Jeffrey Johnson who is accused of engaging in a widespread pattern of misconduct that demeaned, harassed, and sexualized at least 17 women.
The Daily Journal
John Winer spoke with the Daily Journal regarding JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide who announced their launch of JAMS Solutions for Higher Education, which focuses on providing services to higher education.
John Winer told the Daily Journal about an increased push for outside investigators to look into workplace sexual harassment claims in the #MeToo era. One of the concerns John raised is the inherent bias in a so-called independent investigation if the investigator is being paid by the employer.
San Francisco Chronicle
John Winer spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle on the lawsuit he filed representing a San Francisco Housing Authority security guard who reported various instances of sexual misconduct against him to the HR department and nothing was done to help him.
Los Angeles Daily News
John Winer offered the LA Daily News insight into the news that one lawmaker resigned after he was disciplined for groping when he was an Assembly chief of staff. Another lawmaker was accused of inappropriate behavior toward three young women in his office, including inviting one home and offering another alcohol when she was underage. “The sexually harassing legislators are very unlucky to be living in a state where most of the voters are Democrats because I think Democrats take this issue far more seriously,” Winer said.
KSBY News
Rachel Sauer spoke to KSBY News on the lawsuit she filed representing a former Santa Barbara City College student who is suing the school after she claims school leaders did nothing to stop another student from sexually harassing her.
Bustle
As an attorney who has given public lectures on sexual abuse and sexual harassment in the workplace, John Winer explained to Bustle that the definition of workplace sexual harassment is often contingent on its geological context.
The Atlantic
John Winer spoke to The Atlantic regarding the lawsuit he filed on behalf of an assistant who claims she was harassed by the dean of the law school of the University of California, Berkeley over a period of several months. “If you think of maybe the last person on earth who would do this, you would think it would be the dean of one of the most prestigious law schools in the country.”
The Channels; Santa Barbara City College
Despite ongoing public campaigns designed to prevent sexual harassment, it continues to be a widespread issue on college campuses in the United States. Rachael Sauer spoke to The Channels on the lawsuit she filed on behalf of a former Santa Barbara City College student who is suing the school, claiming it failed to protect her after she reported being sexually harassed by a classmate multiple times.
Napa Valley Register
John Winer spoke to American Canyon Eagle on the sexual harassment lawsuit he filed on behalf of a woman who says not only experienced months of workplace sexual harassment, but the company she worked for did nothing about it once it was reported.
California Business Journal
A special report by the California Business Journal highlighted the rampant problem of sexual harassment in the California restaurant industry. John Winer was featured prominently in the report as a legal expert, discussing how California’s anti-discrimination laws seek to protect restaurant industry workers from workplace sexual harassment.
The Daily Trojan
John Winer spoke to The Daily Trojan regarding the lawsuit he filed against USC claiming that an associate professor at USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work sexually harassed and abused his 34-year-old grad student. The suit charges that by allowing him to remain as an employee, USC has ratified his conduct and has put other female students at risk of being sexually harassed and sexually assaulted by him.
MyNews LA
John Winer spoke to MyNews LA in regards to the lawsuit he filed on behalf of a marketing analyst for UC Irvine’s Cancer Center who sued a volunteer fundraiser and the University of California, alleging she was sexually harassed while on the job and nothing was done to help her.
The California Aggie
John Winer was quoted in The California Aggie for his case involving a UC Davis employee who was allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by a male supervisor and coworker during a two-year period. John Winer represents several women throughout the state who claim they have been the victims of a pattern of behavior by UC Davis which seeks to protect perpetrators while leaving the victims isolated, exposed and even retaliated against.
Employment Law
USC Annenberg Media
John Winer spoke to USC Annenberg Media on the lawsuit involving a children’s psychiatrist who sued USC, claiming the university’s Keck School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles forced him to resign after taking a medical leave of absence.
The Daily Trojan
The Daily Trojan profiled the firm’s case involving a former child psychiatrist who filed a lawsuit against the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles after he took medical leave due to an autoimmune disease and was fired when he returned to work.
“Me Too”
The Wall Street Journal
John Winer spoke to the Wall Street Journal following Harvey Weinstein’s allegations of sexual misconduct by one of the highest-profile producers in Hollywood. After the scandal broke out, the number of inquiries to attorney offices hit an all-time high, including at Winer, Burritt and Scott, LLP. “We’re getting a lot of cases we just can’t bring,” said Mr. Winer. “To some potential clients who say they are finally ready to have their day in court, I have to tell them their day has passed.”
Continuing Education of the Bar
John Winer talked to CEB about how the rules of evidence in California and most states are set up in a way that gives alleged perpetrators an enormous advantage over accusers in terms of attacking credibility.
Therapist Abuse
East Bay Times
John Winer spoke to the East Bay Times on the lawsuit he filed representing two former patients of a Pleasant Hill chiropractor who they accuse of sexually assaulting them under the guise of providing treatment.
The Press Democrat
Our firm’s case was highlighted by the Press Democrat, involving a Santa Rosa chiropractor who disappeared before his conviction for molesting women and teens.
The Press Democrat highlighted the firm’s civil trial in Sonoma County Superior Court to determine whether a Santa Rosa chiropractor and his company should pay for medical expenses and other damages to a woman he began groping and sexually molesting when she was a 16-year-old high school basketball player seeking help for an injured shoulder.
Personal Injury
CBS SF Bay Area
John Winer spoke to CBS Bay Area on the personal injury lawsuit he filed involving a California Highway Patrol trooper who was injured in an accident at a Fairfield trampoline park that left him temporarily unable to move or walk. Winer discusses how Jump Highway did not properly maintain or inspect their equipment and never showed the family a safety video. “Their own safety procedures were not followed.”
San Francisco Chronicle
John Winer spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle regarding a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement involving an Oakland teen who was killed in 2015 when a tree branch he was climbing near Lake Merritt snapped and fell on top of his head.
The Mercury News
John Winer spoke with The Mercury News regarding a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement involving an Oakland teen who was killed in 2015 when a tree branch he was climbing near Lake Merritt snapped and fell on top of his head. “The family is struggling. They never forget their loss, but they are trying to move forward. It’s like one step forward, two steps back.”
Child Endangerment/Ride-Hailing Services
CBS SF Bay Area
John Winer spoke to CBS Bay Area about the lawsuit he filed against Lyft on behalf of a Bay Area mother who claims the driver took off with her two kids in the car, leaving her behind. He calls what happened “a kidnapping, kind of an unusual one, but a kidnapping case all the same.” “It’s very clear that Lyft is responsible,” says Winer, “they have to do a better job of making sure that safe drivers are with customers, maybe even do something special with drivers who carry kids. But this man should not have been driving anybody and he should not be kidnapping the kids.”
LA Progressive- John Winer Profile
LA Progressive profiled John Winer for his work in the past 40 years in advocating for victims by giving a voice to those who want to speak out about suffering from severe psychological injuries associated with childhood sexual abuse and workplace sexual harassment. He also discusses how the #MeToo Movement ushered in radical change for survivors of sexual abuse. “Before #MeToo, 80% of the cases that came into our firm involved women. Now I’m seeing a shift to about 60% men, 40% of women who are filing these cases.”